Brief Overview of ἀφαιρέω (G851: aphaireō)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: aphaireō

Root Words: The Greek word ἀφαιρέω (aphaireō) is derived from two parts: the preposition ἀπό (apo), meaning “from” or “away,” and the verb αἱρέω (haireō), meaning “to take” or “to seize.” Together, the compound word carries the idea of “taking away” or “removing.”

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Primary Meanings:

• To Take Away or Remove: The most common meaning, signifying the action of taking something away from a person, place, or situation.
• To Cut Off: This usage can also imply the severance of something, such as cutting off a part of the body or a connection.
• To Abolish or Do Away With: In some contexts, it refers to the act of abolishing or removing something, often used metaphorically.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG: BDAG emphasizes that ἀφαιρέω primarily means “to take away” or “to remove,” particularly in the sense of physically taking something from someone or someplace. It can also mean “to cut off” or “to abolish,” depending on the context, often carrying a forceful connotation.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon concurs with BDAG, defining ἀφαιρέω as “to take away” or “to remove.” Thayer adds that the term can imply a forceful or authoritative removal, such as when taking something by force or decree.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary also aligns with BDAG and Thayer’s, focusing on the idea of “removal” or “taking away.” It notes the word’s use in both literal and figurative contexts, such as removing physical objects or abolishing laws or customs.

LSJ: The LSJ Lexicon provides a broader overview of ἀφαιρέω, including its use in both common and legal contexts, where it could mean to “take away” something tangible or to “abolish” something intangible, like a law or practice.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀφαιρέω as “to take away,” “remove,” or “cut off,” highlighting the verb’s versatility in different contexts, from literal removal of objects to metaphorical removal of rights or privileges.

Bible Verses:

• Luke 1:25 (KJV): “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away (ἀφαῖρεῖν) my reproach among men.”
• Here, ἀφαιρέω is used to express the removal of disgrace or shame.
• Matthew 26:52 (KJV): “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”
• In some manuscripts, ἀφαιρέω is used metaphorically to convey the idea of “cutting off” or removing life.
• Hebrews 10:4 (KJV): “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away (ἀφαιρεῖν) sins.”
• This verse uses ἀφαιρέω to signify the inability of sacrificial blood to remove or abolish sins.

3. Classic Greek Literature:

Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

• Herodotus: In Histories, Herodotus uses ἀφαιρέω to describe the removal of a person from a position of power or the cutting off of a territory from a larger empire.
• Thucydides: In The History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides employs ἀφαιρέω to describe the strategic removal of resources or territories during war.
• Plutarch: In Parallel Lives, Plutarch uses ἀφαιρέω in the context of cutting off opportunities or removing privileges from certain individuals or groups.

4. Summary:

ἀφαιρέω (aphaireō) is a versatile Greek verb primarily meaning “to take away” or “to remove.” Derived from the roots ἀπό (apo) and αἱρέω (haireō), the term can be used in both literal and figurative contexts, signifying actions such as cutting off, abolishing, or forcibly removing something. BDAG, Thayer’s, Vines, LSJ, and Strong’s all agree on these primary meanings, with variations depending on the context in which the word is used. In both the New Testament and classic Greek literature, ἀφαιρέω plays a crucial role in conveying the removal or severance of things, whether physical, legal, or metaphorical, enriching our understanding of texts where the term is used.