ἀποτόμως (G664) — Greek Lexicon

ἀποτόμως

apotómōs

G664 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

As an adverb: in a manner that is sharp, severe, or abrupt; acting or speaking with decisive severity or brusqueness, especially in giving orders, admonitions, or judgments.

Semantic Range

sharply, severely, peremptorily, abruptly, with rigid or uncompromising decisiveness, in a manner marked by severity or lack of hesitation

Root / Etymology

From the adjective ἀποτόμος ('sharp, severe, abrupt'), itself derived from ἀποτέμνω ('to cut off, excise'), which is composed of ἀπό ('from') and τέμνω ('to cut').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Koine Greek, ἀποτόμως appears rarely, predominantly in Hellenistic and New Testament contexts, where it expresses an action performed with marked severity or strictness. Its classical background ties to the notion of 'cutting off' sharply, which metaphorically develops into social or disciplinary abruptness or harshness. In the New Testament (e.g., 2 Corinthians 13:10; Titus 1:13), it denotes admonition or action carried out sharply, with no hesitation or softening—contrast with milder adverbs expressing gentleness (πραΰς) or patience (μακροθυμία). Standard English translations often render it as 'sharply' or 'severely,' but the term emphasizes the decisive, unyielding character of the action rather than mere rudeness. The metaphor stretches from physical severance to figurative strictness, especially in corrective or judgmental contexts. The word is rare in non-biblical Koine, giving it a marked and somewhat technical nuance when it occurs.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

adverb from a derivative of a comparative of ἀπό and (to cut); abruptly, i.e. peremptorily:--sharply(-ness).

Root Family

ἀποτόμ- (apotómōs) — to cut off, to excise, to sever

Root ἀποτόμ- to cut off, to excise, to sever

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G664-01`	ἀποτόμως	apotomos	`ADV`	severely	with cutting severity	sharply	2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G664-01`	2 Corinthians 13:10	ἀποτόμως	apotomos	`ADV`	severely	with cutting severity	with cutting severity
`G664-01`	Titus 1:13	ἀποτόμως	apotomos	`ADV`	sharply	with cutting severity	sharply

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