Lexical Summary apollumi: To destroy, to perish, to lose Original Word: ἀπόλλυμι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance destroy, die, lose, mar, perish. From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively -- destroy, die, lose, mar, perish. see GREEK apo see GREEK olethros HELPS Word-studies 622 apóllymi (from 575 /apó, "away from," which intensifies ollymi, "to destroy") – properly, fully destroy, cutting off entirely (note the force of the prefix, 575 /apó). 622 /apóllymi ("violently/completely perish") implies permanent (absolute) destruction, i.e. to cancel out (remove); "to die, with the implication of ruin and destruction" (L & N, 1, 23.106); cause to be lost (utterly perish) by experiencing a miserable end. [This is also the meaning of 622 /apóllymi dating back to Homer (900 NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and same as olethros Definition to destroy, destroy utterly NASB Translation bring (1), destroy (17), destroyed (9), dying (1), end (1), killed (1), lose (10), loses (7), lost (14), passed away (1), perish (14), perishable (1), perished (4), perishes (1), perishing (6), put to death (1), ruined (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 622: ἀπόλλυμιἀπόλλυμι and ἀπολλύω ((ἀπολλύει John 12:25 T Tr WH), imperative ἀπόλλυε Romans 14:15 (cf. Buttmann, 45 (39); WH's Appendix, p. 168f)); future ἀπολέσω and (1 Corinthians 1:19 ἀπολῶ from a passage in the O. T., where often) ἀπολῶ (cf. Winers Grammar, 83 (80); (Buttmann, 64 (56))); 1 aorist ἀπώλεσα; to destroy; middle, present ἀπόλλυμαι; (imperfect 3 person plural ἀπώλλυντο 1 Corinthians 10:9 T Tr WH); future ἀπολοῦμαι; 2 aorist ἀπωλόμην; (2 perfect active participle ἀπολωλώς); (from Homer down); to perish. 1. to destroy i. e. to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to, ruin: Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34; Luke 17:27, 29; Jude 1:5; τήν σοφίαν render useless, cause its emptiness to be perceived, 1 Corinthians 1:19 (from the Sept. of Isaiah 29:14); to kill: Matthew 2:13; Matthew 12:14; Mark 9:22; Mark 11:18; John 10:10, etc.; contextually, to declare that one must be put to death: Matthew 27:20; metaphorically, to devote or give over to eternal misery: Matthew 10:28; James 4:12; contextually, by one's conduct to cause another to lose eternal salvation: Romans 14:15. Middle to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed; a. of persons; (a). properly: Matthew 8:25; Luke 13:3, 5, 33; John 11:50; 2 Peter 3:6; Jude 1:11, etc.; ἀπόλλυμαι λιμῷ, Luke 15:17; ἐν μαχαρια, Matthew 26:52; καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι, 2 Corinthians 4:9. (b). tropically, to incur the loss of true or eternal life; to be delivered up to eternal misery: John 3:15 (R Lbr.), b. of things; to be blotted out, to vanish away: ἡ εὐπρέπεια, James 1:11; the heavens, Hebrews 1:11 (from Psalm 101:27 2. to destroy i. e. to lose; a. properly: Matthew 10:42; Mark 9:41 (τόν μισθόν αὐτοῦ); Luke 15:4, 8, 9; Luke 9:25; Luke 17:33; John 12:25; 2 John 1:8, etc. b. metaphorically, Christ is said to lose anyone of his followers (whom the Father has drawn to discipleship) if such a one becomes wicked and fails of salvation: John 6:39, cf. John 18:9. Middle to be lost: θρίξ ἐκ τῆς κεφαλῆς, Luke 21:18; θρίξ ἀπό τῆς κεφαλῆς, Acts 27:34 (Rec. πεσεῖται); τά λαμπρά ἀπώλετο ἀπό σου, Revelation 18:14 (Rec. ἀπῆλθε). Used of sheep, straying from the flock: properly, Luke 15:4 (τό ἀπολωλός, in Matthew 18:12 τό πλανώμενον). Metaphorically, in accordance with the O. T. comparison of the people of Israel to a flock (Jeremiah 27:6 Scope and Range of Meaning Across ninety-two New Testament occurrences the verb group embraces: 1. Active destruction by a responsible agent (Matthew 2:13; Matthew 12:14; Mark 3:6). Old Testament Background In the Septuagint ἀπόλλυμι often renders Hebrew אבד (’ābad), linking the New Testament usage to themes of covenant judgment (Deuteronomy 4:26) and the tragic loss of people or property (Jeremiah 50:6). The prophetic promise that God Himself would seek the lost sheep of Israel (Ezekiel 34:16) forms the backdrop for Jesus’ self-designation as the Shepherd who “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Physical Ruin and Deliverance Several texts describe immediate danger to life or property: Such passages remind readers of God’s providence in daily crises while warning of His righteous retribution when human rebellion persists. Eternal Perdition and Salvation The term reaches its theological climax in the antithesis to salvation. