ἀπολύω (G630) — Greek Lexicon

ἀπολύω

apolýō

G630 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To set free or release from a state of confinement, obligation, or relationship. ἀπολύω ranges from literal release (prison, debt, sickness) to formal dismissal from a state or relationship, such as divorce or releasing from service. In various contexts, it can mean to let go, discharge, liberate, or absolve, and may denote ending an obligation (forgiving a debt, granting pardon), permitting departure (dismissing a gathering or individual), or dissolving a contractual relationship (as in divorce).

Semantic Range

to release from confinement, to dismiss from service or an assembly, to send away, to permit to depart, to dissolve a legal or contractual bond (including divorce), to grant pardon or remission, to let die

Root / Etymology

Formed from the preposition ἀπό ('from, away from') + the verb λύω ('to loosen, unbind, release'). The root sense is 'to loose from' or 'to set loose from.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ἀπολύω commonly denoted the act of setting someone or something free, in both a literal sense (releasing prisoners, letting someone leave) and a formal or legal one (discharging soldiers, dismissing assemblies). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, it was employed with a broader legal or social nuance, including releasing from a legal relationship or contractual bond. In the Septuagint, ἀπολύω can translate Hebrew verbs denoting 'send away,' 'release,' or 'dismiss,' particularly in contexts of divorce (cf. Deut 24:1 LXX, releasing a wife) or freeing captives. In the New Testament, the word frequently refers to releasing someone from prison or custody (e.g., Luke 23:25), dismissing crowds or individuals (Matthew 14:22), granting permission to depart (e.g., Simeon's 'now dismiss your servant,' Luke 2:29), and dissolving a marital relationship by divorce (Matthew 5:31-32). Occasionally, it bears the sense of forgiveness or remission, especially within legal or ritual contexts. English translations often narrow ἀπολύω to 'release,' 'dismiss,' 'divorce,' or 'let go'; however, the term encompasses a spectrum of relational and legal severance broader than any single English equivalent. Unlike λύω alone, which can have more general senses of 'unbind,' ἀπολύω highlights the separation from a particular source or relationship. The use of the term in the context of divorce reflects Greek legal idiom and may not align precisely with terms or concepts in later English or ecclesiastical usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "release" 66 occurrences

Most natural and versatile English verb that covers the primary SILEX senses—freeing from confinement or obligation, dismissing or sending away, permitting departure, and dissolving a bond (including divorce). It is the most frequent rendering in the P2 data and can be easily inflected to match all grammatical forms while remaining natural-sounding.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"dismissed" (1x) "departed" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀπό and λύω; to free fully, i.e. (literally) relieve, release, dismiss (reflexively, depart), or (figuratively) let die, pardon or (specially) divorce:--(let) depart, dismiss, divorce, forgive, let go, loose, put (send) away, release, set at liberty.

Root Family

ἀπολύω (apolyō) — to release, to loosen, to sever, to dismiss

Root λυ- to release, to loosen, to sever or dismiss

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G630-16`	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to release	to release	to release	11
`G630-05`	ἀπέλυσεν	apelusen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he released	he released	he released	8
`G630-21`	ἀπολύσω	apoluso	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I release	I might release	I might release	8
`G630-22`	ἀπόλυσον	apoluson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	send away	Release!	Release	6
`G630-19`	ἀπολύσῃ	apoluse	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	divorces	he/she might release	he/she might release	5
`G630-03`	ἀπέλυσαν	apelusan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they released	they released	they released	4
`G630-12`	ἀπολύειν	apoluein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to release	to release	to release	3
`G630-07`	ἀπολελυμένην	apolelumenen	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC F SG`	divorced	having been released	the woman who has been released	3
`G630-23`	ἀπολυθέντες	apoluthentes	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	having been dismissed	having been released	having been released	2
`G630-17`	ἀπολύσας	apolusas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having sent away	having released	having released	2
`G630-15`	ἀπολύων	apoluon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	divorces	one releasing	one releasing	2
`G630-04`	ἀπέλυσε	apeluse	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	let go	he released	he released	1
`G630-11`	ἀπολύει	apoluei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	dismissed	he releases	dismissed	1
`G630-08`	ἀπολελυμένον	apolelumenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG`	has been released	having been released	having been released	1
`G630-25`	ἀπολυθῆτε	apoluthete	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P PL`	release	you may be released	you may be released	1
`G630-10`	ἀπολελύσθαι	apolelusthai	`V PRF PASS INF`	have been released	to have been released	to have been released	1
`G630-20`	ἀπολύσῃς	apoluses	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	you release	you might release	you might release	1
`G630-24`	ἀπολυθήσεσθε	apoluthesesthe	`V FUT PASS IND 2P PL`	you will be released	you will be released	you will be released	1
`G630-14`	ἀπολύετε	apoluete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	release	Release	be releasing	1
`G630-18`	ἀπολύσασα	apolusasa	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	having divorced	having released	having released	1
`G630-13`	ἀπολύεις	apolueis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	you are letting go	you are releasing	you are releasing	1
`G630-06`	ἀπελύθησαν	apeluthesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they were sent away	they were released	they were released	1
`G630-02`	ἀπελύοντο	apeluonto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they departed	they were releasing themselves	they departed	1
`G630-09`	ἀπολέλυσαι	apolelusai	`V PRF PASS IND 2P SG`	you are loosed	you have been released	you have been released	1
`G630-01`	ἀπέλυεν	apeluen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	he released	he was releasing	he was releasing	1

