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ἀποκρίνομαι

apokrínomai

G611 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To give a response, reply, or answer—whether to a question, statement, or situation; to respond verbally or in writing. In Hellenistic and Biblical Greek, especially in narrative or dialogical settings, it often denotes replying to someone but can, through Hebraic influence, refer generally to giving a spoken response, sometimes formulaically marking someone’s turn to speak in a dialogue, even if no prior question is recorded. Secondary senses include making a legal defense or formal reply, but its core function remains 'to answer.'

Semantic Range

to answer, to reply, to respond verbally, to make a defense, to begin a reply in narrative

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἀπό ('from') and the verb κρίνω ('to judge, to distinguish, to select'), thus literally 'to separate off an answer, to reply.' The middle-passive form ἀποκρίνομαι is standard in Koine for the meaning 'to answer.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀποκρίνομαι is attested from the 5th century BCE, with the sense of 'to separate, decide, reply to.' By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, it becomes a common verb specifically for 'to answer' or 'to reply' in dialogue. In the Septuagint and New Testament, its frequency and usage reflect Semitic narrative conventions—mirroring the Hebrew verb עָנָה ('to answer, to respond'). Often in biblical narrative, ἀποκρίνομαι introduces speech even when no direct question prompts it, indicating simply the start of an utterance or reply (a construction influenced by Hebrew storytelling). Standard English translations render it almost always as 'answer' or 'reply,' but do not typically reflect its idiomatic narrative function or formulaic transition role in Semitic narrative. In legal or judicial settings, it can refer to the formal act of giving an answer or defense, though in most contexts, it is simply 'to answer' in dialogue.

Translation Consistency

primary "answer" 50 occurrences

Apokrínomai’s primary, everyday sense is to give a verbal reply or make a response (including formal/legal replies). “Answer” is the most natural, flexible English verb to cover spoken replies, narrative turn-taking, and defensive replies; it reflects the dominant translations (answered/replied) and yields natural inflected forms for all occurrences.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀπό and ; to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism (compare עָנָה) to begin to speak (where an address is expected):--answer.

Root Family

κριν- (eilikrinḗs) — to judge, decide, distinguish; to examine, to evaluate

Root κριν- to reply, to answer, to distinguish (in context of response)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1506 εἰλικρινής unmixed and genuine
G2632 κατακρίνω stands condemned
G2918 κρίνον lilies
G2919 κρίνω I judged
G350 ἀνακρίνω having thoroughly examined

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G611-10 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered 96
G611-02 ἀπεκρίθη apekrithe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG answered he/she replied he/she answered 82
G611-05 ἀπεκρίθησαν apekrithesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL answered they replied they answered 19
G611-01 ἀπεκρίνατο apekrinato V AOR MID IND 3P SG answered answered answered 7
G611-14 ἀποκριθέντες apokrithentes V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL answering having answered having answered 7
G611-06 ἀποκρίνῃ apokrine V PRS MID IND 2P SG do you answer you answer you answer 4
G611-08 ἀποκρίνεται apokrinetai V PRS MID IND 3P SG answers answers answers 3
G611-17 ἀποκρίθητέ apokrithete V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL answer Reply! Answer, all of you! 3
G611-03 ἀπεκρίθην apekrithen V AOR PASS IND 1P SG answered I answered I answered 2
G611-16 ἀποκριθήσονται apokrithesontai V FUT PASS IND 3P PL they will answer they will answer they will answer 2

Occurrences in Scripture

233 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G611-10 Matthew 3:15 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 4:4 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 8:8 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 11:4 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 11:25 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-05 Matthew 12:38 ἀπεκρίθησαν apekrithesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL answered they replied they answered
G611-10 Matthew 12:39 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 12:48 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 13:11 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 13:37 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 14:28 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 15:3 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 15:13 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 15:15 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-02 Matthew 15:23 ἀπεκρίθη apekrithe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG answered he/she replied he/she answered
G611-10 Matthew 15:24 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 15:26 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 15:28 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 16:2 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 16:16 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 16:17 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 17:4 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 17:11 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 17:17 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 19:4 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 19:27 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 20:13 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 20:22 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG having answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 21:21 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 21:24 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-14 Matthew 21:27 ἀποκριθέντες apokrithentes V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 21:29 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 21:30 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 22:1 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 22:29 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-13 Matthew 22:46 ἀποκριθῆναι apokrithenai V AOR PASS INF to answer to answer to answer
G611-10 Matthew 24:2 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 24:4 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-05 Matthew 25:9 ἀπεκρίθησαν apekrithesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL answered they replied they answered
G611-10 Matthew 25:12 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 25:26 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-16 Matthew 25:37 ἀποκριθήσονται apokrithesontai V FUT PASS IND 3P PL will answer they will answer they will answer
G611-10 Matthew 25:40 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-16 Matthew 25:44 ἀποκριθήσονται apokrithesontai V FUT PASS IND 3P PL they will answer they will answer they will answer
G611-15 Matthew 25:45 ἀποκριθήσεται apokrithesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG He will answer will answer will answer
G611-10 Matthew 26:23 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answering having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 26:25 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-10 Matthew 26:33 ἀποκριθεὶς apokritheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG answered having answered having answered
G611-06 Matthew 26:62 ἀποκρίνῃ apokrine V PRS MID IND 2P SG do you answer you answer you answer
G611-14 Matthew 26:66 ἀποκριθέντες apokrithentes V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL answering having answered having answered
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