Lexical Summary
aphiémi: To send away, to leave, to forgive, to permit, to abandon
Original Word:ἀφίημι
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:aphiémi
Pronunciation:ah-FEE-ay-mee
Phonetic Spelling:(af-ee'-ay-mee)
KJV: cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up
NASB:left, forgive, forgiven, let, leaving, leave, let alone
Word Origin:[fromG575 (ἀπό - since) and hiemi "to send" (an intensive form of eimi "to go")]
1. to send forth
{in various applications (as follow)}
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
lay aside, leave, let go, omit
Fromapo and hiemi (to send; an intensive form of eimi, to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow) -- cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.
see GREEKapo
HELPS Word-studies
863aphíēmi (from575/apó, "away from" andhiēmi, "send") – properly,send away;release (discharge).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
apo and hiémi (to send)
Definitionto send away, leave alone, permit
NASB Translationabandoned (1), allow (5), allowed (2), divorce (2), forgave (2), forgive (23), forgiven (23), forgives (1), gave...permission (1), leave (7), leaves (2), leaving (8), left (38), let (9), let...alone (6), let him have (1), neglected (1), neglecting (2), permit (6), permitted (1), permitting (1), send...away (1), tolerate (1), uttered (1), yielded (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 863: ἀφίημιἀφίημι; present 2 person singular
ἀφείς (from the form
ἀφέω,
Revelation 2:20 for
Rec.ἐᾷς) (3 person plural
ἀφίουσινRevelation 11:
Tdf. editions 2, 7, from a form
ἀφιέω; cf.
Buttmann, 48 (42)); imperfect 3 person singular
ἤφιε, with the augment before the preposition,
Mark 1:34;
Mark 11:16, from the form
ἀφίω; whence also present 1 person plural
ἀφίομενLuke 11:4LTTrWH for
ἀφίεμενRec. and 3 person
ἀφίουσινRevelation 11:9LTTrWH; (see
WH's Appendix, p. 167); future
ἀφήσω; 1 aorist
ἀφῆκά, 2 person singular
ἀφῆκεςRevelation 2:4TTrWH (cf.
κοπιάω); 2 aorist imperative
ἄφες,
ἄφετε, subjunctive 3 person singular
ἀφῇ, 2 person plural
ἀφῆτε (infinitive
ἀφεῖναι (
Matthew 23:23LTTrWH;
Luke 5:21L text
TTrWH)), participle
ἀφείς,
ἀφέντες; passive, present
ἀφίεμαι (yet 3 person plural
ἀφιονταιJohn 20:23WH marginal reading etc.; cf.
ἀφίω above); perfect 3 person plural
ἀφέωνται (a Doric form (cf.
Winer's Grammar, § 14, 3 a.; B 49 (42); Kühner, § 285, 4),
Matthew 9:2, 5;
Mark 2:5,(9) — in both these Gospels
L (except in Mark marginal reading)
TTrWH have restored the present 3 person plural
ἀφίενταί;
Luke 5:20, 23;
Luke 7:47 (48);
John 20:23L text
TTr text
WH text;
1 John 2:12); 1 aorist
ἀφεθην; future
ἀφεθήσομαι; cf.
Winers Grammar, § 14, 3;
Buttmann, 48 (42); (
WHs Appendix, p. 167;
Veitch, under the word
ἵημι); (from
ἀπό and
ἵημι); (fr.
Homer down);
to send from (
ἀπό)
oneself;
1.to send away;
a.to bid go away or depart:τούςὄχλους,Matthew 13:36 (others refer this to 3 below);τήνγυναῖκα, of a husband putting away his wife,1 Corinthians 7:11-13 (Herodotus 5, 39; and a substantive,ἄφεσις,Plutarch, Pomp c. 42, 6).
b.to send forth, yield up, emit:τόπνεῦμα, to expire,Matthew 27:50 (τήνψυχήν,Genesis 35:18;Herodotus 4, 190 and often in other Greek writings (seeπνεῦμα, 2)),φωνήνto utter a cry (emitterevocem,Livy 1, 58),Mark 15:37 (Genesis 45:2 and often in Greek writings; (cf. Heinichen onEusebius,h. e. 8, 14, 17)).
