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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" 19 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 (26 occurrences):
"left" (13x) "leave" (6x) "forgiven" (2x) "allow" (2x) "forgive" (1x) "leaves" (1x) "let" (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
G863-19 Luke 12:10 ἀφεθήσεται aphethesetai-2 V FUT PASS IND 3P SG it will be forgiven will be released will be forgiven
G863-07 Luke 12:39 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG have let he released he released
G863-11 Luke 13:8 ἄφες aphes V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG let alone Release! Release!
G863-24 Luke 13:35 ἀφίεται aphietai V PRS PASS IND 3P SG is left is released is left
G863-11 Luke 17:3 ἄφες aphes V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG forgive Release! Release!
G863-13 Luke 17:4 ἀφήσεις apheseis V FUT ACT IND 2P SG you will forgive you will release you will forgive
G863-19 Luke 17:34 ἀφεθήσεται aphethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be left will be released will be left
G863-19 Luke 17:35 ἀφεθήσεται aphethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be left will be released will be left
G863-19 Luke 17:36 ἀφεθήσεται aphethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be left will be released will be left
G863-16 Luke 18:16 ἄφετε aphete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL let you may release you may release
G863-04 Luke 18:28 ἀφήκαμεν aphekamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL have left we released we left
G863-07 Luke 18:29 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG has left he released has left
G863-15 Luke 19:44 ἀφήσουσιν aphesousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL they will leave they will release they will leave
G863-19 Luke 21:6 ἀφεθήσεται aphethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be left will be released will be left
G863-07 John 4:3 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG He left he released he left
G863-07 John 4:28 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG left he released she left
G863-07 John 4:52 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG left he released he released
G863-07 John 8:29 ἀφῆκέν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG has left he released has left
G863-23 John 10:12 ἀφίησιν aphiesin V PRS ACT IND 3P SG leaves releases leaves
G863-16 John 11:44 ἄφετε aphete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL let you may release you may release
G863-29 John 11:48 ἀφῶμεν aphomen V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL we let let us release we let
G863-11 John 12:7 ἄφες aphes V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG let-alone Release! Release!
G863-14 John 14:18 ἀφήσω apheso V FUT ACT IND 1P SG I-will-leave I will release I will leave
G863-20 John 14:27 ἀφίημι aphiemi V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I leave I release I leave
G863-20 John 16:28 ἀφίημι aphiemi V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I leave I release I leave
G863-16 John 16:32 ἀφῆτε aphete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL will leave you may release you may release
G863-16 John 18:8 ἄφετε aphete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL let you may release you may release
G863-16 John 20:23 ἀφῆτε aphete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL you forgive you may release you may release
G863-10 John 20:23 ἀφέωνται apheontai V PRF PASS IND 3P PL they are forgiven they have been released they have been released
G863-16 Acts 5:38 ἄφετε aphete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL let alone you may release you may release
G863-19 Acts 8:22 ἀφεθήσεταί aphethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG may be forgiven will be released may be forgiven
G863-07 Acts 14:17 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he left he released he left
G863-09 Romans 1:27 ἀφέντες aphentes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL leaving having released having released
G863-18 Romans 4:7 ἀφέθησαν aphethesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL have been forgiven they were released they were released
G863-21 1 Corinthians 7:11 ἀφιέναι aphienai V PRS ACT INF send away to release to leave
G863-26 1 Corinthians 7:12 ἀφιέτω aphieto V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG let him put away let him release let him release
G863-26 1 Corinthians 7:13 ἀφιέτω aphieto V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG let her leave let him release let her leave
G863-07 Hebrews 2:8 ἀφῆκεν apheken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he left he released he left
G863-09 Hebrews 6:1 ἀφέντες aphentes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL leaving having released having released
G863-19 James 5:15 ἀφεθήσεται aphethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG they will be forgiven will be released he/she/it will be released
G863-01 1 John 1:9 ἀφῇ aphe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG forgive may release may release
G863-10 1 John 2:12 ἀφέωνται apheontai V PRF PASS IND 3P PL have been forgiven they have been released they have been released
G863-08 Revelation 2:4 ἀφῆκες aphekes V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you left you released you left
G863-02 Revelation 2:20 ἀφεῖς apheis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you tolerate having released you allow
G863-28 Revelation 11:9 ἀφίουσιν aphiousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL permit they release they allow
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