Brief Overview of ἀποκλείω (G608: Apokleiō)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apokleiō

Root Words: Derived from ἀπό (apo), meaning “from” or “away from,” and κλεῖω (kleiō), meaning “to shut” or “to close.” Thus, ἀποκλείω means “to shut out” or “to exclude.”

Primary Meanings:

• To shut out or exclude from a place or group.
• To keep something or someone from entering or participating.
• In a broader sense, to prevent access or admission to something.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀποκλείω as “to shut out” or “to exclude.” It focuses on the act of preventing entry or access, particularly in contexts of exclusion from privileges, places, or groups.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀποκλείω as “to shut out” or “to exclude.” It emphasizes the act of keeping someone from participating or gaining access.

Vines: According to Vines’ Expository Dictionary, ἀποκλείω means “to shut out” or “to exclude,” referring to the act of preventing access or admission, often in contexts of social or religious exclusion.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ defines ἀποκλείω as “to shut out” or “to exclude,” noting its use in classical Greek to describe the act of preventing someone from entering or participating.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀποκλείω as “to shut out” or “to exclude,” focusing on the idea of preventing entry or participation.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

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Aristotle (Rhetoric, 4th century BCE): Aristotle uses related terms to describe the exclusion of individuals from certain rights or privileges, illustrating the concept of shutting out or preventing access.

Plato (Republic, 4th century BCE): Plato employs similar terms to discuss the exclusion of individuals from certain groups or classes, reflecting the idea of preventing participation.

Sophocles (Antigone, 5th century BCE): Sophocles uses terms related to exclusion or shutting out in dramatic contexts, illustrating the concept of preventing access or participation in specific scenarios.

4. Summary:

The Greek word ἀποκλείω (Apokleiō) means “to shut out” or “to exclude.” It conveys the idea of preventing entry or access to something, often in contexts of social, legal, or physical exclusion. In classical Greek literature, it is used to describe various forms of exclusion from groups, rights, or places. The term reflects the broader concept of barring or preventing participation, illustrating its application in both historical and philosophical contexts.