Original Word: ἀπέχομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: apechomai
Pronunciation: ah-PEKH-om-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ekh'-om-ahee)
Definition: I abstain from, keep myself away from.
Meaning: To abstain, refrain, or hold oneself off from something.

Word Origin: Middle voice of ἀπέχω (apéchō • Strong's 568), which means "to have off" or "to be distant."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀπέχομαι, the concept of abstaining or refraining is present in various Hebrew terms related to self-control and holiness, such as נָזַר (nazar • Strong's 5144), which means "to consecrate" or "to separate oneself."

Usage: The term ἀπέχομαι is used in the New Testament to describe the act of abstaining or refraining from certain behaviors or practices. It often carries a moral or ethical connotation, urging believers to avoid actions that are contrary to Christian teachings.

Context: The Greek verb ἀπέχομαι (apechomai) appears in several New Testament passages, emphasizing the importance of self-restraint and moral discipline in the life of a believer. This term is often used in the context of exhortations to abstain from sinful behaviors or practices that are deemed inappropriate for followers of Christ.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Paul instructs the Thessalonian believers: "For it is God’s will that you should be sanctified: You must abstain from sexual immorality." Here, ἀπέχομαι is used to emphasize the necessity of avoiding sexual immorality as part of the sanctification process.

Similarly, in 1 Peter 2:11, Peter urges: "Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul." The use of ἀπέχομαι highlights the internal struggle against fleshly desires and the call to live a life that is pleasing to God.

The term also appears in Acts 15:20, where the Jerusalem Council advises Gentile believers to "abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood." This directive underscores the importance of maintaining purity and avoiding practices associated with pagan worship.

Overall, ἀπέχομαι conveys a strong sense of intentionality in the Christian walk, urging believers to consciously avoid actions that could compromise their faith and witness.

Word Origin
mid. of apechó, q.v.

STRONGS NT 567: ἀπέχω

ἀπέχω; (imperfect ἀπειχον Matthew 14:24 Tr text WH text; present middle ἀπέχομαι);

1. transitive,

a. to hold back, keep off, prevent (Homer, Iliad 1, 97 (Zenodotus); 6, 96; Plato, Crat c. 23, p. 407 b.).

b. to have wholly or in full, to have received (what one had a right to expect or demand; cf. ἀποδιδόναι, ἀπολαμβάνειν (Winers De verb. comp. etc. Part iv., p. 8; Gram. 275 (258); Buttmann, 203 (176); according to Lightfoot (on Philippians 4:18) ἀπό denotes correspondence, i. e. of the contents to the capacity, of the possession to the desire, etc.)): τινα, Philemon 1:15; μισθόν, Matthew 6:2, 5, 16; παράκλησιν, Luke 6:24; πάντα, Philippians 4:18; (often so in Greek writings (cf. Lightfoot on Philippians, the passage cited)). Hence,

c. ἀπέχει, impersonally, it is enough, sufficient: Mark 14:41, where the explanation is 'ye have slept now long enough'; so that Christ takes away the permission, just given to his disciples, of sleeping longer; cf. Meyer at the passage; (in the same sense in (Pseudo-)Anacreon () in Odar. (15) 28, 33; Cyril Alex. on Haggai 2:9 (but the true reading here seems to be ἀπέχω, see P. E. Pusey's edition Oxon. 1868)).

2. intransitive, to be away, absent, distant (Buttmann, 144 (126)): absolutely, Luke 15:20; ἀπό, Luke 7:6; Luke 24:13; Matt. ( Tr text WH text); ; Mark 7:6 (Isaiah 29:13).

3. Middle to hold oneself off, abstain: ἀπό τίνος, from anything, Acts 15:20 (R G); 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (Job 1:1; Job 2:3; Ezekiel 8:6); τίνος, Acts 15:29; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Peter 2:11. (So in Greek writings from Homer down.)

abstain.

Middle voice (reflexively) of apecho; to hold oneself off, i.e. Refrain -- abstain.

see GREEK apecho

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