630. apoluó
Lexical Summary
apoluó: To release, to set free, to dismiss, to send away, to divorce.

Original Word: ἀπολύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: apoluó
Pronunciation: ah-po-LOO-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ol-oo'-o)
KJV: (let) depart, dismiss, divorce, forgive, let go, loose, put (send) away, release, set at liberty
NASB: release, send away, released, sent away, divorces, divorce, divorced
Word Origin: [from G575 (ἀπό - since) and G3089 (λύω - untie)]

1. to release fully
2. (literally) to release, dismiss
3. (reflexively) to depart
4. (figuratively) to let die, to pardon
5. (maritally) to divorce

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
dismiss, divorce, abandon, release.

From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. (literally) relieve, release, dismiss (reflexively, depart), or (figuratively) let die, pardon or (specially) divorce -- (let) depart, dismiss, divorce, forgive, let go, loose, put (send) away, release, set at liberty.

see GREEK apo

see GREEK luo

HELPS Word-studies

630 apolýō (from 575 /apó, "away from" and 3089 /lýō, "to loose, release") – properly, to let go; release (discharge), dismiss. This term implies the release (annulment) of an existing bond.

630 /apolýō ("to release") is specifically used of divorcing a marital partner (Mt 1:19, 5:31,32, 19:7-9 – parallels at Mk 10:2-12; Lk 16:18).

Note: The Bible never contradicts itself and hence "the divorce passages" in the Gospels uttered by Jesus (following on fornication) are not contrary to the lengthy treatment of marriage/divorce by Paul in 1 Cor 6:15-7:16 (which permits divorce on a broad definition of constructive or actual abandonment).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from apo and luó
Definition
to set free, release
NASB Translation
dismissed (1), divorce (3), divorced (2), divorces (5), freed (1), leaving (1), let...go (2), pardon (1), pardoned (1), release (20), released (8), releasing...to depart (1), send...away (9), sending...away (1), sending away (1), sends...away (1), sent...away (6), sent away (2), set free (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 630: ἀπολύω

ἀπολύω; (imperfect ἀπελυον); future ἀπολύσω; 1 aorist ἀπελυσα; passive, perfect ἀπολελυμαι; 1 aorist ἀπελυθην; (future ἀπολυθήσομαι); imperfect middle ἀπελυομην (Acts 28:25); used in the N. T. only in the historical books and in Hebrews 13:23; to loose from, sever by loosening, undo (see ἀπό, V.);

1. to set free: τινα τίνος (so in Greek writings even from Homer down), to liberate one from a thing (as from a bond), Luke 13:12 (ἀπολέλυσαι (thou hast been loosed i. e.) be thou free from (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 40, 4) τῆς ἀσθενείας (L T ἀπό τῆς ἀσθενείας)).

2. to let go, dismiss (to detain no longer); τινα, a. a suppliant to whom liberty to depart is given by a decisive answer: Matthew 15:23; Luke 2:29 (`me whom thou hadst determined to keep on earth until I had seen the salvation prepared for Israel, cf. Luke 2:26, thou art now dismissing with my wish accomplished, and this dismission is at the same time dismission also from life' — in reference to which ἀπολύειν is used in Numbers 20:29; Tobit 3:6; (cf. Genesis 15:2; 2 Macc. 7:9; Plutarch, consol. ad Apoll. § 13 cf. 11 at the end)); (Acts 23:22).

b. to bid depart, send away: Matthew 14:15, 22; Matthew 15:32, 39; Mark 6:36, 45; Mark 8:3, 9; Luke 8:38; Luke 9:12; Luke 14:4; Acts 13:3; Acts 19:41 (τήν ἐκκλησίαν); passive Acts 15:30, 33.

