### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἀκυρόω (akyróō), Strong's number `{{G208}}`, is a compound word formed from the privative alpha (α-), indicating negation or absence, and the verb κυρόω (kyróō), Strong's number `{{G2964}}`. The base verb κυρόω means "to confirm," "to validate," "to ratify," or "to make authoritative." Therefore, ἀκυρόω signifies the opposite: "to invalidate," "to annul," "to abrogate," "to render void," or "to deprive of authority or force." Its semantic range extends primarily to legal or contractual contexts, where a previously established agreement, law, or will is declared to be without effect or binding power. It implies a deliberate act of nullification, making something that was once valid, now invalid.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἀκυρόω appears three times in the New Testament, offering crucial insights into its theological significance:
1. **[[Matthew 15:6]] and [[Mark 7:13]]**: In these parallel accounts, Jesus employs ἀκυρόω to condemn the Pharisees and scribes. He states that by their tradition (παράδοσις, paradosis), they "invalidate" or "make void" (ἀκυροῦτε) the word or commandment of God. Specifically, they used the practice of "Corban" (a dedication of property to God) as an excuse to avoid supporting their parents, thereby nullifying the commandment to honor father and mother ([[Exodus 20:12]], [[Deuteronomy 5:16]]). Here, ἀκυρόω highlights the profound danger of human tradition usurping and effectively abrogating divine revelation, rendering God's clear command ineffective in practical application. It underscores Jesus's critique of a religious system that prioritized human rules over divine will.
2. **[[Galatians 3:17]]**: The Apostle Paul uses ἀκυρόω in a highly significant theological argument concerning the relationship between the Abrahamic covenant and the Mosaic Law. Paul asserts that the Law, which came 430 years after God's covenant with Abraham, "does not annul" (οὐκ ἀκυροῖ) the covenant previously ratified by God. This passage is central to Paul's doctrine of justification by faith, emphasizing that the Law's purpose was not to supersede or nullify God's prior promise of salvation through grace. The use of ἀκυρόω here underscores the immutability and enduring validity of God's covenantal promises, which cannot be undone or rendered void by subsequent dispensations or legal codes.
In both contexts, ἀκυρόω conveys the sense of making something legally or authoritatively ineffective, whether it be a divine command by human tradition or a divine covenant by a subsequent law.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary antonym of ἀκυρόω (akyróō) is κυρόω (kyróō) `{{G2964}}`, meaning "to confirm" or "to ratify," which is its etymological root. Other related terms include:
* **καταργέω (katargéō)** `{{G2673}}`: Often translated as "to abolish," "to nullify," "to render inoperative," or "to bring to nothing." While similar in effect, καταργέω can have a broader range of application (e.g., abolishing death, sin, or the Law's curse), whereas ἀκυρόω specifically implies the undoing of a validation or authority.
* **ἀθετέω (athetéō)** `{{G114}}`: Meaning "to set aside," "to reject," "to disregard," or "to nullify." This term often implies a human act of rejection or contempt towards a law, command, or agreement, leading to its non-observance.
* **κενόω (kenóō)** `{{G2758}}`: Meaning "to empty," "to make void," or "to deprive of power/effect." While it can denote making something ineffective, it often carries the sense of emptying of content or significance, rather than specifically invalidating a legal status.
The concept of "covenant" (διαθήκη, diathēkē `{{G1242}}`) and "law" (νόμος, nomos `{{G3551}}`) are intrinsically linked to ἀκυρόω, as the word frequently appears in discussions about the validity and interaction of divine and human agreements.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἀκυρόω is profound, touching upon core aspects of divine authority, human responsibility, and the nature of God's covenants.
1. **Divine Authority vs. Human Tradition**: In the Gospels, Jesus's use of ἀκυρόω serves as a stark warning against the human tendency to elevate tradition above divine command. It highlights the spiritual danger of religious practices or interpretations that, rather than facilitating obedience to God, actually undermine or negate His express will. This underscores the absolute supremacy of God's revealed Word and the accountability of those who would diminish its authority through human constructs.
2. **Immutability of God's Covenant**: Paul's deployment of ἀκυρόω in Galatians is foundational for understanding the unwavering faithfulness of God. By asserting that the Law cannot "annul" the covenant with Abraham, Paul emphasizes that God's promises, once given and ratified, are irrevocable. This speaks to the steadfastness of God's character and the enduring nature of His grace-based covenant, which remains the basis for salvation despite the introduction of the Law. It safeguards the priority and sufficiency of God's initiative in salvation through faith.
3. **The Power of God's Word**: Implicit in the use of ἀκυρόω is the understanding that while humans *attempt* to invalidate God's commands or covenants, they cannot ultimately succeed in stripping them of their inherent divine power and truth. God's Word and His purposes stand firm, regardless of human rejection or attempts at nullification. The term thus highlights the contrast between the transient nature of human efforts and the eternal efficacy of divine decrees.
### Summary
Ἀκυρόω (akyróō) means "to invalidate," "to annul," or "to render void," particularly in a legal or authoritative sense. Its three New Testament occurrences offer critical theological insights: in the Gospels, Jesus uses it to condemn human traditions that effectively nullify God's commandments, emphasizing the supremacy of divine will over human custom. In Galatians, Paul employs it to assert that the Mosaic Law could not annul God's prior, immutable covenant of grace with Abraham, thereby underscoring the enduring faithfulness of God's promises. The word ultimately highlights the unyielding authority of God's Word and covenants, which stand firm despite human attempts to undermine or reject them.
TRV