569. apisteó

Lexicon

apisteó: To disbelieve, to be unfaithful, to doubt

Original Word: ἀπιστέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: apisteó
Pronunciation: ah-pees-TEH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-is-teh'-o)
Definition: To disbelieve, to be unfaithful, to doubt
Meaning: I am unfaithful, disbelieve, refuse belief, prove false.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

disbelieve

From apistos; to be unbelieving, i.e. (transitively) disbelieve, or (by implication) disobey -- believe not.

see GREEK apistos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 569 apistéō (from 571 /ápistos, "unfaithful," without faith, i.e. negating 4103 /pistós, "faithful") – properly, refusing to be persuaded by God ("betray His trust," J. Thayer).

569 /apistéō ("not willing to be persuaded") means more than "disbelieve" ("not believing") because it indicates "refusing to be faithful" (honor a trust or revelation from the Lord). See 571 (apistos).

569/apisteō ("refuse to be persuaded") is sin committed by believers (Mk 16:11; Lk 24:11,41) and unbelievers (Ac 28:24; Ro 3:3; 1 Pet 2:7). 569 (apistéō) reveals a person is unconvinced when they should be persuaded by what the Lord has done (offered).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from apistos
Definition
to disbelieve, be faithless
NASB Translation
believe (3), disbelieve (1), disbelieved (1), faithless (1), refused to believe (1), would not believe (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 569: ἀπιστέω

ἀπιστέω, ἀπίστω; (imperfect ἠπίστουν); 1 aorist ἠπίστησα; (ἄπιστος);

1. to betray a trust, be unfaithful: 2 Timothy 2:13 (opposed to πιστός μένει); Romans 3:3; (others deny this sense in the N. T.; cf. Morison or Meyer on Romans, the passage cited; Ellicott on 2 Timothy, the passage cited).

2. to have no belief, disbelieve: in the news of Christ's resurrection, Mark 16:11; Luke 24:41; with dative of person, Luke 24:11; in the tidings concerning Jesus the Messiah, Mark 16:16 (opposed to πιστεύω) (so 1 Peter 2:7 T Tr WH); Acts 28:24. (In Greek writings from Homer down.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from ἄπιστος (apistos), meaning "unbelieving" or "faithless."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀπιστέω, the concept of unbelief or lack of faith can be related to several Hebrew terms, such as:

• Strong's Hebrew 539 (אָמַן, 'aman): To confirm, support, or be faithful. This term is often used in the context of faithfulness and trustworthiness.

• Strong's Hebrew 3982 (מָאַס, ma'as): To reject or refuse, which can imply a lack of belief or trust.

These Hebrew terms capture aspects of faith and unbelief that parallel the Greek concept of ἀπιστέω, highlighting the continuity of these themes throughout the biblical narrative.

Usage: The verb ἀπιστέω is used in the New Testament to describe a state of disbelief or lack of faith, often in relation to the message of the Gospel or the promises of God. It can also imply a refusal to trust or be faithful.

Context: The term ἀπιστέω appears in several New Testament passages, highlighting the human tendency to doubt or reject divine truth. It is often used in contexts where individuals or groups are confronted with the message of Jesus Christ and choose not to believe.

• Mark 16:11: "And when they heard that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they did not believe it." Here, ἀπιστέω describes the disciples' initial disbelief in the resurrection of Jesus, despite the testimony of eyewitnesses.

• Luke 24:11: "But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women." This passage illustrates the skepticism of the disciples towards the women's report of the empty tomb, reflecting a broader theme of doubt among Jesus' followers.

• Acts 28:24: "Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe." In this context, ἀπιστέω is used to describe the mixed reactions to Paul's preaching, with some accepting the message and others rejecting it.

• Romans 3:3: "What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?" Paul uses ἀπιστέω to address the issue of Jewish unbelief and its implications for God's covenant promises.

• 2 Timothy 2:13: "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." This verse contrasts human unfaithfulness (ἀπιστέω) with God's unwavering faithfulness, emphasizing the reliability of God's character despite human doubt.

The use of ἀπιστέω in the New Testament underscores the challenge of faith and the call to trust in God's promises. It serves as a reminder of the importance of belief in the Christian life and the consequences of unbelief.

Forms and Transliterations

απιστησας απιστήσας ἀπιστήσας απιστουμεν απιστούμεν ἀπιστοῦμεν απιστουντων απιστούντων ἀπιστούντων απιστουσιν ἀπιστοῦσιν ηπιστησαν ηπίστησαν ηπίστησάν ἠπίστησαν ἠπίστησάν ηπιστουν ηπίστουν ἠπίστουν apistesas apistēsas apistḗsas apistoumen apistoûmen apistounton apistountōn apistoúnton apistoúntōn apistousin apistoûsin epistesan epístesan epístesán ēpistēsan ēpístēsan ēpístēsán epistoun epístoun ēpistoun ēpístoun

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 16:11 V-AIA-3P
GRK: ὑπ' αὐτῆς ἠπίστησαν
NAS: and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.
KJV: of her, believed not.
INT: by her disbelieved [it]

Mark 16:16 V-APA-NMS
GRK: ὁ δὲ ἀπιστήσας κατακριθήσεται
NAS: shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
KJV: but he that believeth not shall be damned.
INT: the [one] however having disbelieved will be condemned

Luke 24:11 V-IIA-3P
GRK: ταῦτα καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς
NAS: to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.
KJV: they believed them not.
INT: of them and they disbelieved them

Luke 24:41 V-PPA-GMP
GRK: Ἔτι δὲ ἀπιστούντων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ
NAS: While they still could not believe [it] because
KJV: while they yet believed not for joy,
INT: still moreover while they were disbelieving of them for

Acts 28:24 V-IIA-3P
GRK: οἱ δὲ ἠπίστουν
NAS: but others would not believe.
KJV: and some believed not.
INT: some however disbelieved

Romans 3:3 V-AIA-3P
GRK: γάρ εἰ ἠπίστησάν τινες μὴ
NAS: some did not believe, their unbelief
KJV: if some did not believe? shall
INT: indeed if believed some not

2 Timothy 2:13 V-PIA-1P
GRK: εἰ ἀπιστοῦμεν ἐκεῖνος πιστὸς
NAS: If we are faithless, He remains
KJV: If we believe not, [yet] he abideth
INT: if we are unfaithful he faithful

1 Peter 2:7 V-PPA-DMP
GRK: τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἀπιστοῦσιν δὲ λίθος
NAS: but for those who disbelieve, THE STONE
INT: who believe to [those] disobeying however [the] stone

Strong's Greek 569
8 Occurrences

ἀπιστήσας — 1 Occ.
ἀπιστοῦμεν — 1 Occ.
ἀπιστούντων — 1 Occ.
ἀπιστοῦσιν — 1 Occ.
ἠπίστησαν — 2 Occ.
ἠπίστουν — 2 Occ.