Lexical Summary apostereó: To defraud, to deprive, to rob, to withhold Original Word: ἀποστερέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defraud, depriveFrom apo and stereo (to deprive); to despoil -- defraud, destitute, kept back by fraud. see GREEK apo HELPS Word-studies 650 aposteréō (from 575 /apó, "away from" and 4732 /stereóō, "deprive") – properly, keep away from someone, i.e. by defrauding (depriving); to cheat, taking away what rightfully belongs to someone else. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and stereó (to rob) Definition to defraud, deprive of NASB Translation defraud (2), defrauded (1), deprived (1), depriving (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 650: ἀποστερέωἀποστερέω, ἀποστέρω; 1 aorist ἀπεστέρησα; (passive, present ἀποστεροῦμαι); perfect participle ἀπεστερημένος; to defraud, rob, despoil: absolutely, Mark 10:19; 1 Corinthians 6:8; ἀλλήλους to withhold themselves from one another, of those who mutually deny themselves cohabitation, 1 Corinthians 7:5. Middle to allow oneself to be defrauded (Winer's Grammar, § 38, 3): 1 Corinthians 6:7; τινα τίνος (as in Greek writings), to deprive one of a thing; passive ἀπεστερήμενοι τῆς ἀληθείας, 1 Timothy 6:5 (Winers Grammar, 196 (185); Buttmann, 158 (138)); τί to defraud of a thing, to withdraw or keep back a thing by fraud: passive μισθός ἀπεστερημένος, James 5:4 (T Tr WH ἀφυστερημενος, see ἀφυστερέω; (cf. also ἀπό, II. 2 d. bb., p. 59b)) (Deuteronomy 24:14 ((16) Alex.); Malachi 3:5). STRONGS NT 650: ἀφυστερέωἀφυστερέω, ἀφυστέρω: (a later Greek word); 1. to be behindhand, come too late (ἀπό so as to be far from, or to fail, a person or thing); used of persons not present at the right time: Polybius 22, 5, 2; Posidon. quoted in Athen. 4, 37 (i. e. 4, p. 151 e.); (others); ἀπό ἀγαθῆς ἡμέρας to fail (to make use of) a good day, to let the opportunity pass by, Sir. 14:14. 2. transitively, to cause to fail, to withdraw, take away from, defraud: τό μάννα σου οὐκ ἀφυστέρησας ἀπό στόματος αὐτῶν, Nehemiah 9:20 (for מָנַע to withhold); perfect passive participle ἀφυστερημενος (μισθός), James 5:4 T Tr WH after א B* (Rec. ἀπεστερημένος, see ἀποστερέω, also under the word ἀπό, II. 2 d. bb., p. 59{b}). Strong’s Greek 650 (apostereō) highlights the sin of unlawfully withholding what is due—whether material goods, conjugal rights, or truth itself. Its six New Testament appearances trace a unified biblical ethic: God’s people must not cheat, deprive, or defraud, because such conduct contradicts both the character of God and the law of love. Occurrences and Contexts 1. Mark 10:19 – Jesus restates the Decalogue to the rich young ruler, adding, “do not defraud.” By placing apostereō alongside murder, adultery, and theft, the Lord equates economic exploitation with the most serious offenses against neighbor. 2. 1 Corinthians 6:7-8 – Lawsuits among believers reveal spiritual defeat: “Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, even against your own brothers!” Paul argues that to defraud a fellow Christian is worse than suffering loss; it dishonors the gospel before a watching world. 3. 1 Corinthians 7:5 – Within marriage, withholding intimacy violates the covenant’s mutuality: “Do not deprive one another, except by mutual consent for a time… so that Satan will not tempt you.” Here apostereō threatens relational unity and opens the door to temptation. 4. 1 Timothy 6:5 – False teachers are described as men “devoid of the truth,” literally “having been deprived of the truth.” Apostereō exposes the spiritual poverty created when truth is withheld, whether by self-deception or by manipulative teaching. 5. James 5:4 – “Look, the wages you failed to pay the workmen… are crying out against you.” James pictures withheld pay as an offense that reaches the ears of the Lord of Hosts, anticipating eschatological judgment on economic oppression. Moral and Theological Significance • Image-bearing dignity: Scripture assumes every person is owed certain rights by virtue of creation in God’s image. Defrauding therefore assaults divine dignity (Genesis 1:27; Mark 10:19). • Love fulfilled in justice: Apostereō violates both tables of the Law—love for God (by disobeying His command) and love for neighbor (by stealing livelihood, intimacy, or truth). Romans 13:8-10 teaches that genuine love “does no wrong to a neighbor.” • Community witness: In Corinth, defrauding fellow believers undermined the church’s testimony. An irreconcilable, litigious congregation contradicts the reconciling work of Christ (John 13:35). • Spiritual warfare: Paul links marital deprivation to satanic temptation (1 Corinthians 7:5). Financial or relational cheating likewise gives “the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27). Historical Background In the Greco-Roman world, day laborers (James 5:4) lived hand-to-mouth. Roman law technically required same-day payment, yet wealthy landowners often delayed or reduced wages. Jewish law (Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14-15) protected workers, and the prophets denounced oppression. The New Testament writers echo this tradition, amplifying it in light of Christ’s kingdom. Practical Ministry Applications • Financial integrity: Churches and believers must avoid late payment, dishonest contracts, or exploiting power imbalances. Transparent stewardship reflects the Lord who “shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34). • Marital care: Pastoral counseling should emphasize 1 Corinthians 7:5—physical intimacy is a mutual gift, not a bargaining chip. Seasons of abstinence are legitimate only when agreed upon, purposeful, and temporary. • Truth-telling in teaching: Ministers are guardians, not owners, of divine revelation. To withhold or distort truth for personal gain reenacts the deception condemned in 1 Timothy 6:5. • Resolving disputes: Congregations are urged toward biblical peacemaking rather than civil litigation. Forgiveness and voluntary loss may better adorn the gospel (Matthew 5:40). Eschatological Dimension James 5:4 assures that economic injustice “cries out” to the Lord of Hosts, invoking imagery from Genesis 4:10 and Exodus 3:7. Final judgment will reverse every defrauding act; therefore believers endure injustice patiently yet labor for righteousness now (2 Peter 3:13). Intertextual Echoes Old Testament: Leviticus 6:2-5; Proverbs 22:22-23; Malachi 3:5 New Testament parallels: Colossians 3:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:6 Conclusion Whether in commerce, marriage, or doctrine, apostereō warns against withholding what God declares due. Faithful obedience replaces exploitation with generosity, deprivation with provision, and falsehood with truth, thereby reflecting the just and gracious character of the Lord Jesus Christ. Englishman's Concordance Mark 10:19 V-ASA-2SGRK: ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς Μὴ ἀποστερήσῃς Τίμα τὸν NAS: DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR KJV: bear false witness, Defraud not, INT: Do bear false witness not Do defraud honor the 1 Corinthians 6:7 V-PIM/P-2P 1 Corinthians 6:8 V-PIA-2P 1 Corinthians 7:5 V-PMA-2P 1 Timothy 6:5 V-RPM/P-GMP James 5:4 V-RPM/P-NMS Strong's Greek 650 |
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