Lexical Summary aparneomai: To deny, to disown, to renounce Original Word: ἀπαρνέομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deny. From apo and arneomai; to deny utterly, i.e. Disown, abstain -- deny. see GREEK apo see GREEK arneomai HELPS Word-studies 533 aparnéomai (from 575 /apó, "from" which intensifies 720 /arnéomai, "deny") – properly, to deny, looking back to what was originally refused (rejected, forsaken). Note the force of the prefix, 575 /apó ("away from"). 720 (arneomai) already means "deny," so 533 (aparnéomai) suggests "strongly reject" (especially the source). That is, utterly refusing to recognize the original source involved. Hence 533 (aparnéomai) can imply "ignore, disown, or repudiate" (Abbott-Smith, so also in Herodotus, Thucydides). [The high level of personal involvement (interest) motivating 533 (aparnéomai) accounts for why it always in the Greek middle voice.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and arneomai Definition to deny NASB Translation denied (2), deny (9). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 533: ἀπαρνέομαιἀπαρνέομαι, ἀπαρνοῦμαι: deponent verb; future ἀπαρνήσομαι; 1 aorist ἀπηρνησαμην; 1 future passive ἀπαρνηθήσομαι with a passive significance (Luke 12:9, as in Sophocles Phil. 527 (cf. Buttmann, 53 (46))); to deny (abnego): τινα, to affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with him; of Peter denying Christ: Matthew 26:34f, 75; Mark 14:30f, 72; (Luke 22:61); John 13:38 R G L marginal reading; more fully ἀπαρνησθαι μή εἰδέναι Ἰησοῦν, Luke 22:34 (L Tr WH omit μή, concerning which cf. Kühner, ii., p. 701; (Jelf, § 749, 1; Winer's Grammar, § 65, 2 β.; Buttmann, 355 (305))). ἑαυτόν to forget oneself, lose sight of oneself and one's own interests: Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23 R WH marginal reading Topical Lexicon Word Focusἀπαρνέομαι (aparneomai) describes an emphatic act of renouncing any association with someone or something. In the New Testament it stands at crucial crossroads where allegiance to self or Christ is publicly tested. Occurrences and Groupings 1. Self-denial: Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34 Self-Denial: The Cost of Following Jesus Jesus sets the tone for Christian discipleship with the imperative: “If anyone desires to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24; cf. Mark 8:34). Here aparneomai calls for a decisive abandonment of self-sovereignty, not mere asceticism. The verb’s middle voice stresses personal volition; the disciple actively rejects self-rule in favor of Christ’s lordship. Historically, this demand resonated with first-century believers facing ostracism for refusing emperor worship; today it remains the antidote to consumer-centered expressions of faith. Peter’s Denial and Restoration Jesus warned Peter, “Truly I tell you … you will deny Me three times” (Matthew 26:34). Peter’s confident reply, “Even if I must die with You, I will never deny You” (26:35), quickly collapsed under pressure. The triple denial (noted in all Synoptics) exposes human frailty yet also highlights grace: “The Lord turned and looked at Peter … and he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61). Though aparneomai records Peter’s failure, the risen Christ later restores him (John 21) using a related but distinct verb, underscoring that repentance can reverse denial’s verdict. Peter’s later boldness in Acts and his epistles exemplifies Spirit-empowered perseverance after restoration. Warning of Eschatological Reversal Luke 12:9 issues the severest caution: “But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God”. The reciprocal future passive (“will be denied”) reveals a coming courtroom where Christ returns the verdict we render about Him now. This warning complements 2 Timothy 2:12 (“If we deny Him, He also will deny us”) and anchors the doctrine that public confession of Christ is indispensable evidence of genuine faith. Pastoral and Missional Implications • Discipleship training must confront self-centered Christianity and present self-denial as normal Christian living. Biblical-Theological Trajectory Old Testament prophets indicted Israel for “forsaking” the LORD (Jeremiah 2:13). Aparneomai builds on that covenantal language, revealing that final denial is more than momentary lapse; it is a breach of relationship. Conversely, self-denial inaugurates a new covenant posture of surrender. Revelation closes the canon with Christ publicly confessing faithful believers before the Father (Revelation 3:5), the positive counterpart to Luke 12:9. Summary Aparneomai confronts every reader with two mutually exclusive choices: deny self or deny Christ. Scripture presents the former as the pathway to true life and the latter as the forfeiture of it. Past, present, and future implications unite in one call: own Christ now, whatever the cost, and He will own you forever. Forms and Transliterations απαρνηθησεται απαρνηθήσεται ἀπαρνηθήσεται απαρνησασθω απαρνησάσθω ἀπαρνησάσθω απαρνηση απαρνήση ἀπαρνήσῃ απαρνησομαι ἀπαρνήσομαι απαρνήσονται απάρσεις aparnesastho aparnesástho aparnēsasthō aparnēsásthō aparnese aparnēsē aparnḗsei aparnḗsēi aparnesomai aparnēsomai aparnḗsomai aparnethesetai aparnethḗsetai aparnēthēsetai aparnēthḗsetaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 16:24 V-AMM-3SGRK: μου ἐλθεῖν ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ NAS: after Me, he must deny himself, KJV: after me, let him deny himself, and INT: me to come let him deny himself and Matthew 26:34 V-FIM-2S Matthew 26:35 V-FIM-1S Matthew 26:75 V-FIM-2S Mark 8:34 V-AMM-3S Mark 14:30 V-FIM-2S Mark 14:31 V-FIM-1S Mark 14:72 V-FIM-2S Luke 12:9 V-FIP-3S Luke 22:34 V-FIM-2S Luke 22:61 V-FIM-2S Strong's Greek 533 |
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