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Here ἀπόλλυμι marks the final destiny of unbelief, contrasted with ζωὴ αἰώνιος. A similar tension appears in Luke 13:3,5, where Jesus urges repentance “or you will all perish,” and in 2 Peter 3:9, where divine patience restrains judgment because God is “not wanting anyone to perish.” The Parables of the Lost Luke 15 uses the perfect participle (ἀπολωλός) to portray helplessness: lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7), lost coin (Luke 15:8-10), and lost son (Luke 15:24,32). The vocabulary illustrates: The same root appears in Matthew 18:11 and underscores Christ’s shepherding mission. Discipleship Paradoxes Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17:33 employ ἀπόλλυμι to frame the gospel paradox: “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Voluntary self-denial leads to true life, whereas self-preservation ends in ruin. Christological Significance Jesus is portrayed both as the potential target of destruction and the deliverer from it. Plots against His life abound (Matthew 12:14; Mark 11:18; Luke 19:47). Yet He declares in John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.” In John 17:12 He guards the disciples so that “not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction,” fulfilling Scripture. His atoning death therefore becomes the decisive means by which others are not destroyed (John 11:50). Synoptic Portraits Matthew often links ἀπόλλυμι with covenant judgment upon Israel’s leaders (Matthew 22:7) and with practical stewardship (Matthew 10:42). Mark accents demonic recognition of Jesus’ power: “Have You come to destroy us?” (Mark 1:24). Luke uniquely stresses divine protection: “Not even a hair of your head will perish” (Luke 21:18), balancing sober warnings with covenant security. Johannine Theology John’s Gospel concentrates the verb around eternal issues—believing prevents perishing (John 3:16), and Jesus refuses to lose any whom the Father gives (John 6:39). Even mundane matters (John 6:12) serve as parables of divine economy: nothing entrusted to Christ is wasted. Pauline and Petrine Epistles Paul speaks of the “word of the cross” as foolishness “to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 4:3). The present participle stresses an ongoing process that culminates in final destruction. Yet the same letters affirm that believers are “being saved,” highlighting two concurrent trajectories of humanity. Peter warns of ancient world judgment (2 Peter 3:6) and future fire (2 Peter 3:9), but also couples divine patience with the gospel call. Revelation The lament over Babylon—“The fruit of your soul’s desire has departed from you, and all your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be seen again” (Revelation 18:14)—depicts total economic and cultural ruin, paralleling the eternal doom of unrepentant societies. Pastoral and Ethical Implications 1. Evangelism: The stark alternative of salvation or perishing motivates mission. Representative Text Cluster • Eternal destiny – John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9. Summary The ἀπόλλυμι family of words forms a rich biblical thread that stretches from temporal calamity to eternal condemnation, from material waste to spiritual lostness, and from the plots to destroy Jesus to His saving work that prevents destruction. The gospel consistently presents two paths: perishing apart from Christ or life through Him. Believers are called to proclaim, embody, and cherish the victory of the Shepherd who “came to seek and to save the lost.” Englishman's Concordance Matthew 2:13 V-ANAGRK: παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό NAS: for the Child to destroy Him. KJV: seek the young child to destroy him. INT: child to destroy him Matthew 5:29 V-ASM-3S Matthew 5:30 V-ASM-3S Matthew 8:25 V-PIM-1P Matthew 9:17 V-PIM/P-3P Matthew 10:6 V-RPA-ANP Matthew 10:28 V-ANA Matthew 10:39 V-FIA-3S Matthew 10:39 V-APA-NMS Matthew 10:42 V-ASA-3S Matthew 12:14 V-ASA-3P Matthew 15:24 V-RPA-ANP Matthew 16:25 V-FIA-3S Matthew 16:25 V-ASA-3S Matthew 18:11 V-RPA-ANS Matthew 18:14 V-ASM-3S Matthew 21:41 V-FIA-3S Matthew 22:7 V-AIA-3S Matthew 26:52 V-FIM-3P Matthew 27:20 V-ASA-3P Mark 1:24 V-ANA Mark 2:22 V-PIM/P-3S Mark 3:6 V-ASA-3P Mark 4:38 V-PIM-1P Mark 8:35 V-FIA-3S Strong's Greek 622 |
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