Occurrences in Scripture

68 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G630-16`	Matthew 1:19	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to put...away	to release	to release
`G630-19`	Matthew 5:31	ἀπολύσῃ	apoluse	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	divorces	he/she might release	he/she might release
`G630-15`	Matthew 5:32	ἀπολύων	apoluon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	divorcing	one releasing	one releasing
`G630-07`	Matthew 5:32	ἀπολελυμένην	apolelumenen	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC F SG`	divorced	having been released	the woman who has been released
`G630-22`	Matthew 14:15	ἀπόλυσον	apoluson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	send away	Release!	Release
`G630-19`	Matthew 14:22	ἀπολύσῃ	apoluse	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	send away	he/she might release	he/she might release
`G630-17`	Matthew 14:23	ἀπολύσας	apolusas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having sent away	having released	having released
`G630-22`	Matthew 15:23	ἀπόλυσον	apoluson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	Send away	Release!	Release
`G630-16`	Matthew 15:32	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to send away	to release	to release
`G630-17`	Matthew 15:39	ἀπολύσας	apolusas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having sent away	having released	having released
`G630-05`	Matthew 18:27	ἀπέλυσεν	apelusen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	released	he released	he released
`G630-16`	Matthew 19:3	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to divorce	to release	to release
`G630-16`	Matthew 19:7	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to send away	to release	to release
`G630-16`	Matthew 19:8	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to divorce	to release	to release
`G630-19`	Matthew 19:9	ἀπολύσῃ	apoluse	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	divorces	he/she might release	he/she might release
`G630-07`	Matthew 19:9	ἀπολελυμένην	apolelumenen	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC F SG`	divorced	having been released	the woman who has been released
`G630-12`	Matthew 27:15	ἀπολύειν	apoluein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to release	to release	to release
`G630-21`	Matthew 27:17	ἀπολύσω	apoluso	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	that I release	I might release	I might release
`G630-21`	Matthew 27:21	ἀπολύσω	apoluso	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I shall release	I might release	I might release
`G630-05`	Matthew 27:26	ἀπέλυσεν	apelusen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he released	he released	he released
`G630-22`	Mark 6:36	ἀπόλυσον	apoluson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	send away	Release!	Release
`G630-11`	Mark 6:45	ἀπολύει	apoluei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	dismissed	he releases	dismissed
`G630-21`	Mark 8:3	ἀπολύσω	apoluso	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I send away	I might release	I might release
`G630-05`	Mark 8:9	ἀπέλυσεν	apelusen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he sent away	he released	he released
`G630-16`	Mark 10:2	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to divorce	to release	to release
`G630-16`	Mark 10:4	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to send away	to release	to release
`G630-19`	Mark 10:11	ἀπολύσῃ	apoluse	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	divorces	he/she might release	he/she might release
`G630-18`	Mark 10:12	ἀπολύσασα	apolusasa	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	having divorced	having released	having released
`G630-01`	Mark 15:6	ἀπέλυεν	apeluen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	he released	he was releasing	he was releasing
`G630-21`	Mark 15:9	ἀπολύσω	apoluso	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	release	I might release	I might release
`G630-19`	Mark 15:11	ἀπολύσῃ	apoluse	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	he should release	he/she might release	he/she might release
`G630-05`	Mark 15:15	ἀπέλυσεν	apelusen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	released	he released	he released
`G630-13`	Luke 2:29	ἀπολύεις	apolueis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	you are letting go	you are releasing	you are releasing
`G630-14`	Luke 6:37	ἀπολύετε	apoluete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	release	Release	be releasing
