Understanding ἀφίστημι (aphistēmi) Strong’s G868: The Divine Call to Depart from Evil and Stand Firm in Faith

Pronunciation Guide: ah-FIS-tay-mee

Basic Definition

Strong’s G868: ἀφίστημι (aphistēmi) primarily means to stand away from, withdraw, depart, or remove oneself from something or someone. In biblical contexts, it often carries the nuance of abandoning a previous position or relationship, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually. It can signify both literal physical departure and figurative withdrawal from a belief, practice, or allegiance.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Components: Compound of ἀπό (apo, “from, away from”) + ἵστημι (histēmi, “to stand, place, set up”)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative passages, epistolary teaching, prophetic warnings
• Semantic Domain: Movement, separation, abandonment

ἀφίστημι Morphology:

• ἀφίστημι (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I cause to withdraw, I remove
• ἀφίστησι(ν) (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it removes
• ἀφίσταμαι (present middle/passive indicative, 1st person singular) – I withdraw myself, I depart
• ἀπέστην (aorist active indicative, 1st person singular) – I departed, I withdrew
• ἀπέστη (aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it departed
• ἀποστήσονται (future middle indicative, 3rd person plural) – they will depart
• ἀπόστητε (aorist active imperative, 2nd person plural) – depart! withdraw! (command)
• ἀποστήτω (aorist active imperative, 3rd person singular) – let him/her/it depart!
• ἀφεστηκότες (perfect active participle, nominative plural masculine) – having departed

Origin & History

The term ἀφίστημι has deep roots in classical Greek literature, where it was employed to describe physical separation or distance between objects or people. In works like Thucydides’ “History of the Peloponnesian War,” the term appears in descriptions of armies withdrawing from battle positions or cities revolting from alliances. The compound structure reveals its fundamental meaning—to stand (ἵστημι) away from (ἀπό).

In the Septuagint (LXX), ἀφίστημι gained significant theological weight, frequently describing Israel’s departure from covenant faithfulness to יהוה (Yahweh). In Deuteronomy and the prophetic literature, it often translates the Hebrew סוּר (sur, “to turn aside”) or מָרַד (marad, “to rebel”). The Jewish translator Aquila, known for his extremely literal translation approach, consistently used ἀφίστημι when the Hebrew text depicted apostasy or rebellion against Divine commandments. By the time of the New Testament, the word carried strong connotations of both physical departure and spiritual abandonment.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Physical Departure – Literal movement away from a location, removing oneself from physical proximity
• Withdrawal of Support – Ceasing to provide assistance, removing one’s backing or endorsement
• Spiritual Apostasy – Abandoning one’s faith commitments, falling away from religious beliefs
• Ceasing an Activity – Stopping a practice or habit, discontinuing an ongoing action
• Creating Distance – Establishing separation, whether emotional, intellectual, or spiritual

ἀφίστημι Translation Options:

• Depart – Best captures the physical movement aspect, emphasizing the action of leaving a place
• Withdraw – Highlights the intentional nature of the separation, often with a sense of deliberateness
• Fall away – Particularly appropriate when describing spiritual apostasy or abandoning faith
• Stand aloof – Captures the etymological sense of “standing away from,” useful in contexts of social separation
• Desert/Abandon – Strongest translation, emphasizing the complete severing of a previous connection or relationship

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀφίστημι appears 14 times across several books, with notable concentration in Luke-Acts (10 occurrences). Its first appearance in Luke 2:37 describes the elderly prophetess Anna who “never departed from the temple,” highlighting her exceptional devotion. This positive usage contrasts with its more frequent negative connotations elsewhere in Scripture.

The term takes on profound theological significance in passages like Luke 8:13, where in the Parable of the Sower, those who receive the word with joy but have no root “believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.” Here, ἀφίστημι portrays spiritual inconstancy and failure to persevere. Similarly, in 1 Timothy 4:1, Paul warns that “in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,” using ἀφίστημι to describe apostasy.

In its Septuagint usage, the term frequently appears in contexts of covenant unfaithfulness, as in Deuteronomy 32:15 where Israel “grew fat and kicked… and forsook God who made him.”

• “She never departed [ἀφίστατο] from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.” Luke 2:37
• “And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away [ἀφίστανται].” Luke 8:13
• “And he left [ἀποστάς] the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, ‘Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.'” 1 Kings 19:20 LXX
• “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart [ἀποστήσονται] from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1
• “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (where the LXX uses a form of ὑπομένω rather than ἀφίστημι, providing an interesting contrast)
• “But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back [ἀποστείληται], my soul has no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38 (quoting Habakkuk 2:4)
• “And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out [ἀπεστασαν] of the city.” Mark 11:18-19

Cultural Insights

In the Greco-Roman world, ἀφίστημι carried significant political overtones, frequently describing the act of rebellion or secession from established authority. Cities or provinces that “stood away from” (ἀφίστημι) the Roman Empire faced severe consequences for such rebellion. This political dimension provides important background for understanding how the early church hearers would have processed warnings about “departing from the faith” – as not merely a personal religious decision but an act of treasonous rebellion against the Divine Emperor, the true Κύριος (Lord).