c.to let go, let alone, let be;α.to disregard:Matthew 15:14.β.to leave, not to discuss now, a topic, used of tethers, writers, speakers, etc.:Hebrews 6:1 (Euripides, Andr. 392;Theophrastus, char. praef. § 3; for other examples from Greek writings see Bleek on Heb. vol. 2:2, p. 144f) (others take the word in Hebrews, the passage cited as expressive of the duty of the readers, rather than the purpose of the writer; and consequently refer the passage to 3 below).γ.to omit, neglect:Matthew 23:23 (Luke 11:42RG);Mark 7:8;Romans 1:27.δ.to let go, give up, a debt, by not demanding it (opposed toκρατεῖν,John 20:23), i. e.to remit, forgive:τόδάνειον,Matthew 18:27;τήνὀφειλήν,Matthew 18:32;τάὀφειλήματα,Matthew 6:12;τάπαραπτώματα,Matthew 6:14;Mark 11:25f. (TTrWH omitMark 11:26);τάςἁμαρτίας,τάἁμαρτήματα,τάςἀνομίας,Matthew 9:2, 5;Matthew 12:31;Mark 2:5, 7;Mark 3:28;Luke 5:20f, 23;Romans 4:7 (fromPsalm 31:1 ());1 John 1:9;James 5:15 (Isaiah 22:14;Isaiah 33:24, etc.);ἡἐπίνοιατῆςκαρδίας,Acts 8:22, (τήναἰτίαν,Herodotus 6, 30;τάχρέα,Aelian v. h. 14, 24); absolutely,ἀφιέναιτίνιto forgive one:Matthew 12:32;Matthew 18:21, 35;Mark 4:12;Luke 11:4;Luke 12:10;Luke 17:3;Luke 23:34 (L bracketsWH reject the passage).e.to give up, keep no longer:τήνπρώτηνἀγάπην,Revelation 2:4.
2.to permit, allow, not to hinder;
a. followed by a present infinitive (Buttmann, 258 (222)):Mark 10:14;Luke 18:16ἄφετεἔρχεσθαικαίμήκωλύετεαὐτά,Matthew 13:30;Mark 1:34;John 11:44;John 18:8. by the aorist infinitive:Matthew 8:22;Matthew 23:13 (14);Mark 5:37;Mark 7:12, 27;Luke 8:51;Luke 9:60;Luke 12:39;Revelation 11:9.
b. without an infinitive:Matthew 3:15 (ἄφεςἄρτιpermit it just now). with an accusative of the person or thing permitted:Matthew 3:15τότεἀφίησιναὐτόν,Mark 5:19;Mark 11:6;Mark 14:6;Luke 13:8;John 12:7RG;;Acts 5:38 (LTTrWH;RGἐάσατε);Revelation 2:20 (Rec.ἐᾷς).c.ἀφίημιτίνιτί,to give up a thing to one:Matthew 5:40 (ἄφεςαὐτῷκαίτόἱμάτιον).
d. followed byἵνα:Mark 11:16;John 12:7LTTrWH, a later construction, cf.Winers Grammar, § 44, 8;Buttmann, 238 (205).
e. followed by the simple hortative subjunctive:Matthew 7:4;Luke 6:42 (ἄφεςἐκβάλω);Matthew 27:49;Mark 15:36 (ἄφετεἴδωμεν);Epictetus diss. 1, 9, 15ἄφεςδειξωμεν, 3, 12, 15ἄφεςἴδω. Cf.Buttmann, 209f (181f);Winer's Grammar, 285 (268).
3.to leave, go away from one; to depart from anyone,
a. in order to go to another place:Matthew 22:22;Matthew 26:44;Mark 8:13 (Matthew 16:4καταλιπών);;John 4:3;John 16:28.b. to depart from one whom one wishes to quit:Matthew 4:11; so of diseases departing,ἀφῆκεντιναὁπυρετός,Matthew 8:15;Mark 1:31;Luke 4:39;John 4:52.
c. to depart from one and leave him to himself, so that all mutual claims are abandoned:τόνπατέρα,Matthew 4:22;Mark 1:20;Matthew 18:12 (Luke 15:4καταλείπει). Thus alsoἀφιέναιτάἑαυτοῦ to leave possessions, home, etc.:Matthew 4:20;Matthew 19:27, 29;Mark 1:18;Mark 10:28;Luke 5:11;Luke 18:28f.
d. to desert one (wrongfully):Matthew 26:56;Mark 14:50;John 10:12.
e. to go away leaving something behind:Matthew 5:24;John 4:28.
f. to leave one by not taking him as a companion: opposed toπαραλαμβάνειν,Matthew 24:40f:Luke 17:34f.
g. to leave on dying, leave behind one:τέκνα,γυναῖκα,Matthew 22:25;Mark 12:20, 22 (Luke 20:31καταλείπω). h. to leave so that what is left may remain,leave remaining:οὐμήἀφεθῇὧδελίθοςἐπίλίθον (orλίθῳ),Matthew 24:2;Mark 13:2;Luke 21:6. 1:ἀφιέναι followed by the accusative of a noun or pronoun with an accusative of the predicate (Buttmann, § 144, 18):Luke 10:30 (ἡμιθανῆ);John 14:18 (τιναὀρθανον);Matthew 23:38;Luke 13:35 (but Lachmann omitsἔρημος in both passages,WH text omits in Matthew,GTTrWH omit in Luke; that being omitted,ἀφιέναι means to abandon, to leave destitute of God's help);Acts 14:17 (ἀμάρτυρονἑαυτόν (LTTrαὐτόν (WHαὑτόν which see))).