3. to let go free, to release;

a. a captive, i. e. to loose his bonds and bid him depart, to give him liberty to depart: Luke 22:68 (R G L Tr in brackets); ; John 19:10; Acts 16:35; Acts 26:32 (ἀπολελύσθαι ἐδύνατο (might have been set at liberty, cf. Buttmann, 217 (187), § 139, 27 c.; Winers Grammar, 305 (286) i. e.) might be free; perfect as in Luke 13:12 (see 1 above, and Winer's Grammar, 334 (313))); Acts 28:18; Hebrews 13:23; ἀπολύειν τινα τίνι, to release one to one, grant him his liberty: Matthew 27:15, 17, 21, 26; Mark 15:6, 9, 11, 15; Luke 23:(), (R L in brackets), ; (John 18:39).

b. to acquit one accused of a crime and set him at liberty: John 19:12; Acts 3:13.

c. indulgently to grant a prisoner leave to depart: Acts 4:21, 23; Acts 5:40; Acts 17:9.

d. to release a debtor, i. e. not to press one's claim against him, to remit his debt: Matthew 18:27; metaphorically, to pardon another his offences against me: Luke 6:37 (τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἀπολύεσθαι, 2 Macc. 12:45).

4. used of divorce, as ἀπολύω τήν γυναῖκα to dismiss from the house, to repudiate: Matthew 1:19; Matthew 5:31; Matthew 19:3, 7-9; Mark 10:2, 4, 11; Luke 16:18; (1 Esdr. 9:36); and improperly a wife deserting her husband is said τόν ἄνδρα ἀπολύειν in Mark 10:12 (cf. Diodorus 12, 18) (unless, as is more probable, Mark, contrary to historic accuracy (yet cf. Josephus, Antiquities 15, 7, 10), makes Jesus speak in accordance with Greek and Roman usage, according to which wives also repudiated their husbands (references in Meyer, at the passage)); (cf. שִׁלַּח, Jeremiah 3:8; Deuteronomy 21:14; Deuteronomy 22:19, 29).

5. Middle ἀπολύομαι, properly, to send oneself away; to depart (Winer's Grammar, 253 (238)): Acts 28:20 (returned home; Exodus 33:11).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 630 gathers the varied New Testament uses of the verb family that speaks of releasing, dismissing, setting free, sending away, or divorcing. Across Gospel narrative, apostolic history, pastoral instruction, and prophetic expectation, the word group highlights the Lord’s authority to free and the believer’s responsibility in matters of justice, ministry, and covenant faithfulness.

Old Testament and Jewish Backdrop

In the Septuagint the same verb frequently renders the Hebrew “shalach” (to send away) and “shalach chophshi” (to let go free), language used of Pharaoh’s reluctant release of Israel, of emancipating Hebrew slaves in the seventh year, and of proclaiming liberty in the Year of Jubilee. Thus every New Testament occurrence resonates with Israel’s account of deliverance and the divine right to command release.

Judicial Release and Political Custom

Pilate “used to release for them one prisoner” at the feast (Mark 15:6). The Passover amnesty climaxes when the crowd rejects Jesus’ freedom and demands Barabbas (Mark 15:15; Matthew 27:26; Luke 23:25; John 18:39). Scripture contrasts earthly courts with the heavenly Judge: human rulers release or retain on shifting motives, yet God’s verdict is righteous. Later, Roman officials repeatedly “let them go” when no capital charge could stand against apostles (Acts 4:21; 5:40; 23:22; 28:18, 25). The narrative underscores both the legal innocence of gospel preachers and the unstoppable spread of the word once they are released.

Deliverance from Imprisonment

Acts 16:35-36 recounts magistrates ordering the jailer, “Release those men.” The miracle at Philippi (doors opened, chains loosed) becomes literal proof that the Lord “opens the prison to those who are bound” (compare Isaiah 61:1). Hebrews 13:23 notes that “Timothy has been released,” a pastoral encouragement that God still secures liberation for His servants.

Dismissal of Crowds

Jesus regularly “dismissed the crowds” after ministry (Matthew 14:22-23; 15:39; Mark 6:45). The action signals compassionate leadership: the people are sent away satisfied, while the disciples learn dependence as Jesus departs to pray. When the disciples urge Him, “Send the crowd away so they can go into the surrounding villages” (Luke 9:12), He instead feeds them, illustrating that true release comes through His provision.

Sending Forth for Mission

The Antioch church, having fasted and prayed, “released them” (Paul and Barnabas) to the work (Acts 13:3). After the Jerusalem Council “they were sent off in peace” (Acts 15:30-33). Gospel advance depends on congregations willingly releasing choice servants. The same verb stresses both authority and fellowship: leaders lay hands, commend, and then trust God with the outcome.

