Understanding ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō) Strong’s G599: The Profound Biblical Concept of Death that Points to Resurrection Life

Pronunciation Guide: ah-poth-NAY-sko

Basic Definition

Strong’s G599: ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō) fundamentally means “to die” in its most comprehensive sense. This verb encompasses both physical death – the separation of the soul from the body – and metaphorical death, such as death to sin or the world. The prefix ἀπο- (apo-) intensifies the base meaning, suggesting a complete or definitive death.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (Present Active Indicative)
• Compound word: ἀπό (from, away from) + θνῄσκω (to die)
• Primary usage in narrative passages and theological discourse
• Frequently used in both literal and metaphorical contexts
• Common in historical accounts and doctrinal teachings

ἀποθνῄσκω Morphology:

• ἀποθνῄσκω (present active) – I am dying
• ἀποθνήσκειν (present infinitive) – to die
• ἀπέθανον (aorist active) – I died
• ἀποθανών (aorist participle) – having died
• ἀποτεθνηκώς (perfect participle) – having been dead

Origin & History

The word ἀποθνῄσκω has deep roots in classical Greek literature, where it was commonly used to describe both the process and the state of death. In works like Homer’s Iliad, it often carried heroic connotations, describing warriors dying in battle. Plato, in his “Phaedo,” uses the term extensively when discussing the nature of death and its relationship to the soul.

In the Septuagint, ἀποθνῄσκω typically translates the Hebrew מות (mût), appearing frequently in narrative passages describing both natural death and divine judgment. The translation choice reflects the Hellenistic Jewish understanding of death as both a physical reality and a spiritual condition.

Early church fathers like Clement of Alexandria in his “Stromata” and Origen in “Contra Celsum” expanded the word’s usage to include spiritual death and martyrdom, developing its theological significance in Christian thought.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Physical death – cessation of bodily functions
• Spiritual death – separation from God
• Metaphorical death – complete separation from former way of life
• Sacrificial death – dying for a purpose or cause

ἀποθνῄσκω Translation Options:

• “to die” – most common translation, suitable for physical death contexts
• “to perish” – appropriate when emphasizing the result of death
• “to be dead to” – best for metaphorical usage in spiritual contexts
• “to face death” – useful when translating present tense forms emphasizing process
• “to pass away” – gentler expression suitable for sensitive contexts

Biblical Usage

The first appearance of ἀποθνῄσκω in Matthew 8:32 describes the dramatic death of the swine, demonstrating the word’s use in narrative contexts. Throughout the New Testament, the word carries profound theological weight, especially in Paul’s epistles where it often appears in discussions of believers’ union with the Messiah in His death.

In John’s Gospel, ἀποθνῄσκω frequently appears in contexts that contrast physical and spiritual death, particularly in Jesus’ teachings about eternal life. The word plays a crucial role in expressing the paradox of death leading to life in Messiah.

Key verses include:

• Matthew 8:32 – “And the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and died [ἀπέθανον] in the water”
• John 11:26 – “everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die [ἀποθάνῃ]”
• Romans 6:2 – “How shall we who died [ἀπεθάνομεν] to sin still live in it?”
• Romans 14:8 – “if we die [ἀποθνῄσκωμεν], we die to the Lord”
• 2 Corinthians 5:14 – “one died [ἀπέθανεν] for all, therefore all died”

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish thought, death was understood not merely as a biological event but as a spiritual reality introduced through sin. The Hebrew concept of מות (mût) carried implications of both physical death and spiritual separation from יהוה (Yahweh). This understanding deeply influenced the New Testament usage of ἀποθνῄσκω, particularly in theological contexts.

The Greek philosophical tradition, especially Platonic thought, viewed death as the separation of soul from body. However, the biblical usage of ἀποθνῄσκω transcends this dualistic understanding, presenting death as a comprehensive reality affecting the whole person while simultaneously pointing to the hope of resurrection.

Theological Significance

The theological usage of ἀποθνῄσκω reaches its apex in its application to the Messiah’s death. His death becomes the paradigm for understanding both physical and spiritual death, transforming the meaning of death itself. Through His sacrificial death, death becomes a passage to life rather than merely an end.

In Pauline theology, ἀποθνῄσκω plays a crucial role in explaining the believer’s identification with Messiah. When Paul speaks of dying with Messiah, he uses this word to express both the definitive break with sin (Romans 6) and the ongoing process of sanctification (Galatians 2:20).

The word also features prominently in New Testament teachings about resurrection, where physical death is presented not as final destruction but as a necessary prelude to new life in Messiah.

Personal Application

Understanding ἀποθνῄσκω challenges believers to embrace both the reality of physical mortality and the transformative power of spiritual death to sin. Just as Messiah’s death led to resurrection, our “dying to self” leads to new life in Him.

This word reminds us that the Christian journey involves both a definitive death to our old nature and an ongoing process of dying to sin and self. When we grasp this truth, we can face both physical death and the daily “deaths” to self with hope and purpose.

Related Words

• θάνατος (thanatos) – death, the state of being dead; emphasizes death as a state or power rather than the process of dying See G2288
• νεκρός (nekros) – dead, lifeless; focuses on the condition of being dead rather than the act of dying See G3498
• κοιμάομαι (koimaomai) – to fall asleep, die; euphemistic term often used for the death of believers See G2837
• τελευτάω (teleutaō) – to end, finish, die; emphasizes death as the end or completion of life See G5053

Did you Know?

• The prefix ἀπο- in ἀποθνῄσκω intensifies the meaning of the basic verb θνῄσκω, suggesting a complete or definitive death. This prefix usage was a common feature in Koine Greek for emphasizing the thoroughness or finality of an action.
• Modern Greek still uses this word (αποθνήσκω) in medical and legal contexts, maintaining its ancient meaning of “to die,” showing the remarkable stability of this word’s meaning over thousands of years.
• In ancient Greek medical texts, particularly those of Hippocrates, ἀποθνῄσκω was the technical term for death, used to describe the precise moment when life ceased, demonstrating its historical significance in both medical and philosophical literature.

Remember This

ἀποθνῄσκω represents not just the end of life, but in Messiah becomes the gateway to true life – a profound paradox at the heart of the Gospel message.