Understanding ἀπογράφω (apographō) Strong’s G583: The Divine Census That Brought the Messiah to Bethlehem

Pronunciation Guide: ah-po-GRAPH-oh (ἀπογράφω)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G583: To enroll, register, or record in a public register. This compound Greek verb combines the preposition ἀπό (from, away) with γράφω (to write), literally meaning “to write away from” or “to copy from one list to another.” In administrative contexts, it specifically refers to official registration or census-taking, particularly for taxation purposes.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Words: ἀπό (from) + γράφω (to write)
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Administrative and legal contexts, historical narrative
• Voice: Middle or Passive
• Tense: Present, Aorist, Perfect

ἀπογράφω Morphology:

• ἀπογράφω (present active) – I register/enroll
• ἀπογράφομαι (present middle/passive) – I register myself/am registered
• ἀπογράψαι (aorist active infinitive) – to register
• ἀπογεγραμμένων (perfect passive participle genitive plural) – of those having been registered
• ἀπογραφῆναι (aorist passive infinitive) – to be registered

Origin & History

The term ἀπογράφω emerged from administrative Greek, appearing frequently in papyri and inscriptions related to census records and tax registers. Polybius (Histories 3.21.9) uses it to describe military registration, while Diodorus Siculus employs it for cadastral surveys. In the Septuagint, it appears in contexts of military conscription and property registration (1 Chronicles 21:1-2).

The practice of ἀπογράφω gained particular significance during the Roman period, where regular census-taking became a cornerstone of imperial administration. Josephus (Antiquities 18.1-2) describes the famous census of Quirinius in 6 CE, using this term to detail the registration process that caused significant political upheaval in Judea.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Official registration for administrative purposes
• Census enrollment for taxation
• Military conscription or listing
• Property registration and documentation
• Legal documentation of citizenship or residency

ἀπογράφω Translation Options:

• “to register” – Emphasizes the official nature of the action
• “to enroll” – Highlights inclusion in an official list
• “to record” – Focuses on the documentary aspect
• “to inscribe” – Emphasizes the permanent nature of the registration
• “to census” – Specifically in contexts of population counting

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀπογράφω appears most prominently in Luke 2:1-5, where it describes the census that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, fulfilling Messianic prophecy. The divine orchestration of this imperial registration demonstrates how יהוה (Yahweh) uses even secular administrative processes to accomplish His purposes.

The term also appears in Hebrews 12:23, where it takes on profound spiritual significance, referring to those whose names are “registered” in heaven. This usage elevates the concept from earthly administration to eternal documentation.

Key Biblical References:

• Luke 2:1 – “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census [ἀπογράφεσθαι] be taken of all the inhabited earth.”
• Luke 2:3 – “And everyone was on his way to register [ἀπογράφεσθαι] themselves, each to his own city.”
• Luke 2:5 – “in order to register [ἀπογράψασθαι] along with Mary.”
• Hebrews 12:23 – “to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered [ἀπογεγραμμένων] in heaven.”

Cultural Insights

The Roman census system (ἀπογραφή) was more than mere population counting—it was a comprehensive registration of people and property for taxation and military purposes. Jewish people generally resisted such censuses, viewing them as both a violation of religious principles (remembering David’s punishment for census-taking in 2 Samuel 24) and a symbol of foreign domination.

The requirement to register in one’s ancestral hometown reflects the Roman accommodation of Jewish customs, allowing people to register according to their tribal affiliations rather than their current residence. This cultural sensitivity inadvertently served to fulfill Messianic prophecy regarding the Messiah’s birthplace in Bethlehem.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀπογράφω in Luke’s nativity narrative powerfully demonstrates divine sovereignty over human history. What appeared to be merely an imperial administrative action was actually יהוה (Yahweh)’s instrument for positioning Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, fulfilling Micah’s prophecy about the Messiah’s birthplace (Micah 5:2).

The term’s appearance in Hebrews 12:23 transforms its meaning from earthly registration to heavenly citizenship. This spiritual application suggests that just as the Roman census documented earthly citizenship and property, there exists a heavenly register documenting those who belong to the Messiah’s kingdom.

Personal Application

When we encounter seemingly mundane administrative tasks or bureaucratic requirements in our lives, we can remember how God used a Roman census to accomplish His perfect plan. Just as He sovereignly worked through ἀπογράφω to bring about the Messiah’s birth in exactly the right place and time, He continues to work through the ordinary circumstances of our lives to fulfill His purposes.

Consider your own name being “registered in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23). This heavenly ἀπογράφω is far more significant than any earthly documentation. It represents eternal citizenship in God’s kingdom and should inspire us to live as citizens of heaven while fulfilling our earthly responsibilities.

Related Words

• ἀπογραφή (apographē) – The noun form meaning “census” or “registration” – G582
• γράφω (graphō) – The root verb meaning “to write” – See G1125
• ἐγγράφω (engraphō) – To inscribe or write in/on – See G1449
• καταγράφω (katagraphō) – To write down or record – See G2596

Did you Know?

• The census that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem was likely part of Caesar Augustus’s extensive administrative reforms, which included regular empire-wide registrations—a practice unprecedented in ancient history.
• Archaeological evidence from Roman Egypt has uncovered actual census documents (ἀπογραφαί) showing that censuses typically occurred every 14 years, helping to date the events of Luke 2.
• Modern Greek still uses ἀπογράφω in official contexts, particularly in the term ἀπογραφή (census), demonstrating the enduring precision of this administrative term.

Remember This

ἀπογράφω reminds us that God’s sovereign purposes can work through even the most mundane human systems—transforming an imperial census into the means of fulfilling ancient prophecy about our Messiah’s birth.