ἀφίστημι (G868) — Greek Lexicon

ἀφίστημι

aphístēmi

G868 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ἱστημι to set, to stand, to cause to stand, to distance

Definition

To cause someone or something to move away or to stand apart (actively: to remove, to distance, to cause to depart); intransitively or reflexively: to depart, withdraw, leave, fall away, or desist from association or position. The term encompasses both active separation initiated by an agent and passive or reflexive withdrawal by a subject from a person, group, place, or state. In some contexts, it can imply apostasy, political or religious defection, or ceasing participation.

Semantic Range

to remove or cause to depart, to incite rebellion or revolt, to withdraw oneself, to leave, to fall away (from faith or association), to desist, to separate from (relationship, community, or state), to turn away

Root / Etymology

From ἀπό (from, away from) + ἵστημι (to cause to stand, to set). Literally, 'to make stand away (from)' or 'to stand away from.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested from classical Greek, where ἀφίστημι primarily means 'to cause to revolt, lead away' (especially from political allegiance), and 'to remove from a place or position.' In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, meaning broadens to intransitive and reflexive uses: 'to withdraw, to depart, to fall away,' including voluntary and involuntary forms. In Septuagint and New Testament usage, a common sense is 'to turn away from'—whether a relationship, an opinion, or an allegiance (including from God, ethical norms, or communities). In LXX, often used in contexts of spiritual or physical separation (e.g. from God, the congregation, or unrighteousness). In the New Testament, it can refer to social departure (from a group), spiritual apostasy (falling away from faith or tradition), or physical withdrawal. English translations as simply 'depart' or 'fall away' do not always convey the possible intensity or agency implied by the context.

Translation Consistency

primary "depart" 5 occurrences

Ἀφίστημι most commonly denotes moving away, leaving, or withdrawing (including falling away/apostasy). “Depart” naturally covers both active removal and intransitive withdrawal, fits biblical usage, and matches the predominant renderings (e.g., departed/ depart) while remaining clear and consistent across forms.

Alternatives (9 occurrences):

"depart, all of you" (2x) "having withdrawn" (2x) "fall away" (1x) "caused to stand away" (1x) "stood away" (1x) "withdraw" (1x) "him withdraw" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀπό and ἵστημι; to remove, i.e. (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.:--depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self.

Root Family

ἀφίστημι (aphistēmi) — to set, to stand, to cause to stand, to distance

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G868-11`	ἀπόστητε	apostete	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	depart	Stand away!	Depart, all of you!	2
`G868-01`	ἀπέστη	apeste	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	departed	stood away	departed	2
`G868-09`	ἀποστῆναι	apostenai	`V AOR ACT INF`	falls away	to stand away	to depart	1
`G868-08`	ἀποστῇ	aposte	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	it might depart	might stand away	might depart	1
`G868-05`	ἀφίστατο	aphistato	`V IMPF MID IND 3P SG`	departed	was withdrawing himself	departed	1
`G868-10`	ἀποστήσονταί	apostesontai	`V FUT MID IND 3P PL`	will depart	they will withdraw themselves	they will withdraw themselves	1
`G868-12`	ἀποστήτω	aposteto	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	let depart	let him withdraw	let him withdraw	1
`G868-02`	ἀπέστησαν	apestesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they withdrew	they stood away	they stood away	1
`G868-03`	ἀπέστησε	apestese	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	drew away	caused to stand away	caused to stand away	1
`G868-07`	ἀποστὰς	apostas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	he withdrew	having withdrawn himself	having withdrawn himself	1
`G868-06`	ἀποστάντα	apostanta	`V AOR ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	who had deserted	having withdrawn	having withdrawn	1
`G868-04`	ἀφίστανται	aphistantai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	fall away	they are withdrawing themselves	they fall away	1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G868-05`	Luke 2:37	ἀφίστατο	aphistato	`V IMPF MID IND 3P SG`	departed	was withdrawing himself	departed
`G868-01`	Luke 4:13	ἀπέστη	apeste	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	departed	stood away	departed
`G868-04`	Luke 8:13	ἀφίστανται	aphistantai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	fall away	they are withdrawing themselves	they fall away
`G868-11`	Luke 13:27	ἀπόστητε	apostete	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	depart	Stand away!	Depart, all of you!
`G868-03`	Acts 5:37	ἀπέστησε	apestese	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	drew away	caused to stand away	caused to stand away
`G868-11`	Acts 5:38	ἀπόστητε	apostete	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	keep away	Stand away!	Depart, all of you!
`G868-01`	Acts 12:10	ἀπέστη	apeste	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	departed	stood away	departed
`G868-06`	Acts 15:38	ἀποστάντα	apostanta	`V AOR ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	who had deserted	having withdrawn	having withdrawn
`G868-07`	Acts 19:9	ἀποστὰς	apostas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	he withdrew	having withdrawn himself	having withdrawn himself
`G868-02`	Acts 22:29	ἀπέστησαν	apestesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they withdrew	they stood away	they stood away
`G868-08`	2 Corinthians 12:8	ἀποστῇ	aposte	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	it might depart	might stand away	might depart
`G868-10`	1 Timothy 4:1	ἀποστήσονταί	apostesontai	`V FUT MID IND 3P PL`	will depart	they will withdraw themselves	they will withdraw themselves
`G868-12`	2 Timothy 2:19	ἀποστήτω	aposteto	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	let depart	let him withdraw	let him withdraw
`G868-09`	Hebrews 3:12	ἀποστῆναι	apostenai	`V AOR ACT INF`	falls away	to stand away	to depart

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