Word Study for G851 (ἀφαιρέω)

aphairéō /af-ahee-reh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀπό and αἱρέομαι

Meaningto remove (literally or figuratively)

KJV usagecut (smite) off, take away.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of aphairéō — 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 aphairéō, represented by G851, is defined as to remove either literally or figuratively. Its base definition includes actions like to "cut (smite) off, take away." It appears 11 times in 9 unique verses, illustrating its use in both physical and conceptual contexts. The word's meaning ranges from a violent, physical severing to the spiritual act of taking something away.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G851 describes two distinct types of removal. It is used literally to describe the violent act against the high priest's servant, whose ear was cut off or smote off (Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50). Figuratively, the word carries significant theological weight. It is used to describe how the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins Hebrews 10:4, but also for God's covenant promise to take away the sins of his people Romans 11:27. The word also appears in a solemn warning in Revelation, where God will take away a person's part from the book of life if they take away from the words of the prophecy Revelation 22:19.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which G851 is used:

G645 apospáō (to drag forth, i.e. (literally) unsheathe (a sword), or relatively (with a degree of force implied) retire (personally or factiously):--(with-)draw (away), after we were gotten from): This word describes the action immediately preceding the use of G851 in the scene with the high priest's servant, where a disciple drew his sword before he "smote off" the ear Matthew 26:51.
G4685 spáō (a primary verb; to draw:--draw (out)): Similar to the above, this verb is used in a parallel account where one who stood by drew a sword and then "cut off" the servant's ear Mark 14:47.
G3817 paíō (a primary verb; to hit (as if by a single blow and less violently than τύπτω); specially, to sting (as a scorpion):--smite, strike): This word specifies the blow that accompanies the cutting, as one who stood by smote the servant and then used G851 to "cut off" his ear Mark 14:47.
G266 hamartía (from ἁμαρτάνω; a sin (properly abstract):--offence, sin(-ful)): This is the conceptual object that is "taken away" by G851. It is central to understanding the inability of animal sacrifices to take away sins Hebrews 10:4 and God's covenant promise to do so Romans 11:27.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G851 is significant, highlighting key doctrines of salvation and judgment.

Limitation of the Old Covenant: The word is used to explicitly state that the sacrificial system was insufficient, as it was "not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" Hebrews 10:4.
Promise of the New Covenant: In contrast, G851 is used to articulate the central promise of God's new covenant with His people, where He declares, "I shall take away their sins" Romans 11:27.
Final Judgment and Divine Warning: The word is used to deliver a stark warning about the sanctity of scripture. Anyone who dares to take away from the words of prophecy will have God take away their part from the book of life Revelation 22:19.

Summary

In summary, G851 is a powerful verb that bridges the physical and the spiritual. It describes a literal, violent act of cutting off, as seen in the Gospels Matthew 26:51, but more profoundly, it defines the spiritual removal of concepts like sin Hebrews 10:4, reproach Luke 1:25, and, in a context of judgment, one's place in the book of life Revelation 22:19. The word effectively conveys a sense of decisive and final removal, whether by a human hand or by divine decree.

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 10 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

2nd Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 3×
2nd Aorist Active Infinitive 1×
2nd Aorist Active Subjunctive 3rd Singular 1×
2nd Aorist Middle Subjunctive 1st Singular 1×
2nd Future Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Future Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Infinitive 1×
Present Middle Indicative 3rd Singular 1×

Singular: One.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".

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 9 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (4 verses); never once in the other 21.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Romans

Hebrews

Revelation

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.