ἀποσπάω
To draw away
Reading a lexicon entry
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What does ἀποσπάω (apospáō) mean in the Bible?
ἀποσπάω (apospáō) is a Greek word meaning "to draw away". ἀπο-σπάω, -ῶ [in LXX for נָתַק: ni.
Meaning
To forcibly separate or withdraw, often implying sudden or violent action in physical contexts.
to draw off or away, tear away (MM, see word): Act.20:30; μάχαιραν, draw a sword, Mat.26:51; pass., to be parted or withdrawn (Field, Notes, 134; but see Thayer, see word), Luk.22:41, Act.21:1.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Indicative states a fact or reality 3×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 5 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
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)
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.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain