Understanding ἀποστοματίζω (apostomatizo) Strong’s G653: The Intense Interrogation Method Used Against the Messiah

Pronunciation Guide: ah-po-sto-mah-TID-zo

Basic Definition

Strong’s G653: To draw out in speaking, to catechize; to interrogate with malicious intent; to speak from memory. This rare Greek verb describes a specific kind of intense questioning where someone is pressured to give spontaneous answers, often with hostile intent to trap or ensnare them through their words.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (Present Active Infinitive)
• Compound word from ἀπό (away from) + στόμα (mouth)
• Primary usage in narrative sections
• Hapax legomenon in New Testament
• Found in educational and legal contexts in extra-biblical literature

ἀποστοματίζω Morphology:

• ἀποστοματίζειν (present active infinitive) – to draw out in speaking
• ἀποστοματίζων (present active participle) – drawing out in speaking
• ἀποστοματίζουσιν (present active indicative, 3rd person plural) – they draw out in speaking
• ἀποστοματίσαι (aorist active infinitive) – to have drawn out in speaking

Origin & History

The term ἀποστοματίζω emerged from ancient Greek educational practices where teachers would test students through oral examination, requiring them to recite texts or answer questions from memory. Plato uses this term in his “Laws” (Book VII, 811a) to describe the educational method of making students learn poetry by heart and recite it.

In the Hellenistic period, the word evolved to also encompass legal interrogation techniques. The Jewish historian Josephus employs similar terminology when describing intense questioning sessions in judicial contexts (“Antiquities” 13.10.6).

The transition from educational to potentially hostile contexts reflects the word’s semantic development, where the original meaning of “speaking from memory” expanded to include deliberately provocative questioning designed to trap someone in their words.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To draw out responses through repeated questioning
• To force someone to speak spontaneously without preparation
• To test someone’s knowledge through oral examination
• To interrogate with hostile intent

ἀποστοματίζω Translation Options:

• “To question urgently” – Emphasizes the pressing nature of the interrogation
• “To provoke into speaking” – Highlights the manipulative aspect
• “To cross-examine” – Captures the legal connotation
• “To draw out answers” – Reflects the original educational context
• “To grill with questions” – Modern equivalent conveying intensity

Biblical Usage

The only New Testament occurrence of ἀποστοματίζω appears in Luke 11:53, where it describes the scribes and Pharisees’ hostile questioning of Jesus. The context reveals their malicious intent as they sought to catch Him in His words. This usage perfectly exemplifies the word’s evolution from educational testing to hostile interrogation.

The verbal assault described here forms part of a larger pattern of opposition to Jesus’ ministry, where religious leaders repeatedly tried to trap Him through clever questioning (as seen in the temple controversies). The intensity of their questioning suggests they were not seeking truth but rather looking for grounds to accuse Him.

• “And when He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly hostile and to question Him closely [ἀποστοματίζειν] about many things” to cross-examine Him hostilely Luke 11:53

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish legal proceedings, interrogation was a crucial part of establishing truth. The Sanhedrin would often employ intensive questioning techniques to examine witnesses and accused persons. This practice was rooted in the Torah’s emphasis on thorough investigation of matters (Deuteronomy 13:14).

However, the method described by ἀποστοματίζω in Luke 11:53 represents a corruption of this legitimate practice. Instead of seeking truth, the religious leaders were attempting to manipulate the process for their own ends, much like a hostile cross-examination in modern legal proceedings.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀποστοματίζω in Luke’s Gospel reveals a profound theological truth about the nature of opposition to the Messiah. Even as religious leaders attempted to trap Jesus through their calculated questioning, they inadvertently demonstrated His divine wisdom and authority. Every attempt to ensnare Him through words only served to highlight His perfect responses and unassailable truth.

This word also reflects the broader spiritual battle between truth and deception. The religious leaders’ hostile questioning represents human attempts to undermine divine authority through intellectual manipulation – a strategy that ultimately fails against the wisdom of God.

Moreover, the fact that Jesus willingly submitted to such hostile interrogation foreshadows His later trials and points to His sacrificial role as the suffering servant prophesied in Isaiah 53:7.

Personal Application

When we face hostile questioning about our faith or experience opposition because of our beliefs, we can take comfort in knowing that our Messiah endured the same. Jesus’ example teaches us to respond with wisdom and grace, even when others try to trap us with our words.

This word also reminds us to examine our own motivations when questioning others. Are we seeking truth, or are we, like the Pharisees, trying to prove ourselves right at the expense of understanding? True spiritual dialogue should aim at discovering truth rather than winning arguments.

Related Words

• ἐπερωτάω (eperotao) – to inquire, question – Similar in meaning but without the hostile connotation See G1905
• ἐξετάζω (exetazo) – to examine closely, scrutinize – Used for careful investigation See G1833
• συζητέω (suzeteo) – to discuss, dispute – Describes theological debate See G4802
• δοκιμάζω (dokimazo) – to test, examine – Focuses on proving or testing See G1381

Did you Know?

• The practice of ἀποστοματίζω was so common in ancient Greek education that students would spend years memorizing and reciting texts, developing what we now call “oral tradition” – a crucial element in understanding how the Gospels were initially preserved.
• Modern-day investigative journalism techniques bear striking similarities to the ancient practice of ἀποστοματίζω, where reporters ask rapid-fire questions to elicit spontaneous responses from their subjects.
• The word’s compound structure (ἀπό + στόμα) literally paints a picture of “drawing words out of someone’s mouth,” reflecting the forceful nature of the questioning it describes.

Remember This

ἀποστοματίζω reminds us that even the most hostile questioning of our faith can become an opportunity to demonstrate the wisdom and grace of our Messiah.