Lexicon aphanizó: To destroy, to vanish, to disappear, to make unseen Original Word: ἀφανίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance corrupt, disfigure, destroyFrom aphanes; to render unapparent, i.e. (actively) consume (becloud), or (passively) disappear (be destroyed) -- corrupt, disfigure, perish, vanish away. see GREEK aphanes NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aphanés Definition to make unseen, i.e. destroy NASB Translation destroy (1), destroys (1), neglect (1), perish (1), vanishes away (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 853: ἀφανίζωἀφανίζω; (passive, present ἀφανίζομαι); 1 aorist ἠφανίσθην; (ἀφανής); a. to snatch out of sight, to put out of view, to make unseen (Xenophon, an. 3, 4, 8 ἥλιον νεφέλη παρακαλύψασα ἠφανισε namely, τήν πόλιν, Plato, Phil. 66 a. ἀφανιζοντες κρύπτομεν). b. to cause to vanish away, to destroy, consume: Matthew 6:19f (often so in Greek writings and the Sept. (cf. Buttmann, § 130, 5)); passive to perish: Acts 13:41 (Luth.vorSchreckenvergehen); to vanish away, James 4:14 (Herodotus 7, 6; 167; Plato and following). c. to deprive of lustre, render unsightly; to disfigure: τό πρόσωπον, Matthew 6:16. Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀφανίζω, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew words such as אָבַד (abad, Strong's Hebrew 6), meaning "to perish" or "to destroy," and חָבַל (chabal, Strong's Hebrew 2254), meaning "to ruin" or "to spoil." These terms reflect the idea of destruction or disappearance, akin to the Greek ἀφανίζω. Usage: The term ἀφανίζω is used in the New Testament to describe actions that cause something to become invisible, destroyed, or unrecognizable. It is often used metaphorically to describe the fading or vanishing of earthly things in contrast to eternal values. Context: The Greek verb ἀφανίζω appears in the New Testament primarily in the context of teaching about the transient nature of earthly possessions and the importance of focusing on spiritual and eternal matters. In Matthew 6:16, Jesus uses the term to instruct His followers on the proper way to fast: "When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward." Here, ἀφανίζω is translated as "disfigure," indicating the act of altering one's appearance to gain human approval rather than divine reward. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 6:16 V-PIA-3PGRK: ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί ἀφανίζουσιν γὰρ τὰ NAS: as the hypocrites [do], for they neglect their appearance KJV: for they disfigure their INT: hypocrites downcast in countenance they disfigure indeed the Matthew 6:19 V-PIA-3S Matthew 6:20 V-PIA-3S Acts 13:41 V-AMP-2P James 4:14 V-PPM/P-NFS Strong's Greek 853 |