Greek · G622 · unreviewed

ἀπόλλυμι

To destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively

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ἀπόλλυμι G622

Pronunciation apóllymi

What does ἀπόλλυμι (apóllymi) mean in the Bible?

ἀπόλλυμι (apóllymi) is a Greek word meaning "to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively". ἀπ-όλλυμι and ἀπολλύω [in LXX for אָבַד, etc. Signals escalating intent toward Jesus’ death.

Full entry for ἀπόλλυμι (G622) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively

Extended definition

Complete destruction or loss; in NT theology, spiritual ruin and eternal separation from God.

1Act.,

1to destroy utterly, destroy, kill: Mk 124, 922, al.; τ. ψνχήν, Mat.10:28, al.;

2to lose utterly: Mat.10:42, al.; metaphorically, of failing to save, Jhn.6:39 18:9.

2Mid.,

1to perish;

aof things: Mat.5:29, Jhn.6:12, Heb.1:11 (LXX, al.;

bof persons: Mat.8:26, al. Metaphorical, of loss of eternal life, Jhn.3:15-16 10:28 17:12, Rom.2:12, 1Co.8:11 15:18, 2Pe.3:9. In οἱ ἀπολλὺμενοι, the perishing, contrasted in 1Co.1:18, al., with οἱ σωζόμενοι, the "perfective" force of the verb, WH. " implies the completion of the process of destruction," is illustrated (see M, Pr., 114 f.; M, Th., ii, 2:10);

2to be lost: Luk.15:4 21:18. Metaphorical, on the basis of the relation between shepherd and flock, of spiritual destitution and alienation from God: Mat.10:6 15:24, Luk.19:10 (MM, see word; DCG, i, 191 f., ii, 76, 554; Cremer, 451)

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Signals escalating intent toward Jesus’ death. Matthew 12:9–14

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Future Aorist Present Perfect Imperfect

Voices

Active Middle Passive

Indicative states a fact or reality 40×

Future Active Matt 10:39 · Matt 16:25 · Matt 21:41 · Mark 8:35 · Mark 12:9 · Luke 9:24 · Luke 17:33 · Luke 20:16 · 1 Cor 1:19 10×

Aorist Middle John 17:12 · Acts 5:37 · Jas 1:11 · 2 Pet 3:6 · Rev 18:14 · 1 Cor 10:10 · 1 Cor 15:18 · Jude 1:11 8×

Future Middle Matt 26:52 · Luke 5:37 · Rom 2:12 · Heb 1:11 · Luke 13:3 · Luke 13:5 · Acts 27:34 7×

Aorist Active Matt 22:7 · Luke 17:27 · Luke 17:29 · Jude 1:5 · Luke 15:9 · John 18:9 6×

Present Middle Matt 8:25 · Mark 4:38 · Luke 8:24 · Luke 15:17 4×

Present Passive Mark 2:22 · 1 Cor 8:11 · Matt 9:17 3×

Present Active John 12:25 1×

Imperfect Passive 1 Cor 10:9 1×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 22×

Aorist Active Matt 10:42 · Matt 16:25 · Mark 9:22 · Mark 9:41 · Luke 9:24 · Luke 15:8 · Luke 17:33 · John 10:10 · Matt 12:14 · Matt 27:20 · Mark 3:6 · Mark 11:18 · John 6:39 · 2 John 1:8 14×

Aorist Middle Matt 5:29 · Matt 5:30 · Matt 18:14 · Luke 21:18 · John 3:16 · John 6:12 · John 11:50 · John 10:28 8×

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 9×

Aorist Active Matt 2:13 · Matt 10:28 · Mark 1:24 · Luke 4:34 · Luke 6:9 · Luke 19:47 · Jas 4:12 7×

Aorist Middle Luke 13:33 · 2 Pet 3:9 2×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 18×

Present Middle 1 Cor 1:18 · 2 Cor 2:15 · 2 Cor 4:3 · 2 Thess 2:10 · John 6:27 · 2 Cor 4:9 · 1 Pet 1:7 7×

Perfect Active Luke 15:4 · Luke 15:6 · Luke 19:10 · Matt 10:6 · Matt 15:24 · Luke 15:24 · Luke 15:32 7×

Aorist Active Matt 10:39 · Luke 9:25 · Luke 15:4 3×

Aorist Middle Luke 11:51 1×

Imperative command or strong request 1×

Present Active Rom 14:15 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 87 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 14 ongoing 8 prospective 17 imperative 1 background 1 subjunctive 22 infinitive 8 participle 16

Tense

aorist 47 future 17 present 16 perfect 6 imperfect 1

Voice

active 46 middle 37 passive 4

Mood

indicative 40 subjunctive 22 participle 16 infinitive 8 imperative 1

NT Occurrences

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

Matthew 12:9–14 ἀπόλλυμι apóllymi Subjunctive · Aorist Active

to destroy

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 8 — Knowledge, Love, and the Weak Brother in a World of Idols Acts 27 — The Storm, the Shipwreck, and the Promise of God John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World Luke 13 — Repentance, Kingdom Reversal, and the Urgent Narrow Door Luke 15 — The Joy of God over the Lost Being Found Luke 19 — The Son of Man Seeks the Lost, Receives the Kingly Kingdom, and Weeps over Jerusalem Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 12 — The Lord of the Sabbath, the Servant of the Lord, and the Crisis of Unbelief Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 2 — The Messiah Worshiped, Threatened, Preserved, and Called Out of Egypt Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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