Lexical Summary apomassó: To wipe off, to wipe away Original Word: ἀπομάσσω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wipe off. Middle voice from apo and masso (to squeeze, knead, smear); to scrape away -- wipe off. see GREEK apo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and massó (to handle, touch) Definition to wipe off NASB Translation wipe off (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 631: ἀπομάσσωἀπομάσσω: (μάσσω to touch with the hands, handle, work with the hands, knead), to wipe off; middle ἀπομάσσομαι to wipe oneself off, to wipe off for oneself: τόν κονιορτόν ὑμῖν, Luke 10:11. (In Greek writings from Aristophanes down.) Topical Lexicon Biblical Context Apomassomai surfaces once in the Greek New Testament, in Luke 10:11. Spoken by the Lord’s seventy-two messengers, the declaration accompanies a deliberate wiping of dust from the feet: “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near” (Luke 10:11). The act stands as a visible testimony that a town has rejected the King and therefore relinquishes participation in His kingdom blessings. Historical Background First-century Jews commonly shook or wiped dust from their sandals when they re-entered Judea from Gentile lands, symbolizing separation from heathen defilement. By incorporating that cultural gesture into His missionary instructions, Jesus employed a practice His hearers instantly recognized: a solemn disavowal of fellowship with those who despise God’s message. Symbolic Action in Scripture • Separation from defilement: Isaiah 52:11 calls exiles to depart Babylon and “touch no unclean thing.” Instruction to the Seventy The Lord dispatched an enlarged missionary band (Luke 10:1) to prepare villages for His arrival. Their charge included: 1. Preach peace (Luke 10:5). By linking proclamation, compassion, and prophetic sign-action, Christ ensured that every town received both gospel invitation and clear accountability. Comparison with Other Commission Texts • Ektinazō (shake off) emphasizes a vigorous shaking; apomassomai (wipe off) stresses a thorough cleansing of what clings. Both gestures convey that messengers leave behind no share in the unbeliever’s guilt. Theological Significance 1. Divine Witness: The gesture functions not as personal spite but as God’s courtroom notice. Refusal of Christ leaves hearers answerable on judgment day (John 12:48). Applications for Ministry • Bold Proclamation: Evangelists must present Christ plainly, trusting the Spirit for results (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Related Biblical Gestures • Shaking garments (Acts 18:6). Such actions translate invisible realities into visible form, reinforcing the prophetic word. Early Church Practice Patristic writers note missionaries repeating the dust-wiping sign in hostile locales, preserving apostolic precedent and reminding believers that gospel ministry has eternal stakes. Pastoral Considerations While missionaries must avoid a quarrelsome spirit (2 Timothy 2:24), they are likewise forbidden to dilute truth for acceptance (Galatians 1:10). The balance of grace and gravity found in Luke 10:11 guides today’s servants. Summary Apomassomai in Luke 10:11 encapsulates a decisive, prophetic gesture: wiping away every particle of dust that adheres from an unresponsive town. It proclaims the nearness of God’s kingdom, the seriousness of rejecting the gospel, and the freedom of Christ’s ambassadors to advance elsewhere. Though the act is rare in Scripture, its message reverberates through the entire biblical witness: accept the King while He may be found, for refusal leaves no neutral ground. Forms and Transliterations απομασσομεθα απομασσόμεθα ἀπομασσόμεθα απομέμψεται apomassometha apomassómethaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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