◄ 874. aphormé ►
Strong's Lexicon aphormé: Occasion, Opportunity, Pretext Original Word: ἀφορμή Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: aphormé Pronunciation: af-or-MAY Phonetic Spelling: (af-or-may') Definition: (a) a starting, a start, (b) cause, occasion, opportunity. Meaning: A starting point, occasion, or opportunity; often used in the context of a base of operations or a pretext for action. Word Origin: Derived from ἀπό (apo, meaning "from") and ὁρμή (hormē, meaning "impulse" or "onset"). Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀφορμή, the concept of an "opportunity" or "occasion" can be related to Hebrew terms such as פֶּתַח (pethach, Strong's 6607), meaning "opening" or "entrance," which can metaphorically denote an opportunity or chance. Usage: The term ἀφορμή is used in the New Testament to describe an opportunity or occasion, often in the context of providing a pretext or excuse for an action. It can refer to both positive and negative opportunities, depending on the context. Context: The Greek term ἀφορμή (aphormē) appears in several New Testament passages, where it is used to denote an opportunity or occasion that serves as a catalyst for action. In Romans 7:8, Paul uses the term to describe how sin seizes the opportunity provided by the commandment to produce all kinds of covetous desires: "But sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire." Here, ἀφορμή is used to illustrate how the law, though good, can become a base of operations for sin to exert its influence. In 2 Corinthians 5:12, Paul speaks of giving no opportunity for boasting: "We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an occasion to boast on our behalf, so that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearances and not in heart." The term is used to describe a legitimate reason or occasion for boasting in the work of God rather than in superficial appearances. Galatians 5:13 warns believers not to use their freedom as an opportunity for the flesh: "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love." Here, ἀφορμή is used to caution against using Christian liberty as a pretext for indulging sinful desires. The term is also found in 1 Timothy 5:14, where Paul advises younger widows to marry and manage their households to give the adversary no occasion for slander: "So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, giving the adversary no opportunity for slander." Overall, ἀφορμή is a versatile term that underscores the importance of recognizing and managing opportunities, whether they are for good or ill, in the Christian life. HELPS Word-studies 874 aphormḗ (from 575 /apó, "away from" and 3730 /hormḗ, "a violent rush") – properly, a pretext ("launching point") to assert an idea – literally, "what charges from (off) a starting point"; (figuratively) the occasion something has to come forward because having the "successful launching pad" to get something started ("affording an opportunity"). 874 (aphormḗ) is usually used negatively in the NT, but positively in 2 Cor 5:12. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin from apo and hormaó Definition a starting point, i.e. fig. an occasion NASB Translation occasion (2), opportunity (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 874: ἀφορμή ἀφορμή, ἀφορμῆς, ἡ (ἀπό and ὁρμή which see); 1. properly, a place from which a movement or attack is made, a base of operations: Thucydides 1, 90 (τήν Πελοποννησον πᾶσιν ἀναχωρησιν τέ καί ἀφορμήν ἱκανήν εἶναι); Polybius 1, 41, 6. 2. metaphorically, "that by which endeavor is excited and from which it goes forth; that which gives occasion and supplies matter for an undertaking, the incentive; the resources we avail ourselves of in attempting or performing anything": Xenophon, mem. 3, 12, 4 (τοῖς ἑαυτῶν παισί καλλιους ἀφορμας εἰς τόν βίον καταλειπουσι), and often in Greek writings; λαμβάνειν, to take occasion, find an incentive, Romans 7:8, 11 διδόναι, 2 Corinthians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:14 (3Macc. 3:2; both phrases often also in Greek writings); 2 Corinthians 11:12; Galatians 5:13. On the meanings of this word see Viger. edition Herm., p. 81f; Phryn. ed. Lob., p. 223f; (Rutherford, New Phryn., p. 304). Strong's Exhaustive Concordance occasion. From a compound of apo and hormao; a starting-point, i.e. (figuratively) an opportunity -- occasion. see GREEK apo see GREEK hormao Forms and Transliterations αφορμή αφορμην αφορμήν ἀφορμήν ἀφορμὴν aphormen aphormēn aphormḗn aphormḕn Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Romans 7:8 N-AFS GRK: ἀφορμὴν δὲ λαβοῦσα NAS: taking opportunity through KJV: taking occasion by INT: opportunity however having taken Romans 7:11 N-AFS GRK: γὰρ ἁμαρτία ἀφορμὴν λαβοῦσα διὰ NAS: taking an opportunity through KJV: taking occasion by INT: indeed sin an occasion having taken by 2 Corinthians 5:12 N-AFS GRK: ὑμῖν ἀλλὰ ἀφορμὴν διδόντες ὑμῖν NAS: to you but [are] giving you an occasion to be proud KJV: give you occasion to glory on INT: to you but occasion are giving to you 2 Corinthians 11:12 N-AFS GRK: ἐκκόψω τὴν ἀφορμὴν τῶν θελόντων NAS: that I may cut off opportunity from those KJV: I may cut off occasion from them which desire INT: I might cut off the occasion of those wishing 2 Corinthians 11:12 N-AFS GRK: τῶν θελόντων ἀφορμήν ἵνα ἐν NAS: who desire an opportunity to be regarded KJV: from them which desire occasion; that INT: of those wishing an occasion that wherein Galatians 5:13 N-AFS GRK: ἐλευθερίαν εἰς ἀφορμὴν τῇ σαρκί NAS: [do] not [turn] your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, KJV: for an occasion to the flesh, INT: freedom for an occasion to the flesh 1 Timothy 5:14 N-AFS GRK: οἰκοδεσποτεῖν μηδεμίαν ἀφορμὴν διδόναι τῷ NAS: the enemy no occasion for reproach; KJV: give none occasion to the adversary to INT: to manage the house no occasion to give to the Strong's Greek 874 7 Occurrences ἀφορμὴν — 7 Occ.