859. aphesis

Lexicon

aphesis: Forgiveness, release, remission

Original Word: ἄφεσις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: aphesis
Pronunciation: AH-feh-sis
Phonetic Spelling: (af'-es-is)
Definition: Forgiveness, release, remission
Meaning: a sending away, a letting go, a release, pardon, complete forgiveness.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission.

From aphiemi; freedom; (figuratively) pardon -- deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission.

see GREEK aphiemi

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 859 áphesis (from 863 /aphíēmi, "send away, forgive" ) – properly, "something sent away"; i.e. remission ("forgiveness"), releasing someone from obligation or debt. See 863 (aphiēmi).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from aphiémi
Definition
dismissal, release, fig. pardon
NASB Translation
forgiveness (15), free* (1), release (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 859: ἄφεσις

ἄφεσις, ἀφέσεως, ἡ (ἀφίημι);

1. release, as from bondage, imprisonment, etc.: Luke 4:18 (19) (Isaiah 61:1f; Polybius 1, 79, 12, etc.).

2. ἄφεσις ἁμαρτιῶν forgiveness, pardon, of sins (properly, the letting them go, as if they had not been committed (see at length Trench, § xxxiii.)), remission of their penalty: Matthew 26:28; Mark 1:4; Luke 1:77; Luke 3:3; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; Acts 5:31; Acts 10:43; Acts 13:38; Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:14; τῶν παραπτωμάτων, Ephesians 1:7; and simply ἄφεσις: Mark 3:29; Hebrews 9:22; Hebrews 10:18 (φόνου, Plato, legg. 9, p. 869 d.; ἐγκληματων, Diodorus 20, 44 (so Dionysius Halicarnassus 50:8 § 50, see also 7, 33; 7, 46; especially 7, 64; ἁμαρτημάτων, Philo, vit. Moys. 3:17; others.)).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἀφίημι (aphiēmi), meaning "to send away" or "to release."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with ἄφεσις is סְלִיחָה (selichah, Strong's Hebrew 5547), which also denotes forgiveness or pardon. Another related term is יובל (yobel, Strong's Hebrew 3104), which refers to the Jubilee year, a time of release and liberation, reflecting similar themes of freedom and remission.

Usage: The word ἄφεσις appears in the New Testament primarily in the context of forgiveness of sins. It is used to describe the act of releasing someone from the penalty or burden of sin, often in relation to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

Context: ἄφεσις is a significant theological term in the New Testament, encapsulating the concept of divine forgiveness and liberation. It is frequently associated with the forgiveness of sins, a central theme in Christian doctrine. The term is used in various contexts to describe the act of God forgiving human transgressions, often linked to the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel of Luke, ἄφεσις is used to describe the mission of Jesus, who proclaimed "release to the captives" (Luke 4:18, BSB), indicating both physical and spiritual liberation. This reflects the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's role in bringing freedom and forgiveness.

The term also appears in the context of the New Covenant, as seen in the Book of Hebrews, where it is associated with the ultimate forgiveness of sins through Christ's sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22, BSB). This underscores the transition from the Old Covenant, with its repeated sacrifices, to the New Covenant, where Christ's single offering provides complete remission.

In the Acts of the Apostles, ἄφεσις is used to describe the message of repentance and forgiveness preached by the apostles (Acts 2:38, BSB). This highlights the early Christian emphasis on the availability of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.

Overall, ἄφεσις is a term that encapsulates the essence of the Gospel message: the offer of forgiveness and reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. It signifies the release from the guilt and power of sin, enabling believers to live in the freedom and grace provided by the New Covenant.

Forms and Transliterations

αφεσει αφέσει ἀφέσει αφέσεις αφέσεως αφεσιν άφεσιν ἄφεσιν αφεσις άφεσις ἄφεσις aphesei aphései aphesin áphesin aphesis áphesis

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 26:28 N-AFS
GRK: ἐκχυννόμενον εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν
NAS: out for many for forgiveness of sins.
KJV: many for the remission of sins.
INT: is poured out for forgiveness of sins

Mark 1:4 N-AFS
GRK: μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν
NAS: of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
KJV: for the remission of sins.
INT: of repentance for forgiveness of sins

Mark 3:29 N-AFS
GRK: οὐκ ἔχει ἄφεσιν εἰς τὸν
NAS: has forgiveness, but is guilty
KJV: hath never forgiveness, but is
INT: never has forgiveness to the

Luke 1:77 N-DFS
GRK: αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀφέσει ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν
NAS: of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,
KJV: people by the remission of their sins,
INT: of him in forgiveness of sins of them

Luke 3:3 N-AFS
GRK: μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν
NAS: of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;
KJV: for the remission of sins;
INT: of repentance for forgiveness of sins

Luke 4:18 N-AFS
GRK: κηρύξαι αἰχμαλώτοις ἄφεσιν καὶ τυφλοῖς
NAS: ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
KJV: to preach deliverance to the captives,
INT: to proclaim to captives deliverance and to [the] blind

Luke 4:18 N-DFS
GRK: τεθραυσμένους ἐν ἀφέσει
KJV: at liberty them that are bruised,
INT: [the] oppressed in deliverance

Luke 24:47 N-AFS
GRK: μετάνοιαν εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν εἰς
NAS: and that repentance for forgiveness of sins
KJV: and remission of sins
INT: repentance and forgiveness of sins to

Acts 2:38 N-AFS
GRK: Χριστοῦ εἰς ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν
NAS: Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;
KJV: Christ for the remission of sins, and
INT: Christ for the forgiveness of sins

Acts 5:31 N-AFS
GRK: Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν
NAS: to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
KJV: to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
INT: to Israel and forgiveness of sins

Acts 10:43 N-AFS
GRK: προφῆται μαρτυροῦσιν ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν λαβεῖν
NAS: in Him receives forgiveness of sins.
KJV: him shall receive remission of sins.
INT: prophets bear witness [that] forgiveness of sins receives

Acts 13:38 N-NFS
GRK: τούτου ὑμῖν ἄφεσις ἁμαρτιῶν καταγγέλλεται
NAS: that through Him forgiveness of sins
KJV: unto you the forgiveness of sins:
INT: this one to you forgiveness of sins is proclaimed

Acts 26:18 N-AFS
GRK: λαβεῖν αὐτοὺς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν καὶ
NAS: that they may receive forgiveness of sins
KJV: may receive forgiveness of sins,
INT: might receive they forgiveness of sins and

Ephesians 1:7 N-AFS
GRK: αὐτοῦ τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν παραπτωμάτων
NAS: His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
KJV: blood, the forgiveness of sins,
INT: of him the forgiveness of trespasses

Colossians 1:14 N-AFS
GRK: ἀπολύτρωσιν τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν
NAS: redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
KJV: blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:
INT: redemption the forgiveness the of sins

Hebrews 9:22 N-NFS
GRK: οὐ γίνεται ἄφεσις
NAS: there is no forgiveness.
KJV: is no remission.
INT: not there is forgiveness

Hebrews 10:18 N-NFS
GRK: ὅπου δὲ ἄφεσις τούτων οὐκέτι
NAS: where there is forgiveness of these things,
KJV: where remission of these
INT: where moreover forgiveness of these [is] no longer [is there]

Strong's Greek 859
17 Occurrences

ἀφέσει — 2 Occ.
ἄφεσιν — 12 Occ.
ἄφεσις — 3 Occ.