Brief Overview of ἀπόκειμαι (G606: Apokeimai)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apokeimai

Root Words: Derived from ἀπό (apo), meaning “from” or “away from,” and κεῖμαι (keimai), meaning “to lie” or “to be placed.” Thus, ἀπόκειμαι conveys the idea of something that is “laid aside” or “set aside.”

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Primary Meanings:

• To be laid aside or put away.
• To be reserved or kept for a particular purpose or future use.
• In a theological context, it often refers to something that is set aside for a specific time or purpose, such as divine promises or rewards.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀπόκειμαι as “to be laid aside” or “to be reserved.” It highlights its use in contexts where something is set aside for future use or a specific purpose. The term is used in theological contexts to refer to things reserved for a future event or time.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀπόκειμαι as “to be laid up” or “to be reserved.” It emphasizes the idea of something being kept aside for a future purpose or use.

Vines: According to Vines’ Expository Dictionary, ἀπόκειμαι means “to be laid aside” or “to be reserved.” It conveys the concept of setting something apart for future use or a specific purpose.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ defines ἀπόκειμαι as “to lie away” or “to be set aside.” It notes the term’s use in classical Greek to describe things laid aside or reserved for future purposes.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀπόκειμαι as “to be laid up” or “to be reserved,” focusing on the idea of something set aside for future use or a specific purpose.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

Homer (The Iliad, 8th century BCE): Homer uses related terms to describe objects or items laid aside or reserved for specific purposes or events, illustrating the concept of setting something aside.

Sophocles (Oedipus Rex, 5th century BCE): Sophocles employs terms related to being set aside or reserved in dramatic contexts, reflecting the idea of items or roles kept for future use or events.

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics, 4th century BCE): Aristotle discusses concepts related to reserving or setting aside things for future use, illustrating similar ideas in philosophical contexts.

4. Summary:

The Greek word ἀπόκειμαι (Apokeimai) means “to be laid aside” or “to be reserved.” It conveys the idea of something being set aside or kept for a specific purpose or future use. In classical Greek literature, it is used to describe items or roles reserved for particular events or purposes. In theological contexts, it often refers to divine promises or rewards that are reserved for a future time, highlighting the concept of setting aside for future fulfillment.