ἀφίημι
aphíēmi
G863 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To send away, to release or let go. Primary sense: to dismiss or cause to depart; to let someone or something go free or unimpeded. Extended senses: to leave or abandon (a person, place, or thing), to remit or forgive (an obligation, debt, wrongdoing), to allow or permit. In legal, personal, and ritual contexts, may denote release from obligation or guilt, abandonment, or the granting of permission.
Semantic Range
to release, to send away, to dismiss, to allow or permit, to leave alone or abandon, to remit or forgive (sins, debts, obligations), to divorce, to neglect or omit
Root / Etymology
From ἀπό (apo, 'away from') + ἵημι (hiēmi, 'to send, to let go, to hurl'). Formed as an intensive or strengthened verb compound common in Greek, signifying forceful release or dismissal.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀφίημι was primarily used for setting free, sending away, or permitting departure—literally 'to let go' or 'send forth.' In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew words for 'release,' 'forgive,' or 'let alone' in legal and cultic contexts (e.g., releasing debts, freeing captives, forgiving sin). In New Testament usage, it retains the core meaning of letting go or releasing, and acquires significant legal and theological usage: especially 'to remit' (sins, debts) or 'to forgive.' English translations often render it as 'forgive' in moral or legal contexts and 'leave/let go' in concrete ones; however, all senses are related to the fundamental idea of releasing or sending away. The word is also employed in expressions for divorce (to 'send away' a spouse), abandonment, or ceasing to hold an object or claim.
Translation Consistency
“Release” naturally covers the primary sense (send away/dismiss/set free) and the extended senses (remit/forgive, let go of an obligation, allow/permit, abandon). It is a single, natural English verb that can be used idiomatically across legal, personal, and ritual contexts where ἀφίημι appears, while staying consistent for all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and (to send; an intensive form of , 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.
Root Family
ἵημι (kathíēmi) — to send, to let go, to release
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2524 | καθίημι | they lowered |
| G3935 | παρίημι | having been slackened |
| G447 | ἀνίημι | having let go |
Word Forms
30 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G863-07 |
ἀφῆκεν | apheken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
left | he released | he released | 20 |
G863-16 |
ἀφῆτε | aphete | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
let | you may release | you may release | 15 |
G863-09 |
ἀφέντες | aphentes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having left | having released | having released | 14 |
G863-11 |
ἄφες | aphes | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
forgive | Release! | Release! | 14 |
G863-19 |
ἀφεθήσεται | aphethesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
it will be forgiven | will be released | will be forgiven | 13 |
G863-10 |
ἀφέωνται | apheontai | V PRF PASS IND 3P PL |
are forgiven | they have been released | they have been released | 8 |
G863-02 |
ἀφεὶς | apheis | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
leaving | having released | having left | 7 |
G863-21 |
ἀφιέναι | aphienai | V PRS ACT INF |
to forgive | to release | to forgive | 7 |
G863-24 |
ἀφίεται | aphietai | V PRS PASS IND 3P SG |
is left | is released | is left | 5 |
G863-04 |
ἀφήκαμεν | aphekamen | V AOR ACT IND 1P PL |
have left | we released | we left | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
145 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G863-11 |
Matthew 3:15 | ἄφες | aphes | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
permit | Release! | allow |
G863-23 |
Matthew 3:15 | ἀφίησιν | aphiesin | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
he allowed | releases | permits |
G863-23 |
Matthew 4:11 | ἀφίησιν | aphiesin | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
leaves | releases | leaves |
G863-09 |
Matthew 4:20 | ἀφέντες | aphentes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having left | having released | having released |
G863-09 |
Matthew 4:22 | ἀφέντες | aphentes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
left | having released | having released |
G863-11 |
Matthew 5:24 | ἄφες | aphes | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
leave | Release! | Release! |
G863-11 |
Matthew 5:40 | ἄφες | aphes | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
let go | Release! | Release! |
G863-11 |
Matthew 6:12 | ἄφες | aphes | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
forgive | Release! | Release! |
G863-04 |
Matthew 6:12 | ἀφήκαμεν | aphekamen | V AOR ACT IND 1P PL |
have forgiven | we released | we released |
G863-16 |
Matthew 6:14 | ἀφῆτε | aphete | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
you forgive | you may release | you may release |
G863-12 |
Matthew 6:14 | ἀφήσει | aphesei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
will forgive | will release | will release |
G863-16 |
