The Greek word apokylíō, represented by G617, is a specific term meaning to roll away or roll back. It appears 5 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible, signifying its concentrated use in a single, pivotal narrative.
In the biblical narrative, G617 is used exclusively to describe the moving of the stone from the door of the sepulchre. The women approaching the tomb wonder, "Who shall roll us away the stone?" Mark 16:3. The gospels then reveal the answer: an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone Matthew 28:2. This action is confirmed when the women arrive and find the stone already rolled away Luke 24:2, a stone described as "very great" Mark 16:4.
Several related words provide context for the action of G617:
- G3037 líthos (a stone): This is the object that is rolled away in every occurrence of G617. The stone itself is a central element, described as "very great" Mark 16:4.
- G32 ángelos (a messenger; especially an "angel"): This term identifies the agent of the action. An angel of the Lord is the one who performs the act of rolling back the stone Matthew 28:2.
- G2597 katabaínō (to descend): This verb describes the angel's origin, emphasizing the heavenly nature of the intervention. The angel descended from heaven before he came and rolled back the stone Matthew 28:2.
- G4334 prosérchomai (to approach): This word describes the angel's purposeful movement towards the tomb, as he "came and rolled back the stone" Matthew 28:2, indicating a deliberate divine act.
The theological weight of G617 is tied directly to its context in the resurrection narrative.
- Divine Intervention: The act of rolling away the stone is not a human feat. It is accomplished by an angel G32 of the Lord G2962 who descended G2597 from heaven, demonstrating that the power at work is divine Matthew 28:2.
- Removal of Obstacles: The stone G3037 represents a final, physical barrier. By being rolled away, it symbolizes the removal of the obstacle that separates humanity from the truth of the resurrection.
- Manifestation of Authority: The act is a display of heaven's authority. The angel not only rolled back the stone but also "sat upon it" Matthew 28:2, signifying complete control and victory over the seal of the tomb.
In summary, G617 is a precise action verb whose significance is inseparable from its singular context. It is used only to describe the rolling away of the tomb's stone, an event central to the resurrection accounts. This act, performed by an angelic being, serves as the physical prelude to the greatest revelation, illustrating how a divine action can remove a seemingly insurmountable barrier to reveal a foundational truth of scripture.
TRV