Brief Overview of ἀπροσωπολήμπτως (G678: aprósōpoplēmptōs)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: aprósōpoplēmptōs

Root Words:

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• ἀ- (a-): A prefix meaning “without” or “not.”
• πρόσωπον (prósōpon): Meaning “face” or “person.”
• λημπτής (lēmptēs): From λαμβάνω (lambánō), meaning “to receive” or “take.”
• -τος (-tos): A suffix forming adjectives.

Primary Meanings:

• The term ἀπροσωπολήμπτως means “without receiving face” or “without regard to persons.”
• It describes impartiality, specifically the quality of not showing favoritism or partiality based on someone’s face or status.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀπροσωπολήμπτως as “without partiality” or “impartially.” It highlights its use in contexts where judgments or actions are made without regard to a person’s social status or appearance.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀπροσωπολήμπτως as “without respect of persons,” emphasizing its meaning of being unbiased or impartial.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary notes that ἀπροσωπολήμπτως conveys the idea of “impartiality” and “not showing favoritism,” aligning with the concept of treating everyone equally regardless of their status.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): The LSJ lexicon defines ἀπροσωπολήμπτως as “without partiality” or “impartially,” emphasizing its use in contexts of fairness and equality.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s Concordance lists ἀπροσωπολήμπτως as “impartial” or “without respect of persons,” indicating a quality of fairness in judgment.

Bible Verses:

• James 3:17 (KJV): “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
• The term here underscores the virtue of impartiality in wisdom.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

In classic Greek literature up to 100 AD, ἀπροσωπολήμπτως was used to express the concept of impartiality:

• Plato’s “Republic”: Discusses the idea of impartial justice and fairness, reflecting the principles underlying ἀπροσωπολήμπτως.
• Aristotle’s “Ethics”: Refers to the need for impartiality in ethical judgments and decisions.
• Demosthenes’ speeches: Utilizes the term to advocate for fair treatment and impartiality in political and legal matters.

4. Summary:

The Greek word ἀπροσωπολήμπτως (G678: aprósōpoplēmptōs) signifies being “without partiality” or “impartially.” It describes the quality of not showing favoritism or bias based on a person’s appearance or status. This term is consistently defined across various lexicons as reflecting impartiality and fairness. In classic Greek literature, ἀπροσωπολήμπτως is used to advocate for equal treatment and unbiased judgment, emphasizing its significance in both ethical and political contexts.