Healing and Spiritual Freedom

To the woman bent double for eighteen years Jesus declared, “Woman, you are set free from your disability” (Luke 13:12). Physical liberation prefigures the fuller deliverance from sin and Satan accomplished at the cross. Simeon’s exclamation at the presentation of Jesus, “Sovereign Lord, now You dismiss Your servant in peace” (Luke 2:29), frames death itself as a gracious release into promised rest for the righteous.

Marriage, Divorce, and Covenant Ethics

Seventeen occurrences concern the dismissal of a spouse. Jesus’ teaching is decisive: “Whoever divorces his wife except for sexual immorality and marries another commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9; cf. 5:31-32; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18). The verb exposes a culture that casually “sends away” partners and reasserts the permanence of God-ordained marriage. Moses permitted certificates of dismissal because of hardness of heart, yet from the beginning it was not so (Matthew 19:8). The word therefore confronts both personal sin and societal drift, calling disciples back to covenant faithfulness.

Intercession, Mercy, and the Spirit of Release

In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the master “released him and forgave the debt” (Matthew 18:27), intertwining 630’s sense of dismissal with gracious pardon. Believers who have been released from an unpayable debt must extend like mercy. Luke records Jesus’ charge, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven; release, and you will be released” (Luke 6:37), linking the verb to reciprocal grace within the community.

Theological Motifs

1. Substitution: The release of Barabbas in place of Jesus dramatizes substitutionary atonement—an innocent condemned so the guilty may go free.
2. Jubilee Fulfilled: Every liberation scene echoes Leviticus 25’s proclamation of liberty, now realized in the Messiah who proclaims “the year of the Lord’s favor.”
3. Eschatological Rest: Simeon’s peaceful dismissal anticipates the ultimate release from mortality into resurrection life.

Practical Implications for Ministry

• Churches must balance stewardship and trust, releasing proven leaders for wider service.
• Civil authorities bear God-given responsibility to administer just release; believers may appeal while resting in divine sovereignty.
• Marriages are to be guarded with utmost seriousness; the power to dismiss exists but is hedged by the Lord’s explicit boundaries.
• Pastoral care should seek holistic freedom—physical, emotional, and spiritual—through Christ’s authority.
• Discipleship involves both gathering and sending: congregations receive teaching and fellowship yet are eventually dismissed to bear witness in the world.

Key Representative Passages

Mark 15:15 – “So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.”

Luke 13:12 – “When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your disability.’”

Matthew 19:9 – “I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.”

Acts 13:3 – “And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”

Hebrews 13:23 – “You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you if he comes soon.”

Luke 2:29 – “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.”

Summary

Whether freeing prisoners, dismissing crowds, sending missionaries, or regulating covenant obligations, the verb highlighted by Strong’s 630 consistently reveals God’s sovereign right to release and humanity’s call to exercise that right in righteousness, mercy, and obedience.

