Word Study for G583 (ἀπογράφω)

apográphō /ap-og-raf'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀπό and γράφω

Meaningto write off (a copy or list), i.e. enrol

KJV usagetax, write.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of apográphō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word apográphō, represented by G583, means to write off (a copy or list), i.e. enrol. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. The term carries the dual meaning of being enrolled in a civil registry, often for taxation, and being spiritually recorded or written down.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G583 appears prominently in the narrative of Christ's birth. A decree G1378 from Caesar Augustus G828 commanded that all the world G3625 should be taxed Luke 2:1. This census required all to go to their own city to be taxed, or enrolled Luke 2:3, which is why Mary G3137 and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem Luke 2:5. In contrast, the word is also used in a spiritual sense to describe the members of the church G1577 of the firstborn G4416 who are written in heaven G3772 Hebrews 12:23.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which G583 is used:

G1378 dógma (a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical):--decree, ordinance): This word signifies the official order from Caesar Augustus that initiated the census where people were taxed G583 Luke 2:1.
G3625 oikouménē (land, i.e. the (terrene part of the) globe; specially, the Roman empire:--earth, world): This term defines the vast scope of the Roman decree, encompassing the known world that was to be taxed G583 Luke 2:1.
G4416 prōtótokos (first-born (usually as noun, literally or figuratively):--firstbegotten(-born)): This identifies the specific group of believers who are spiritually written G583 in heaven Hebrews 12:23.
G3772 ouranós (the sky; by extension, heaven): This specifies the location of the divine registration, distinguishing the earthly enrollment of the census from the heavenly one for believers Hebrews 12:23.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G583 is rooted in its contrasting applications:

Civil Enrollment: The use of G583 in Luke's Gospel grounds the nativity story in a specific historical event. The Roman decree to be taxed Luke 2:1 serves as the catalyst that fulfills prophecy by bringing Mary G3137 to the city G4172 of David for the birth of the Saviour Luke 2:11.
Heavenly Citizenship: In Hebrews, the concept is elevated from an earthly census to a divine one. The firstborn G4416 are written G583 in heaven, signifying their secure place in the "general assembly G3831 and church G1577" and their standing before God G2316 the Judge G2923 of all Hebrews 12:23.
Earthly vs. Divine Registration: The dual usage highlights the difference between temporary, earthly authority and eternal, heavenly security. While Caesar G2541 can enroll citizens for a tax, God enrolls the spirits G4151 of just men G1342 in a permanent record.

Summary

In summary, G583 is a word that operates on two distinct levels. It describes the literal, historical act of being enrolled in a Roman census for the purpose of being taxed Luke 2:1, an event central to the nativity narrative. Simultaneously, it carries the profound theological weight of being written in heaven, signifying a believer's eternal citizenship in God's kingdom Hebrews 12:23. This demonstrates how a simple administrative term can be used to distinguish between the fleeting records of man and the permanent records of God.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 4 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Middle Or Passive Infinitive 2×
Aorist Middle Infinitive 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Genitive Plural Masculine 1×

Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Middle Or Passive: Can be read as middle or passive; context decides.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (3 verses); never once in the other 25.

Luke

Hebrews

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.