`G630-24`	Luke 6:37	ἀπολυθήσεσθε	apoluthesesthe	`V FUT PASS IND 2P PL`	you will be released	you will be released	you will be released
`G630-05`	Luke 8:38	ἀπέλυσεν	apelusen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	sent away	he released	he released
`G630-22`	Luke 9:12	ἀπόλυσον	apoluson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	send away	Release!	Release
`G630-09`	Luke 13:12	ἀπολέλυσαι	apolelusai	`V PRF PASS IND 2P SG`	you are loosed	you have been released	you have been released
`G630-05`	Luke 14:4	ἀπέλυσεν	apelusen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	let him go	he released	he released
`G630-15`	Luke 16:18	ἀπολύων	apoluon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	divorces	one releasing	one releasing
`G630-07`	Luke 16:18	ἀπολελυμένην	apolelumenen	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC F SG`	one divorced	having been released	the woman who has been released
`G630-21`	Luke 23:16	ἀπολύσω	apoluso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will release	I might release	I will release
`G630-12`	Luke 23:17	ἀπολύειν	apoluein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to release	to release	to release
`G630-22`	Luke 23:18	ἀπόλυσον	apoluson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	release	Release!	Release
`G630-16`	Luke 23:20	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to release	to release	to release
`G630-21`	Luke 23:22	ἀπολύσω	apoluso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will release	I might release	I will release
`G630-05`	Luke 23:25	ἀπέλυσεν	apelusen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he released	he released	he released
`G630-21`	John 18:39	ἀπολύσω	apoluso	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I release	I might release	I might release
`G630-21`	John 18:39	ἀπολύσω	apoluso-2	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I release	I might release	I might release
`G630-16`	John 19:10	ἀπολῦσαί	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to release	to release	to release
`G630-16`	John 19:12	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to release	to release	to release
`G630-20`	John 19:12	ἀπολύσῃς	apoluses	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	you release	you might release	you might release
`G630-12`	Acts 3:13	ἀπολύειν	apoluein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to release	to release	to release
`G630-03`	Acts 4:21	ἀπέλυσαν	apelusan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	let them go	they released	they released
`G630-23`	Acts 4:23	ἀπολυθέντες	apoluthentes	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	having been released	having been released	having been released
`G630-03`	Acts 5:40	ἀπέλυσαν	apelusan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they released	they released	they released
`G630-03`	Acts 13:3	ἀπέλυσαν	apelusan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they sent them away	they released	they released
`G630-23`	Acts 15:30	ἀπολυθέντες	apoluthentes	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	having been dismissed	having been released	having been released
`G630-06`	Acts 15:33	ἀπελύθησαν	apeluthesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they were sent away	they were released	they were released
`G630-22`	Acts 16:35	ἀπόλυσον	apoluson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	release	Release!	Release
`G630-25`	Acts 16:36	ἀπολυθῆτε	apoluthete	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P PL`	release	you may be released	you may be released
`G630-03`	Acts 17:9	ἀπέλυσαν	apelusan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they released	they released	they released
`G630-05`	Acts 19:41	ἀπέλυσεν	apelusen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he dismissed	he released	he released
`G630-04`	Acts 23:22	ἀπέλυσε	apeluse	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	let go	he released	he released
`G630-10`	Acts 26:32	ἀπολελύσθαι	apolelusthai	`V PRF PASS INF`	have been released	to have been released	to have been released
`G630-16`	Acts 28:18	ἀπολῦσαι	apolusai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to release	to release	to release
`G630-02`	Acts 28:25	ἀπελύοντο	apeluonto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they departed	they were releasing themselves	they departed
`G630-08`	Hebrews 13:23	ἀπολελυμένον	apolelumenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG`	has been released	having been released	having been released

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