608. apokleió

Lexical Summary

apokleió: To shut out, to exclude, to close off

Original Word: ἀποκλείω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: apokleió
Pronunciation: ah-po-KLAY-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ok-li'-o)
KJV: shut up
NASB: shuts
Word Origin: [from G575 (ἀπό - since) and G2808 (κλείω - shut)]

1. to close fully

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

shut up.

From apo and kleio; to close fully -- shut up.

see GREEK apo

see GREEK kleio

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from apo and kleió
Definition
to shut fast or completely
NASB Translation
shuts (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 608: ἀποκλείω

ἀποκλείω: 1 aorist ἀπεκλεισα; to shut up: τήν θύραν, Luke 13:25. (Genesis 19:10; 2 Samuel 13:17f; often in Herodotus; in Attic prose writings from Thucydides down.)

Topical Lexicon

Term and Occurrence

The verb appears once in the New Testament in Luke 13:25, aorist subjunctive middle: “Once the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ ”.

Narrative Setting in Luke

The statement belongs to Jesus’ teaching on entering through the narrow door (Luke 13:22-30). The imagery is drawn from an evening household scene in first-century Judea: when darkness came, doors were bolted for safety. The decisive act of shutting marks the end of opportunity for late-arriving guests and underscores the eschatological point—there is a limited time to respond to God’s invitation.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Finality
• The verb describes a definitive act performed by the “master of the house,” highlighting God’s sovereign right to close access to His kingdom (cf. Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:7 where a different Greek verb is used, yet the same principle stands: what God shuts no one can open).
• The irreversible closure illustrates the final judgment when grace’s open invitation will cease (Hebrews 9:27).

2. Urgency of Salvation
• The preceding command, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door” (Luke 13:24), gains its weight from the impending closure. Procrastination risks eternal exclusion.
• Similar urgency surfaces in parabolic parallels where doors are shut on the unprepared—Noah’s ark (Genesis 7:16), the Passover night (Exodus 12:22-23), and the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:10).

3. Exclusivity and Knowledge
• The repeated response, “I do not know where you are from,” reveals that mere physical proximity to kingdom activity (Luke 13:26) is insufficient. Relationship, evidenced by repentance and faith, is required (Luke 13:3, 5).

4. Reversal Motif
• Those confident of entrance find themselves outside, while outsiders from east and west recline at table with the patriarchs (Luke 13:28-29). The closing reinforces the great reversal characteristic of Luke’s Gospel (Luke 1:52-53; Luke 14:11).

Historical and Cultural Background

City gates and household doors in antiquity typically closed at sunset. Night entry posed security risks; therefore, gatekeepers enforced strict policies. Jesus appeals to this familiar routine to impress upon hearers the folly of assuming perpetual access.

Old Testament Echoes

• Genesis 7:16: “the LORD shut him in,” sealing Noah’s deliverance and the world’s judgment.
• Psalm 95:8-11: hardening hearts results in exclusion from God’s rest.
• Isaiah 26:20-21: the faithful are invited indoors while judgment passes outside.

Ministry Significance

1. Evangelistic Appeal

The verb’s single use serves as a sober reminder to present the gospel with clarity and urgency. The door is presently open (2 Corinthians 6:2), but not indefinitely.

2. Pastoral Warning

Congregations are cautioned against nominal allegiance. Participation in worship without personal faith will not secure entrance once the door is shut (Luke 13:26-27).

3. Motivation for Perseverance

Believers are encouraged to strive, not in self-righteous effort, but in persevering faith evidenced by obedience (Philippians 2:12-13). The certainty of a coming closure sustains watchfulness (Mark 13:33-37).

Practical Application

• Personal Examination: “Test yourselves to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
• Faithful Readiness: Cultivate oil in the lamp—ongoing communion with Christ (Matthew 25:4).
• Compassionate Witness: Plead with others as ambassadors of reconciliation before it is too late (2 Corinthians 5:20).
• Hopeful Assurance: For those known by the Master, the shut door provides security, not fear (John 10:28-29).

Summary

The New Testament’s single use of this verb captures the moment when God’s gracious invitation gives way to righteous judgment. It communicates both the urgency of entering the kingdom now and the comfort of eternal security once inside.

Forms and Transliterations

απέκλεισαν απέκλεισε απέκλεισέ απέκλινεν απέκνισε αποκέκλεισται αποκλείσατε αποκλείσει αποκλείσεις αποκλειση αποκλείση ἀποκλείσῃ αποκλεισθήσεται απόκλεισον αποκλείσουσιν αποκλείων αποκλύζειν απόκνιζε αποκνίσει αποκνιώ αποκομίζοντος apokleise apokleisē apokleísei apokleísēi

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 13:25 V-ASA-3S
GRK: οἰκοδεσπότης καὶ ἀποκλείσῃ τὴν θύραν
NAS: gets up and shuts the door,
KJV: and hath shut to the door,
INT: master of the house and shall have shut the door

Strong's Greek 608
1 Occurrence

ἀποκλείσῃ — 1 Occ.