The Jewish concept of apostasy (מְשׁוּבָה, meshuva) provides another crucial cultural lens. Unlike the Greek philosophical tradition which might view changing one’s mind as intellectual growth, the Hebrew mindset saw covenant as the foundation of identity and relationship with יהוה (Yahweh). To “stand away from” this covenant was not merely changing opinions but violating a sacred bond. The rabbis taught that when Israel apostatized, the Divine Presence (Shekhinah) itself withdrew from the Temple. This reciprocal understanding of departure—humans depart from God, and God’s presence departs from them—enriches our understanding of ἀφίστημι in biblical contexts.

Theological Significance

The concept of ἀφίστημι presents a powerful theological paradox in Scripture: believers are simultaneously called to “depart” and to “not depart.” We are commanded to stand away from sin, false teaching, and worldly values (as in 2 Timothy 2:19, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity”), while warned against departing from the living God (Hebrews 3:12). This tension reveals the fundamental nature of faith as both separation and adherence—we withdraw from evil precisely to cling more fully to God.

The theological usage of ἀφίστημι also illuminates God’s faithfulness in contrast to human inconstancy. While Scripture warns about human tendency to depart from faith commitments, it repeatedly affirms that God does not similarly abandon His covenant people. As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:13, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” This asymmetrical covenant loyalty reveals the Messiah’s heart toward His people. Even when describing judgment, the prophetic tradition presents divine withdrawal (God’s “standing away”) as temporary and remedial, always with the purpose of restoration rather than permanent abandonment.

Personal Application

The concept of ἀφίστημι challenges us to examine both what we are departing from and what we are standing firm in. In a culture that often celebrates “following your heart” regardless of direction, Scripture calls us to intentional, discerning departure—moving away from sin and toward covenant faithfulness. We might ask ourselves: What relationships, habits, or thought patterns do I need to “stand away from” to draw nearer to God? What biblical truths or spiritual disciplines am I in danger of departing from when facing trials or temptations?

The dual nature of ἀφίστημι—describing both righteous separation and unrighteous abandonment—reminds us that the same action can be either faithful or unfaithful depending on its object. Departing from worldly values demonstrates commitment; departing from biblical truth demonstrates compromise. May we have wisdom to discern when separation honors God and when it represents dangerous spiritual drift, always remembering that while we might struggle with faithfulness, our Messiah Jesus never departs from us (Matthew 28:20).

Related Words

• χωρίζω (chōrizō, “to separate, divide”) – While ἀφίστημι emphasizes the act of standing away, χωρίζω focuses on the resulting separation between two things previously joined. In marital contexts, it specifically refers to divorce. See G5563
• ἀποστασία (apostasia, “apostasy, rebellion”) – This noun derives from ἀφίστημι and specifically denotes religious defection or political revolt. While ἀφίστημι can describe neutral departure, ἀποστασία always carries negative connotations of abandoning proper authority. See G646
• ἀποχωρέω (apochōreō, “to go away, depart”) – Similar to ἀφίστημι but lacks the specific connotation of “standing” away, focusing instead on the movement aspect of departure without necessarily implying severing a relationship. See G672
• ἀρνέομαι (arneomai, “to deny, disown, renounce”) – While ἀφίστημι describes physical or spiritual departure, ἀρνέομαι focuses on the verbal or intellectual rejection of something previously acknowledged. They often work together in apostasy contexts. See G720
• παραπίπτω (parapiptō, “to fall away, transgress”) – Emphasizes the falling or stumbling aspect of spiritual departure rather than the deliberate standing away implied by ἀφίστημι. Often used for inadvertent sin rather than intentional apostasy. See G3895

Did you Know?

• The English word “apostasy” derives directly from the Greek noun form of ἀφίστημι (ἀποστασία), highlighting how influential this concept has been in religious vocabulary. The term entered English through ecclesiastical Latin and carries essentially the same meaning today as it did in the first century—a deliberate abandonment of previously held religious beliefs. This remarkably stable semantic history demonstrates the enduring significance of the concept in religious communities.
• In ancient medical writings by Hippocrates and Galen, forms of ἀφίστημι were used to describe abscesses or the withdrawal of bodily fluids from their proper channels, creating a powerful metaphor for how spiritual apostasy represents an unnatural and unhealthy condition. Just as a physician would work to drain an abscess and restore proper function, the early church understood pastoral care as treating spiritual “departures” to restore believers to covenant health.
• The Middle Eastern concept of covenant loyalty sheds light on ἀφίστημι’s gravity in Scripture. Ancient Near Eastern treaties between kings and vassals included specific “apostasy clauses” outlining severe consequences for those who “stood away from” their sworn allegiance. When biblical authors employed ἀφίστημι in spiritual contexts, first-century hearers would have immediately recognized the covenantal framework and the serious implications of breaking such sacred bonds.

Remember This

ἀφίστημι embodies the biblical paradox of faithful departure—standing away from evil to stand firmly with God—reminding us that our spiritual journey involves both separation from darkness and unshakable commitment to light.