Word Study for G650 (ἀποστερέω)

aposteréō /ap-os-ter-eh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀπό and (to deprive)

Meaningto despoil

KJV usagedefraud, destitute, kept back by fraud.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of aposteréō — 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 aposteréō, represented by G650, is defined as to despoil or deprive. It is used in scripture to mean to defraud, to be destitute, or to have something kept back by fraud. This term appears 7 times across 6 unique verses, highlighting specific forms of injustice and deprivation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G650 is applied to several distinct contexts of wrongful deprivation. In Mark, it is included in a list of core commandments: "Defraud not" Mark 10:19, placing it alongside prohibitions against murder and theft. Paul uses the term to admonish the Corinthian believers for taking each other to court, asking why they do not rather "suffer yourselves to be defrauded" 1 Corinthians 6:7. He then turns the accusation on them, stating, "ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren" 1 Corinthians 6:8. The word also addresses economic exploitation, as when James speaks of the hire of laborers that has been "kept back by fraud" James 5:4. In a spiritual sense, it describes men of corrupt minds who are "destitute" of the truth 1 Timothy 6:5. It is even used to govern the marital relationship, where spouses are told, "Defraud ye not one the other" 1 Corinthians 7:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the scope of G650:

G91 adikéō (to be unjust, i.e. (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically)): This word is used in tandem with G650 to describe the actions of the Corinthian believers who "do wrong, and defraud" their own brethren 1 Corinthians 6:8.
G1311 diaphtheírō (to rot thoroughly, i.e. (by implication) to ruin (passively, decay utterly, figuratively, pervert)): This term describes the state of the minds of those who are "destitute" G650 of the truth, linking spiritual deprivation to a "corrupt" inner state 1 Timothy 6:5.
G2813 kléptō (a primary verb; to filch): This word for "steal" appears in the same list of commandments as G650, showing the close relationship between outright theft and the act of defrauding others Mark 10:19.
G2275 hḗttēma (a deterioration, i.e. (objectively) failure or (subjectively) loss): Paul declares that the lawsuits among believers are "utterly a fault" before he challenges them to rather accept being defrauded G650, linking the act of defrauding to a state of spiritual failure in the community 1 Corinthians 6:7.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G650 is significant, establishing a clear ethical boundary against exploitation and dishonesty.

Economic Justice: The word directly condemns the exploitation of workers by withholding their earned wages, a sin that "crieth" out to God James 5:4.
Relational Integrity: It applies to the most intimate human relationships, from the fellowship of believers who are commanded not to defraud each other 1 Corinthians 6:8 to the marital bond where partners must not deprive one another 1 Corinthians 7:5.
Moral Prohibition: By its inclusion in the commandments in Mark 10:19, defrauding is elevated from a social misdeed to a direct violation of God's moral law, on par with other major transgressions.
Spiritual Deprivation: The term is used figuratively to describe a state of being despoiled of truth, connecting dishonest gain with a corrupt mind that is fundamentally empty or "destitute" of godliness 1 Timothy 6:5.

Summary

In summary, G650 is a potent term that addresses the act of depriving someone of what is rightfully theirs. Its application ranges from the financial injustice of withholding wages to the relational failures within the church and family, and even to the internal state of being destitute of truth. It serves as a comprehensive biblical prohibition against exploitation, dishonesty, and deprivation in both material and spiritual matters.

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 6 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Subjunctive 2nd Singular 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Genitive Plural Masculine 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Present Active Imperative 2nd Plural 1×
Present Active Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
Present Passive Indicative 2nd Plural 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
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.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

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 6 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in 1 Corinthians (3 verses); never once in the other 23.

Mark

1 Corinthians

1 Timothy

James

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.