Brief Overview of ἀποτινάσσω (G660: Apotinássō)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apotinássō

Root Words: ἀποτινάσσω combines the prefix ἀπό (apó), meaning “away from” or “off,” with τινάσσω (tinássō), meaning “to shake” or “to toss.” Thus, ἀποτινάσσω generally means “to shake off” or “to toss away.”

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Primary Meanings:

• To shake off or toss aside.
• To remove by shaking or tossing.
• To cast off or get rid of something by shaking.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀποτινάσσω as “to shake off” or “to toss away,” describing the action of forcefully removing or discarding something through shaking or tossing.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon notes that ἀποτινάσσω means “to shake off” or “to toss away,” emphasizing the physical action of removing something by vigorous shaking.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary describes ἀποτινάσσω as “to shake off” or “to throw away,” with a focus on the forceful action of discarding.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ defines ἀποτινάσσω similarly as “to shake off” or “to toss away,” consistent with its usage in contexts involving the removal of something by shaking.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀποτινάσσω as “to shake off,” reflecting its primary meaning of forcefully discarding or removing something.

Bible Verses:

• Acts 13:51 (NIV): “So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium.” (ἀποτινάσσω is used metaphorically here to signify rejection or moving on.)
• Luke 10:11 (NIV): “’Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’” (ἀποτινάσσω is used in the context of shaking off dust.)

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

Homer (Iliad, 8th century BCE): Homer uses terms related to ἀποτινάσσω in describing the shaking off of dust or debris in battle scenes, illustrating its physical application.

Herodotus (Histories, 5th century BCE): Herodotus uses related terms to describe the removal of dirt or refuse through shaking in various historical and cultural contexts.

Thucydides (History of the Peloponnesian War, 5th century BCE): Thucydides employs ἀποτινάσσω in the context of removing or shaking off objects or elements in detailed military or strategic descriptions.

4. Summary:

ἀποτινάσσω (apotinássō) means “to shake off” or “to toss away.” This term describes the vigorous action of discarding or removing something by shaking or tossing it aside. It is used both in literal and metaphorical contexts to signify the removal or rejection of objects or elements. In classical Greek literature, the term is often applied in physical descriptions of shaking off dust or debris, and in biblical texts, it carries a metaphorical meaning of rejection or moving on.