Matthew 6:15 | ἀφῆτε | aphete | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
you forgive | you may release | you release |
G863-12 |
Matthew 6:15 | ἀφήσει | aphesei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
will forgive | will release | will release |
G863-11 |
Matthew 7:4 | ἄφες | aphes | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
Let | Release! | Release! |
G863-07 |
Matthew 8:15 | ἀφῆκεν | apheken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
left | he released | he released |
G863-11 |
Matthew 8:22 | ἄφες | aphes | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
let | Release! | allow |
G863-22 |
Matthew 9:2 | ἀφίενταί | aphientai | V PRS PASS IND 3P PL |
are forgiven | they are being released | they are being released |
G863-10 |
Matthew 9:5 | ἀφέωνται | apheontai | V PRF PASS IND 3P PL |
are forgiven | they have been released | they have been released |
G863-21 |
Matthew 9:6 | ἀφιέναι | aphienai | V PRS ACT INF |
to forgive | to release | to forgive |
G863-19 |
Matthew 12:31 | ἀφεθήσεται | aphethesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
will be forgiven | will be released | he/she/it will be released |
G863-19 |
Matthew 12:31 | ἀφεθήσεται | aphethesetai-2 | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
will be forgiven | will be released | he/she/it will be released |
G863-19 |
Matthew 12:32 | ἀφεθήσεται | aphethesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
it will be forgiven | will be released | will be forgiven |
G863-19 |
Matthew 12:32 | ἀφεθήσεται | aphethesetai-2 | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
it will be forgiven | will be released | will be forgiven |
G863-16 |
Matthew 13:30 | ἄφετε | aphete | V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL |
let | you may release | you may release |
G863-02 |
Matthew 13:36 | ἀφεὶς | apheis | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having dismissed | having released | having left |
G863-16 |
Matthew 15:14 | ἄφετε | aphete | V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL |
Let them alone | you may release | you may release |
G863-02 |
Matthew 18:12 | ἀφείς | apheis | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
leaving | having released | having left |
G863-14 |
Matthew 18:21 | ἀφήσω | apheso | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
forgive | I will release | I will forgive |
G863-07 |
Matthew 18:27 | ἀφῆκεν | apheken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
forgave | he released | he released |
G863-03 |
Matthew 18:32 | ἀφῆκά | apheka | V AOR ACT IND 1P SG |
I forgave | I released | I released |
G863-16 |
Matthew 18:35 | ἀφῆτε | aphete | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
you forgive | you may release | you may release |
G863-16 |
Matthew 19:14 | ἄφετε | aphete | V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL |
let-alone | you may release | you may release |
G863-04 |
Matthew 19:27 | ἀφήκαμεν | aphekamen | V AOR ACT IND 1P PL |
have left | we released | we left |
G863-07 |
Matthew 19:29 | ἀφῆκεν | apheken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
has left | he released | he released |
G863-09 |
Matthew 22:22 | ἀφέντες | aphentes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having left | having released | having released |
G863-07 |
Matthew 22:25 | ἀφῆκεν | apheken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
left | he released | he released |
G863-25 |
Matthew 23:13 | ἀφίετε | aphiete | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you allow | you are releasing | you are allowing |
G863-06 |
Matthew 23:23 | ἀφήκατε | aphekate | V AOR ACT IND 2P PL |
you have neglected | you released | you left aside |
G863-21 |
Matthew 23:23 | ἀφιέναι | aphienai | V PRS ACT INF |
to leave | to release | to leave aside |
G863-24 |
Matthew 23:38 | ἀφίεται | aphietai | V PRS PASS IND 3P SG |
is left | is released | is left |
G863-17 |
Matthew 24:2 | ἀφεθῇ | aphethe | V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG |
be left | may it be released | may it be released |
G863-24 |
Matthew 24:40 | ἀφίεται | aphietai | V PRS PASS IND 3P SG |
will be left | is released | is released |
G863-24 |
Matthew 24:41 | ἀφίεται | aphietai | V PRS PASS IND 3P SG |
left | is released | is left |
G863-02 |
Matthew 26:44 | ἀφεὶς | apheis | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
he left | having released | having left |
G863-09 |
Matthew 26:56 | ἀφέντες | aphentes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having left | having released | having released |
G863-11 |
Matthew 27:49 | ἄφες | aphes | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
Leave him alone | Release! | Release! |
G863-07 |
Matthew 27:50 | ἀφῆκεν | apheken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
yielded up | he released | he released |
G863-09 |
Mark 1:18 | ἀφέντες | aphentes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
they left | having released | having released |
G863-09 |
Mark 1:20 | ἀφέντες | aphentes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having left | having released | having released |
G863-07 |
Mark 1:31 | ἀφῆκεν | apheken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
left | he released | he released |