Understanding ἀπέχει (apechei) Strong’s G566: The Greek Word for ‘It Is Enough’ That Marks Divine Timing

Pronunciation Guide: ah-PEH-khei (where ‘kh’ is pronounced like the ‘ch’ in Scottish ‘loch’)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G566: ἀπέχει (apechei) conveys the sense of something being sufficient, complete, or having reached its full measure. In its first New Testament appearance (Mark 14:41), it dramatically marks the moment when the Messiah declares that the hour of His betrayal has arrived. The term carries the weight of divine timing and the fulfillment of prophetic purpose.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb: Third person singular present indicative active
• Compound word: ἀπό (from) + ἔχω (to have/hold)
• Primary usage in narrative passages and direct discourse
• Frequently appears in commercial contexts in classical Greek

ἀπέχει Morphology:

• ἀπέχω (first person singular) – I am distant/I receive in full
• ἀπέχεις (second person singular) – you are distant/you receive in full
• ἀπέχει (third person singular) – it is distant/it is enough
• ἀπέχουσιν (third person plural) – they are distant/they receive in full
• ἀπέχειν (infinitive) – to be distant/to receive in full

Origin & History

The word ἀπέχει emerged from commercial vocabulary where it often appeared on receipts meaning “paid in full” or “received in full.” Moulton and Milligan’s “Vocabulary of the Greek Testament” provides numerous papyri examples where ἀπέχω appears in business receipts and financial documents from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.

In classical Greek literature, Herodotus uses the term to describe physical distance (Histories 4.85), while Xenophon employs it in discussing military formations (Anabasis 3.3.7). The Septuagint adopts this word in contexts of both physical and metaphorical distance, such as in Psalm 103:12 (LXX 102:12).

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To be distant or far away from something
• To receive payment in full
• To have enough, to suffice
• To abstain or refrain from something

ἀπέχει Translation Options:

• “It is enough” – Emphasizes completion or sufficiency
• “It is finished” – Highlights the fulfillment aspect
• “The hour has come” – Captures the temporal significance
• “Paid in full” – Reflects the commercial background
• “It is accomplished” – Suggests divine purpose fulfilled

Biblical Usage

The term appears at crucial moments in the Gospel narratives, most notably in Mark 14:41 where Jesus announces the arrival of His betrayal hour. This usage masterfully combines the word’s commercial meaning of “paid in full” with its temporal sense of “the time has come,” creating a powerful theological statement about the fulfillment of divine purpose.

In the broader New Testament context, the word family appears in various forms:

• “He said to them, ‘It is enough [ἀπέχει],’ and the hour has come” Mark 14:41
• “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received [ἀπέχετε] your comfort in full” Luke 6:24
• “They have received [ἀπέχουσιν] their reward in full” Matthew 6:2
• “Abstain [ἀπέχεσθαι] from every form of evil” 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, the declaration ἀπέχει on a receipt was a legally binding statement indicating that a debt had been fully satisfied. This commercial context adds profound depth to Jesus’ use of the term in Gethsemane, suggesting that the moment had arrived for Him to pay humanity’s debt of sin in full.

The word also carries echoes of the Temple practice where priests would declare “dayenu” (Hebrew: דַּיֵּנוּ, meaning “it would have been enough”) during Passover celebrations. This connection between ἀπέχει and dayenu creates a powerful link between Jesus’ sacrifice and the Passover theme of divine sufficiency and redemption.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀπέχει in Mark 14:41 marks a pivotal moment in salvation history where divine timing meets divine purpose. It signifies not just the completion of time but the fulfillment of prophecy and the initiation of God’s redemptive plan through the Messiah’s sacrifice.

The commercial undertones of the word remind us that our salvation was purchased at a great price. When Jesus declares “it is enough,” He acknowledges His role as the final payment for sin, the ultimate fulfillment of the Temple sacrificial system, and the perfect satisfaction of divine justice.

The word also appears in contexts warning about receiving temporal rewards versus eternal ones, teaching us about the sufficiency of God’s rewards versus the temporary satisfaction of worldly recognition.

Personal Application

When we encounter ἀπέχει in Scripture, we’re reminded that God’s timing is perfect and His provision is complete. Just as Jesus knew the exact moment when “it was enough,” we can trust in His perfect timing in our own lives. This word challenges us to consider what we consider “enough” – are we satisfied with worldly recognition (like those who “have received their reward in full”), or are we seeking the eternal sufficiency found in the Messiah?

Furthermore, understanding ἀπέχει encourages us to rest in the finished work of the Messiah. When He declared “it is enough,” He was announcing the sufficiency of His sacrifice for our complete redemption.

Related Words

• τετέλεσται (tetelestai) – “it is finished/completed” – Another powerful declaration of completion, famously spoken by Jesus on the cross. Emphasizes the completion of God’s redemptive plan versus the arrival of the appointed time. See G5055
• πληρόω (pleroo) – “to fulfill/complete” – Focuses on the fulfillment of prophecy and divine purposes rather than temporal sufficiency. See G4137
• ἱκανός (hikanos) – “sufficient/enough” – Describes adequacy or sufficiency in quantity rather than in timing or completion. See G2425
• καιρός (kairos) – “appointed time/season” – Refers to the right or opportune moment, complementing ἀπέχει’s sense of divine timing. See G2540

Did you Know?

• Archaeological discoveries of ancient receipts from the first century show ἀπέχει written in large letters across documents, providing vivid historical context for this biblical term and its commercial significance.
• The word ἀπέχει continues to be used in modern Greek, particularly in banking contexts, where ἀπόδειξη (receipt) derives from the same root, showing the enduring connection to its ancient commercial usage.
• The combination of ἀπό (from) and ἔχω (to have) in ἀπέχει creates a spatial metaphor that ancient Greeks would have instantly recognized, suggesting both the completion of a transaction and the distance created between a debt and its debtor.

Remember This

ἀπέχει stands as a powerful declaration of divine sufficiency, marking moments where heaven’s timing meets earth’s need, reminding us that in the Messiah, every debt is paid, and every divine purpose is fulfilled.