Forms and Transliterations
απελυεν απέλυεν ἀπέλυεν απελύετο απελύθη απελυθησαν απελύθησαν ἀπελύθησαν απελυοντο απελύοντο ἀπελύοντο απελυσαν απέλυσαν ἀπέλυσαν απελυσε απέλυσε ἀπέλυσε απελυσεν απέλυσεν ἀπέλυσεν απολελυμενην απολελυμένην ἀπολελυμένην απολελυμενον απολελυμένον ἀπολελυμένον απολελυσαι απολέλυσαι ἀπολέλυσαι Απολελυσθαι απολελύσθαι Ἀπολελύσθαι απολυει ἀπολύει απολυειν απολύειν ἀπολύειν απολυεις απολύεις ἀπολύεις απολυετε απολύετε ἀπολύετε Απολυθεντες απολυθέντες Ἀπολυθέντες απολυθησεσθε απολυθήσεσθε ἀπολυθήσεσθε απολυθητε απολυθήτε ἀπολυθῆτε απολύομαι απολυσαι απολύσαι απολύσαί ἀπολῦσαι ἀπολῦσαί απολυσας απολύσας ἀπολύσας απολυσασα ἀπολύσασα απολύσεται απολυση απολύση ἀπολύσῃ απολυσης απολύσης ἀπολύσῃς απολύσητε απολυσον απόλυσον ἀπόλυσον απολυσω απολύσω ἀπολύσω απολυων απολύων ἀπολύων apeluen apeluonto apelusan apeluse apelusen apeluthesan apeluthēsan apelyen apélyen apelyonto apelýonto apelysan apélysan apelyse apélyse apelysen apélysen apelythesan apelythēsan apelýthesan apelýthēsan apolelumenen apolelumenēn apolelumenon apolelusai Apolelusthai apolelymenen apolelymenēn apolelyménen apolelyménēn apolelymenon apolelyménon apolelysai apolélysai Apolelysthai Apolelýsthai apoluei apoluein apolueis apoluete apoluon apoluōn apolusai apolusas apolusasa apoluse apolusē apoluses apolusēs apoluso apolusō apoluson Apoluthentes apoluthesesthe apoluthēsesthe apoluthete apoluthēte apolyei apolýei apolyein apolýein apolyeis apolýeis apolyete apolýete apolyon apolyōn apolýon apolýōn apolysai apolŷsai apolŷsaí apolysas apolýsas apolysasa apolýsasa apolyse apolysē apolýsei apolýsēi apolýseis apolýsēis apolyses apolysēs apolyso apolysō apolýso apolýsō apolyson apólyson Apolythentes Apolythéntes apolythesesthe apolythēsesthe apolythḗsesthe apolythete apolythête apolythēte apolythē̂te
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 1:19 V-ANA
GRK: ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν
NAS: her, planned to send her away secretly.
KJV: to put her away privily.
INT: purposed secretly to send away her

Matthew 5:31 V-ASA-3S
GRK: Ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα
NAS: WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE
KJV: Whosoever shall put away his
INT: whoever anyhow shall divorce the wife

Matthew 5:32 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: πᾶς ὁ ἀπολύων τὴν γυναῖκα
NAS: to you that everyone who divorces his wife,
KJV: whosoever shall put away his
INT: everyone who shall divorce the wife

Matthew 5:32 V-RPM/P-AFS
GRK: ὃς ἐὰν ἀπολελυμένην γαμήσῃ μοιχᾶται
NAS: marries a divorced woman
KJV: shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
INT: whoever if her who is divorced shall marry commits adultery

Matthew 14:15 V-AMA-2S
GRK: ἤδη παρῆλθεν ἀπόλυσον τοὺς ὄχλους
NAS: late; so send the crowds away,
KJV: the multitude away, that
INT: already is gone by dismiss the crowds

Matthew 14:22 V-ASA-3S
GRK: ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους
NAS: while He sent the crowds
KJV: he sent the multitudes away.
INT: until that he would have dismissed the crowds

Matthew 14:23 V-APA-NMS
GRK: καὶ ἀπολύσας τοὺς ὄχλους
NAS: After He had sent the crowds away,
KJV: the multitudes away, he went up
INT: And having dismissed the crowds

Matthew 15:23 V-AMA-2S
GRK: αὐτὸν λέγοντες Ἀπόλυσον αὐτήν ὅτι
NAS: Him, saying, Send her away, because
KJV: Send her away; for she crieth
INT: him saying Dismiss her for

Matthew 15:32 V-ANA
GRK: φάγωσιν καὶ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτοὺς νήστεις
NAS: and I do not want to send them away hungry,
KJV: send them away fasting, lest
INT: they might eat and to send away them hungry

Matthew 15:39 V-APA-NMS
GRK: Καὶ ἀπολύσας τοὺς ὄχλους
NAS: And sending away the crowds, Jesus got
KJV: And he sent away the multitude,
INT: And having dismissed the crowds

Matthew 18:27 V-AIA-3S
GRK: δούλου ἐκείνου ἀπέλυσεν αὐτόν καὶ
NAS: felt compassion and released him and forgave
KJV: was moved with compassion, and loosed him,
INT: servant of that released him and

Matthew 19:3 V-ANA
GRK: ἔξεστιν ἀνθρώπῳ ἀπολῦσαι τὴν γυναῖκα
NAS: Is it lawful [for a man] to divorce his wife
KJV: for a man to put away his
INT: Is it lawful a man to divorce the a wife

