Brief Overview of ἀποστέλλω (G649: Apostéllō)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apostéllō

Root Words: The term ἀποστέλλω (apostéllō) is derived from ἀπό (apó), meaning “from” or “away,” and στέλλω (stéllō), meaning “to send” or “to dispatch.”

Primary Meanings:

• To send away, dispatch, or send forth someone or something.
• To commission or appoint someone for a specific task or mission.
• In a broader sense, it can mean to send out with a particular purpose or objective.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀποστέλλω as “to send away” or “to dispatch.” It emphasizes the aspect of sending with a purpose or mission, often involving the sending of persons or messages for a specific task. The term is used in various contexts including legal, military, and personal dispatches.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀποστέλλω as “to send off or away,” focusing on its use in the context of sending someone on a mission or with a message. It highlights the sense of sending with authority or purpose.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary explains that ἀποστέλλω means “to send forth” or “to dispatch,” particularly in the context of sending someone on a mission or with a message. It is used both in a literal and figurative sense.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ defines ἀποστέλλω as “to send off” or “to dispatch,” noting its use in contexts involving sending persons or messages away for a specific purpose or mission.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀποστέλλω as “to send away” or “to dispatch,” with emphasis on its application in sending individuals or messages with a specific task or commission.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

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Xenophon (Anabasis, 4th century BCE): Xenophon uses ἀποστέλλω in the context of sending messengers or troops on missions, illustrating its use in military and diplomatic dispatches.

Aristotle (Politics, 4th century BCE): Aristotle employs the term to describe the sending of envoys or representatives for political purposes, demonstrating its use in formal and official contexts.

Demosthenes (Orations, 4th century BCE): Demosthenes references ἀποστέλλω in legal and political speeches, indicating its use in the dispatch of individuals for legal or public tasks.

4. Summary:

ἀποστέλλω (apostéllō) means “to send away” or “to dispatch,” with a primary focus on sending individuals or messages with a specific purpose or mission. Classic Greek literature illustrates its use in military, political, and legal contexts, demonstrating its broad application in ancient Greek society. Understanding ἀποστέλλω provides insight into the formal processes of sending and commissioning in various aspects of Greek life.