Topical Lexicon
Range of Meanings in ContextThe verb regularly conveys one of three closely related ideas: (1) forgiving sin or debt, (2) releasing or permitting a person or thing, and (3) leaving or abandoning someone or something. Across the New Testament the Spirit-inspired writers deploy the word to reveal the heart of God, the nature of Christ’s mission, and the practical demands of discipleship.
Forgiveness of Sin and Debt
1. Christ’s divine authority to forgive. The first explicit act of Jesus “forgiving” sin appears in Capernaum: “‘Son, your sins are forgiven’” (Mark 2:5). Scribes charge blasphemy, yet the healing that follows proves “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10).
2. The cross-shaped climax. Hanging between earth and heaven, Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34), anticipating the atonement ratified moments later when “Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and yielded up His spirit” (Matthew 27:50).
3. Apostolic proclamation. After the resurrection Christ commissions: “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven” (John 20:23). Apostles therefore preach repentance “so that your sins may be wiped away” (Acts 3:19; conceptually parallel).
4. Assurance for believers. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9). John later comforts the flock: “your sins have been forgiven on account of His name” (1 John 2:12).
5. Blasphemy against the Spirit. Six times the verb marks the solemn warning that such sin “will not be forgiven” (e.g.,Matthew 12:31-32;Mark 3:28-29;Luke 12:10).
6. Prayer and daily life. In the model prayer disciples plead, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12; cf.Luke 11:4). The promise follows: “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).
Mutual Forgiveness and Community Discipline
• Private reconciliation: “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4).
• Corporate accountability: the unmerciful servant is condemned for refusing to “forgive” a fellow servant a trivial debt (Matthew 18:27-35).
• Binding and loosing: congregational action mirrored in heaven (Matthew 18:18-20) rests on the reality that sins may be either retained or forgiven (John 20:23).
• Pastoral application: “the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven” (James 5:15).
Releasing, Permitting, Letting Go
1. Physical maladies depart. When Jesus rebukes Peter’s mother-in-law’s fever, “it left her” (Matthew 8:15;Mark 1:31;Luke 4:39).
2. Demons silenced and dismissed. “He would not allow the demons to speak” (Mark 1:34; ἤφιεν).
3. Children welcomed. “Allow the little children to come to Me” (Mark 10:14;Matthew 19:14).
4. Practical wisdom. Gamaliel counsels the Sanhedrin, “Leave these men alone” (Acts 5:38).
5. Political strategy. Jewish leaders fear that if they “let Him go on in this way” Rome will remove their place and nation (John 11:48).
6. Personal comfort. Jesus promises, “I will not leave you as orphans” (John 14:18) but later assures, “My peace I leave with you” (John 14:27).
Leaving or Abandoning to Follow Christ
• The call of disciples. “They immediately left their nets and followed Him” (Matthew 4:20;Mark 1:18).
• Radical renunciation. Peter declares, “We have left everything and followed You” (Mark 10:28;Matthew 19:27). Jesus promises manifold reward for all who have “left houses or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My name’s sake” (Matthew 19:29;Mark 10:29).
• Mission urgency. Disciples sometimes “leave” the crowd (Mark 4:36), the boat (Mark 1:20), or even their linens (Mark 14:50).
• Apostolic instruction on marriage. If an unbelieving spouse “leaves,” the believing partner “is not bound” (1 Corinthians 7:11-15).
• Call to maturity. “Leaving the elementary principles about Christ, let us press on to maturity” (Hebrews 6:1).
Prophetic and Eschatological Uses
1. Abandonment of the temple. “Behold, your house is left to you desolate” (Matthew 23:38;Luke 13:35).
2. Destruction of Jerusalem. “Not one stone will be left on another” (Matthew 24:2;Mark 13:2;Luke 21:6).
3. Separation at the Parousia. “Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left” (Matthew 24:40-41;Luke 17:34-36).
