607. apokephalizó

Lexicon

apokephalizó: To behead

Original Word: ἀποκεφαλίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: apokephalizó
Pronunciation: ah-po-keh-fah-LEE-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ok-ef-al-id'-zo)
Definition: To behead
Meaning: I behead.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

behead.

From apo and kephale; to decapitate -- behead.

see GREEK apo

see GREEK kephale

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from apo and kephalé
Definition
to behead
NASB Translation
beheaded (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 607: ἀποκεφαλίζω

ἀποκεφαλίζω: 1 aorist ἀπεκεφάλισα; (κεφαλή); to cut off the head, behead, decapitate: Matthew 14:10; Mark 6:16, 27 (28); Luke 9:9. A later Greek word: (the Sept. Ps. at the end); Epictetus diss. 1, 1, 19; 24; 29; Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 1, 35; cf. Fischer, De vitiis lexamples N. T., p. 690ff; Lob. ad Phryn., p. 341.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the Greek prefix ἀπο- (apo-, meaning "from" or "off") and κεφαλή (kephalē, meaning "head").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for the Greek term ἀποκεφαλίζω, the concept of beheading can be related to Hebrew terms that describe execution or capital punishment. One such term is harag (Strong's Hebrew 2026), which means "to kill" or "to slay." Another related term is nakah (Strong's Hebrew 5221), which means "to strike" or "to smite," often used in contexts of lethal force. These terms capture the broader concept of execution found in the Old Testament.

Usage: This verb is used in the New Testament to describe the act of beheading, specifically in the context of execution or martyrdom.

Context: The term ἀποκεφαλίζω appears in the New Testament in the context of the execution of John the Baptist. It is a vivid and graphic term that underscores the brutality of the act. The word is used in the Gospels to describe the method by which John the Baptist was put to death by Herod Antipas. This act is recounted in the Synoptic Gospels, where Herod, influenced by Herodias and her daughter, orders the beheading of John as a result of a rash promise made during a banquet.

In Matthew 14:10 (BSB), it is written: "So he sent and had John beheaded in the prison." Similarly, in Mark 6:27 (BSB), the account states: "So without delay, the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went, beheaded him in the prison."

The use of ἀποκεφαλίζω in these passages highlights the fulfillment of John's role as a prophet and martyr, whose death foreshadows the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The term also serves to illustrate the moral and political corruption of Herod's court, contrasting the righteous life and message of John the Baptist with the decadence and moral weakness of Herod and his household.

Forms and Transliterations

απεκεφαλισα απεκεφάλισα ἀπεκεφάλισα απεκεφάλισε απεκεφαλισεν απεκεφάλισεν ἀπεκεφάλισεν αποκεφαλίζουσιν αποκιδαρώσει αποκλαιομένη αποκλαιόμενος αποκλαύσομαί απόκλεισμα apekephalisa apekephálisa apekephalisen apekephálisen

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 14:10 V-AIA-3S
GRK: καὶ πέμψας ἀπεκεφάλισεν τὸν Ἰωάννην
NAS: and had John beheaded in the prison.
KJV: And he sent, and beheaded John in
INT: And having sent he beheaded John

Mark 6:16 V-AIA-1S
GRK: Ὃν ἐγὼ ἀπεκεφάλισα Ἰωάννην οὗτος
NAS: John, whom I beheaded, has risen!
KJV: whom I beheaded: he is risen
INT: Whom I beheaded John he

Mark 6:27 V-AIA-3S
GRK: καὶ ἀπελθὼν ἀπεκεφάλισεν αὐτὸν ἐν
KJV: and he went and beheaded him in
INT: And having gone he beheaded him in

Luke 9:9 V-AIA-1S
GRK: Ἰωάννην ἐγὼ ἀπεκεφάλισα τίς δέ
NAS: had John beheaded; but who
KJV: have I beheaded: but who
INT: John I beheaded who moreover

Strong's Greek 607
4 Occurrences

ἀπεκεφάλισα — 2 Occ.
ἀπεκεφάλισεν — 2 Occ.