Pronunciation Guide: ah-pay-LEH-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G546: ἀπειλέω is a powerful verb meaning “to threaten, to menace, to declare with threats.” It describes the act of making verbal threats or attempting to intimidate through warnings of punishment or harm. The word carries connotations of both the declaration of intended harm and the emotional weight of intimidation behind such declarations.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (Primary)
• Classical Greek origin
• Used primarily in narrative passages
• Common in contexts of persecution and resistance
• Derived from the noun ἀπειλή (apeile, “threat”)

ἀπειλέω Morphology:

• ἀπειλέω (present active indicative) – I threaten
• ἀπειλοῦμεν (present active indicative, 1st person plural) – we threaten
• ἀπειλησώμεθα (aorist middle subjunctive, 1st person plural) – let us threaten
• ἀπειλούμενοι (present middle/passive participle) – being threatened
• ἀπειλήσωμεν (aorist active subjunctive, 1st person plural) – we might threaten

Origin & History

The word ἀπειλέω has deep roots in classical Greek literature, appearing in works as early as Homer’s Iliad, where it describes warriors making threats before battle. In the Histories of Herodotus, it appears in contexts of political intimidation and military ultimatums. The term gained particular significance in Hellenistic literature, where it often described the actions of tyrants and oppressors.

In the Septuagint, ἀπειλέω appears in contexts where foreign powers threaten God’s people, notably in the books of Maccabees. The Jewish historian Josephus employs the term frequently in his works, particularly in “Jewish Antiquities,” when describing confrontations between authority figures and those under their power.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To make threats with the intention to intimidate
• To warn of impending punishment or consequences
• To menace or attempt to coerce through fear
• To declare harmful intentions against someone

ἀπειλέω Translation Options:

• “to threaten” – Most common translation, emphasizing the verbal declaration of intended harm
• “to menace” – Captures the sense of looming danger and intimidation
• “to warn with threats” – Emphasizes the cautionary aspect while maintaining the element of intimidation
• “to intimidate” – Focuses on the intended effect rather than the specific act

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀπειλέω appears primarily in contexts of persecution against the early church. Its first appearance in Acts 4:17 shows the Sanhedrin threatening the apostles to stop preaching in Jesus’ name. This usage establishes a pattern where the word often appears in narratives of conflict between spiritual authority and worldly power.

The term is particularly significant in passages describing the early church’s response to persecution, highlighting how believers remained faithful despite threats. This creates a powerful contrast between human threats and divine protection.

Key verses:

• “But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten [ἀπειλέω] them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.” Acts 4:17
• “And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had threatened [ἀπειλέω] them.” Acts 4:21
• “Masters, do the same to them, and stop threatening [ἀπειλέω] them.” Ephesians 6:9

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Near Eastern world, threats were not merely personal expressions of anger but often carried official weight, especially when made by those in positions of authority. The Sanhedrin’s use of ἀπειλέω against the apostles would have been understood as an official warning carrying the full weight of their religious and civil authority.

The term also connects to the Hebrew concept of גער (ga’ar), which appears in the Old Testament describing divine rebuke against enemies of God’s people. This cultural background helps explain why the early believers responded to threats with prayer for boldness rather than submission, seeing human threats as powerless against divine authority.

Theological Significance

The usage of ἀπειλέω in the New Testament reveals a profound theological truth about the nature of spiritual authority versus worldly power. When the Sanhedrin threatens the apostles, their response demonstrates that human threats lose their power when confronted with divine commission and the Holy Spirit’s enabling.

This word also appears in contexts that reveal God’s heart for justice and protection of the vulnerable. In Ephesians 6:9, the prohibition against masters threatening their servants shows how the gospel transforms power relationships, requiring those in authority to exercise it with divine love rather than intimidation.

Personal Application

Understanding ἀπειλέω challenges believers to examine their response to intimidation and threats. Just as the early church responded to threats with increased boldness and deeper dependence on God, we too can face opposition with supernatural courage rather than fear.

Moreover, the word’s appearance in instructions to masters reminds us to examine our own use of authority, ensuring we lead with love and service rather than intimidation, reflecting the character of our Master in heaven.

Related Words

• φοβέω (phobeo) – to fear, be afraid, reverence – More focused on the emotional response to threats rather than the act of threatening – See G5399
• ἀπειλή (apeile) – a threat, threatening – The noun form from which ἀπειλέω derives – See G547
• διώκω (dioko) – to pursue, persecute – Often accompanies threats in contexts of persecution – See G1377
• ἐκφοβέω (ekphobeo) – to frighten thoroughly – A more intense form of causing fear – See G1629

Did you Know?

• The root word ἀπειλέω continues in modern Greek, where it maintains its meaning of “to threaten” and is commonly used in legal contexts for issuing warnings or threats of legal action.
• In ancient Greek theater, the term was often used in stage directions to indicate when an actor should deliver lines in a threatening manner, showing its importance in conveying emotional intensity in classical drama.
• The word appears in early Christian martyrdom accounts, where it frequently describes the attempts of Roman officials to intimidate believers into renouncing their faith, making it a powerful symbol of Christian resistance to persecution.

Remember This

When worldly powers threaten (ἀπειλέω) God’s people, their threats become opportunities for displaying His greater power and protection, transforming intimidation into testimony.