Brief Overview of ἀποτομία (G663: Apotomía)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apotomía

Root Words: ἀποτομία derives from the verb ἀποτέμνω (apotémnō), which means “to cut off” or “to cut away,” with the suffix -ία indicating a noun form. Thus, ἀποτομία primarily signifies the concept of cutting off or severing.

Primary Meanings:

• A cutting off or severance.
• A separation or division, often in a physical or metaphorical sense.
• A decisive or abrupt action that results in a part being removed or detached.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀποτομία as “a cutting off” or “severance,” focusing on the idea of a decisive and often abrupt removal or separation. It reflects the sense of something being cut away or detached.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀποτομία as “a cutting off” or “separation,” noting its use to describe the act of severing or removing something in a literal or figurative sense.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary highlights ἀποτομία as “cutting off” or “severance,” especially in the context of a decisive act of removal or division.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ defines ἀποτομία as “cutting off” or “severance,” noting its use in contexts where something is removed or separated.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s describes ἀποτομία as “a cutting off,” consistent with the idea of a part being severed or removed.

Bible Verses:

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• Hebrews 4:12 (NIV): “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Here, the concept of cutting or division metaphorically aligns with the idea of ἀποτομία.)
• Matthew 3:10 (NIV): “The ax has been laid to the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (In this context, the act of cutting down can be seen as a form of ἀποτομία.)

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

Herodotus (Histories, 5th century BCE): Herodotus uses terms related to ἀποτομία to describe acts of severance or removal in historical and narrative contexts, illustrating the physical act of cutting off.

Thucydides (History of the Peloponnesian War, 5th century BCE): Thucydides employs similar language to describe decisive actions that involve separation or removal, particularly in military and political contexts.

Euripides (Tragedies, 5th century BCE): Euripides uses related terms in his plays to convey the dramatic and often abrupt severance or removal of characters or elements, reflecting the metaphorical use of ἀποτομία.

4. Summary:

ἀποτομία (apotomía) refers to the concept of cutting off or severance, representing a decisive and often abrupt removal or separation. In both classical Greek literature and biblical texts, it signifies physical or metaphorical acts of detachment. Its use spans from describing literal cutting to symbolic acts of division or removal, illustrating its broad application in various contexts.