Matthew 19:7 V-ANA
GRK: ἀποστασίου καὶ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν
NAS: OF DIVORCE AND SEND [her] AWAY?
KJV: to put her away?
INT: of divorce and to divorce her

Matthew 19:8 V-ANA
GRK: ἐπέτρεψεν ὑμῖν ἀπολῦσαι τὰς γυναῖκας
NAS: permitted you to divorce your wives;
KJV: suffered you to put away your wives:
INT: allowed you to divorce the wives

Matthew 19:9 V-ASA-3S
GRK: ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα
NAS: to you, whoever divorces his wife,
KJV: Whosoever shall put away his wife,
INT: whoever anyhow shall divorce which wife

Matthew 19:9 V-RPP-AFS
GRK: καὶ ὁ ἀπολελυμένην γαμήσας μοιχᾶται
INT: and he who her [that is] put away marries commits adultery

Matthew 27:15 V-PNA
GRK: ὁ ἡγεμὼν ἀπολύειν ἕνα τῷ
NAS: was accustomed to release for the people
KJV: was wont to release unto the people
INT: the governor to release one to the

Matthew 27:17 V-ASA-1S
GRK: Τίνα θέλετε ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν Ἰησοῦν
NAS: do you want me to release for you? Barabbas,
KJV: will ye that I release unto you?
INT: Whom will you [that] I release to you

Matthew 27:21 V-ASA-1S
GRK: τῶν δύο ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν οἱ
NAS: do you want me to release for you? And they said,
KJV: will ye that I release unto you?
INT: the two I release to you

Matthew 27:26 V-AIA-3S
GRK: τότε ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν
NAS: Then he released Barabbas
KJV: Then released he Barabbas unto them:
INT: Then he released to them

Mark 6:36 V-AMA-2S
GRK: ἀπόλυσον αὐτούς ἵνα
NAS: send them away so that they may go
KJV: Send them away, that they may go
INT: dismiss them that

Mark 6:45 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ἕως αὐτὸς ἀπολύει τὸν ὄχλον
NAS: He Himself was sending the crowd
KJV: while he sent away the people.
INT: until he should dismiss the crowd

Mark 8:3 V-ASA-1S
GRK: καὶ ἐὰν ἀπολύσω αὐτοὺς νήστεις
NAS: If I send them away hungry
KJV: I send them away fasting to
INT: and if I shall send away them hungry

Mark 8:9 V-AIA-3S
GRK: τετρακισχίλιοι καὶ ἀπέλυσεν αὐτούς
NAS: four thousand were [there]; and He sent them away.
KJV: he sent them away.
INT: four thousand and he sent away them

Mark 10:2 V-ANA
GRK: ἀνδρὶ γυναῖκα ἀπολῦσαι πειράζοντες αὐτόν
NAS: for a man to divorce a wife.
KJV: for a man to put away [his] wife?
INT: for a husband a wife to divorce testing him

Strong's Greek 630
68 Occurrences


ἀπέλυεν — 1 Occ.
ἀπελύοντο — 1 Occ.
ἀπέλυσαν — 4 Occ.
ἀπέλυσε — 1 Occ.
ἀπέλυσεν — 8 Occ.
ἀπελύθησαν — 1 Occ.
ἀπολελυμένην — 3 Occ.
ἀπολελυμένον — 1 Occ.
ἀπολέλυσαι — 1 Occ.
Ἀπολελύσθαι — 1 Occ.
ἀπολύει — 1 Occ.
ἀπολύειν — 3 Occ.
ἀπολύεις — 1 Occ.
ἀπολύετε — 1 Occ.
ἀπολύων — 2 Occ.
ἀπολῦσαι — 11 Occ.
ἀπολύσας — 2 Occ.
ἀπολύσασα — 1 Occ.
ἀπολύσῃ — 5 Occ.
ἀπολύσῃς — 1 Occ.
ἀπολύσω — 8 Occ.
ἀπόλυσον — 6 Occ.
ἀπολυθήσεσθε — 1 Occ.
ἀπολυθῆτε — 1 Occ.
Ἀπολυθέντες — 2 Occ.

629
Top of Page
Top of Page