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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

primary "release" 31 occurrences

“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.

Alternatives (19 occurrences):
"left" (6x) "forgive" (4x) "permitted" (2x) "forgiven" (2x) "permit" (1x) "having left" (1x) "permitting" (1x) "allow" (1x) "allowed" (1x)

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

Root ἵημι 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
G863-30 Mark 1:34 ἤφιεν ephien V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he permitted he was releasing he permitted
G863-10 Mark 2:5 ἀφέωνται apheontai V PRF PASS IND 3P PL have been forgiven they have been released they have been released
G863-21 Mark 2:7 ἀφιέναι aphienai V PRS ACT INF forgive to release to forgive
G863-22 Mark 2:9 ἀφίενταί aphientai V PRS PASS IND 3P PL are forgiven they are being released they are being released
G863-21 Mark 2:10 ἀφιέναι aphienai V PRS ACT INF to forgive to release to release
G863-19 Mark 3:28 ἀφεθήσεται aphethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG shall be forgiven will be released will be forgiven
G863-17 Mark 4:12 ἀφεθῇ aphethe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG it should be forgiven may it be released may it be released
G863-09 Mark 4:36 ἀφέντες aphentes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL leaving having released having released
G863-07 Mark 5:19 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG did let he released he released
G863-07 Mark 5:37 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG permitted he released he permitted
G863-09 Mark 7:8 ἀφέντες aphentes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having left aside having released having released
G863-25 Mark 7:12 ἀφίετε aphiete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL permit you are releasing you permit
G863-11 Mark 7:27 ἄφες aphes V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG Let Release! Release!
G863-02 Mark 8:13 ἀφεὶς apheis V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG leaving having released having left
G863-16 Mark 10:14 ἄφετε aphete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL let you may release you may release
G863-04 Mark 10:28 ἀφήκαμεν aphekamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL have left we released we have left
G863-07 Mark 10:29 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG has-left he released has left
G863-05 Mark 11:6 ἀφῆκαν aphekan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL let they released they released
G863-30 Mark 11:16 ἤφιεν ephien V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG permit he was releasing he was permitting
G863-25 Mark 11:25 ἀφίετε aphiete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL forgive you are releasing you are releasing
G863-01 Mark 11:25 ἀφῇ aphe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG may forgive may release may release
G863-25 Mark 11:26 ἀφίετε aphiete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL forgive you are releasing you are releasing
G863-12 Mark 11:26 ἀφήσει aphesei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will forgive will release will forgive
G863-09 Mark 12:12 ἀφέντες aphentes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL leaving having released having released
G863-01 Mark 12:19 ἀφῇ aphe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG leaves may release may release
G863-07 Mark 12:20 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG left he released he left
G863-05 Mark 12:22 ἀφῆκαν aphekan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL left they released left
G863-17 Mark 13:2 ἀφεθῇ aphethe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG will be left may it be released will be left
G863-02 Mark 13:34 ἀφεὶς apheis V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG leaving having released having released
G863-16 Mark 14:6 ἄφετε aphete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL let-alone you may release you may release
G863-09 Mark 14:50 ἀφέντες aphentes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having left having released having released
G863-16 Mark 15:36 ἄφετε aphete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL Leave you may release you may release
G863-02 Mark 15:37 ἀφεὶς apheis V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having let go having released having released
G863-07 Luke 4:39 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG it left he released it left
G863-09 Luke 5:11 ἀφέντες aphentes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having left having released having released
G863-10 Luke 5:20 ἀφέωνταί apheontai V PRF PASS IND 3P PL are forgiven they have been released they have been released
G863-21 Luke 5:21 ἀφιέναι aphienai V AOR ACT INF forgive to release to forgive
G863-10 Luke 5:23 ἀφέωνταί apheontai V PRF PASS IND 3P PL are forgiven they have been released they have been released
G863-21 Luke 5:24 ἀφιέναι aphienai V PRS ACT INF to forgive to release to forgive
G863-11 Luke 6:42 ἄφες aphes V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG let Release! Allow
G863-10 Luke 7:47 ἀφέωνται apheontai V PRF PASS IND 3P PL the they have been released they have been released
G863-24 Luke 7:47 ἀφίεται aphietai V PRS PASS IND 3P SG little is released is released
G863-10 Luke 7:48 ἀφέωνταί apheontai V PRF PASS IND 3P PL have been forgiven they have been released they have been released
G863-23 Luke 7:49 ἀφίησιν aphiesin V PRS ACT IND 3P SG forgives releases releases
G863-07 Luke 8:51 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG did allow he released he allowed
G863-11 Luke 9:60 ἄφες aphes V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG let go Release! Release!
G863-09 Luke 10:30 ἀφέντες aphentes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL leaving having released having released
G863-11 Luke 11:4 ἄφες aphes V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG forgive Release! Release!
G863-27 Luke 11:4 ἀφίομεν aphiomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL forgive we release release
G863-19 Luke 12:10 ἀφεθήσεται aphethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG it will be forgiven will be released will be forgiven
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