4. The lost sheep motif. The shepherd “leaves” the ninety-nine to seek the one that strayed (Matthew 18:12).
Old Testament Foundations
The Septuagint often uses the verb to translate Hebrew נָשָׂא (lift away guilt), חָטָא (pardon), or שָׁלַח (send away). Day of Atonement imagery (Leviticus 16) and Jubilee release (Leviticus 25) prepare the way for New Testament fulfillment, locating ultimate remission in the Messiah’s substitutionary sacrifice.
Theological Significance
1. Divine grace initiates forgiveness; human response must mirror that grace.
2. Forgiveness is judicial (removal of guilt) and relational (restoration of fellowship).
3. Releasing possessions and earthly securities is integral to authentic discipleship.
4. Refusal to forgive contradicts the gospel, invites divine discipline, and endangers assurance.
5. Eschatological “leaving” underscores the final separation between the redeemed and the rebellious.
Practical Ministry Implications
• Preaching centers on Christ’s authority to forgive and the call to repent.
• Counseling fosters a culture of gracious release—of offenses, bitterness, and worldly encumbrances.
• Leadership practices discipline with a view to restoration, confident that “whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death” (James 5:20).
• Missions encourage believers to “leave” lesser loyalties for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
Summary
Throughout Scripture ἀφίημι serves as a multifaceted witness: God forgives sin, Christ releases captives, disciples leave all to follow, and the church both permits and restrains in harmony with heaven. The word therefore undergirds the gospel’s promise, discipleship’s cost, and history’s culmination.
Forms and Transliterations
αφεθη αφεθή αφέθη ἀφεθῇ αφεθήναι αφεθησαν αφέθησαν ἀφέθησαν αφεθησεται αφεθήσεται αφεθήσεταί ἀφεθήσεται ἀφεθήσεταί αφειναι ἀφεῖναι αφεις αφείς ἀφεὶς ἀφεῖς αφεισά αφείσα αφεντες αφέντες ἀφέντες Αφες άφες Ἄφες αφετε άφετε άφετέ ἄφετε αφεωνται αφέωνται αφέωνταί ἀφέωνται ἀφέωνταί αφη αφή ἀφῇ αφηκα αφήκα αφήκά ἀφῆκά αφηκαμεν αφήκαμεν ἀφήκαμεν αφηκαν αφήκαν ἀφῆκαν αφήκας αφηκατε αφήκατε ἀφήκατε αφήκε αφήκέ αφηκεν αφήκεν ἀφῆκεν ἀφῆκέν αφηκες ἀφῆκες αφής αφησει αφήσει ἀφησεὶ ἀφήσει αφησεις αφήσεις ἀφήσεις αφήσουσί αφησουσιν αφήσουσιν ἀφήσουσιν αφησω αφήσω ἀφήσω αφητε αφήτε ἀφῆτε αφίεμεν αφιεναι αφιέναι αφίεναι ἀφιέναι αφιενται αφίενται ἀφίενταί αφιεται αφίεται ἀφίεται αφιετε αφίετε ἀφίετε αφιετω αφιέτω ἀφιέτω αφιημι αφίημι ἀφίημι αφίησι αφίησί αφιησιν αφίησιν ἀφίησιν αφιομεν ἀφίομεν αφιουσιν ἀφίουσιν αφίω αφίων αφωμεν αφώμεν ἀφῶμεν ήφιε ηφιεν ἤφιεν aphe aphē aphêi aphē̂i apheinai apheînai apheis apheìs apheîs apheka aphêká aphēka aphē̂ká aphekamen aphēkamen aphḗkamen aphekan aphêkan aphēkan aphē̂kan aphekate aphēkate aphḗkate apheken aphêken aphêkén aphēken aphē̂ken aphē̂kén aphekes aphêkes aphēkes aphē̂kes aphentes aphéntes apheontai apheōntai aphéontai aphéontaí aphéōntai aphéōntaí Aphes Áphes aphesei apheseì aphēsei aphēseì aphḗsei apheseis aphēseis aphḗseis apheso aphēsō aphḗso aphḗsō aphesousin aphēsousin aphḗsousin aphete aphête aphēte aphē̂te áphete aphethe aphethē aphethêi aphethē̂i aphethesan aphethēsan aphéthesan aphéthēsan aphethesetai aphethēsetai aphethḗsetai aphethḗsetaí aphiemi aphiēmi aphíemi aphíēmi aphienai aphiénai aphientai aphíentaí aphiesin aphiēsin aphíesin aphíēsin aphietai aphíetai aphiete aphíete aphieto aphietō aphiéto aphiétō aphiomen aphíomen aphiousin aphíousin aphomen aphômen aphōmen aphō̂men ephien ēphien ḗphienLinks
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