Lexical Summary apoleichó: To lick off, to lick clean Original Word: ἀπολείχω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lick. From apo and leicho (to "lick"); to lick clean -- lick. see GREEK apo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for epileichó, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 621: ἀπολείχωἀπολείχω: (imperfect ἀπέλειχον); to lick off, lick up: Luke 16:21 R G; cf. ἐπιλείχω. ((Apollonius Rhodius, 4, 478); Athen. vi. c. 13, p. 250 a.) Topical Lexicon Overview The single New Testament occurrence of Strong’s Greek 621 appears in Luke 16:21 and is rendered “licked.” Though used only once, the term supplies a striking detail in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, sharpening Jesus’ contrast between hard-hearted luxury and neglected misery. Biblical Occurrence Luke 16:21: “and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.” The imperfect tense depicts the dogs’ action as continual, and the verse’s structure places their feeble kindness in stark relief against the rich man’s ongoing indifference. Cultural Background Dogs in first-century Judea were scavengers (Exodus 22:31; Psalm 59:6) and symbolized uncleanness. Yet some ancient physicians noted medicinal value in canine saliva. The dogs’ licking therefore conveys two realities at once: Lazarus sinks to the level of social defilement, and the only semblance of care he receives comes from “unclean” creatures rather than from a fellow Israelite commanded to love his neighbor (Leviticus 19:18). Related Old Testament Imagery “Dogs” and “licking” elsewhere signify judgment—dogs lick Ahab’s blood (1 Kings 21:19) and Jezebel’s flesh (2 Kings 9:36). In Luke the language is reversed: judgment falls not on the one licked but on the one who refused mercy. The intertext underscores divine reversal, a major Lukan motif (Luke 1:52; 14:11). Theological Themes 1. Failure of covenant compassion: The rich man’s neglect exposes a heart unchanged by “Moses and the Prophets” (Luke 16:29). Christological Connections Jesus, who “had no place to lay His head” (Luke 9:58), aligns Himself with society’s lowest. The graphic verb foreshadows His identification with wounded humanity (Isaiah 53:5; Hebrews 4:15) and exposes the moral bankruptcy of those who ignore such suffering. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Ministries of mercy—feeding, medical aid, shelter—reflect the concern absent in the parable’s rich man. Homiletical Emphases The verb invites preachers to highlight: – the continual nature of Lazarus’ pain, – the silence and passivity of the rich man, – God’s evaluation of human relationships over status, and – the irrevocable consequences of ignoring revealed truth. Summary Though it surfaces only once, Strong’s Greek 621 vividly illuminates a narrative that challenges hearers to mercy, warns against callous affluence, and affirms the ultimate justice of God’s kingdom. Forms and Transliterations απέλειχον απολιθωθήτωσαν επελειχον ἐπέλειχον epeleichon epéleichonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 16:21 V-IIA-3PGRK: κύνες ἐρχόμενοι ἐπέλειχον τὰ ἕλκη KJV: the dogs came and licked his sores. INT: dogs coming licked the sores |
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