Original Word: ἅπτω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: haptó
Pronunciation: HAP-to
Phonetic Spelling: (hap'-to)
Definition: To touch, to take hold of, to fasten
Meaning: I kindle, light.

kindle, light.

A primary verb; properly, to fasten to, i.e. (specially) to set on fire -- kindle, light.

Word Origin
from a prim. root haph-
Definition
to fasten to, lay hold of
NASB Translation
clinging (1), handle (1), kindled (1), light (1), lighting (2), touch (13), touched (19), touching (1).

STRONGS NT 681: ἅπτω

ἅπτω; 1 aorist participle ἅψας; (cf. Latinapto, German heften); (from Homer down);

1. properly, to fasten to, make adhere to; hence, specifically to fasten fire to a thing, to kindle, set on fire, (often so in Attic): λύχνον, Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33; Luke 15:8 (Aristophanes nub. 57; Theophrastus, char. 20 (18); Josephus, Antiquities 4, 3, 4); πῦρ, Luke 22:55 (T Tr text WH περιαψάντων); πυράν, Acts 28:2 L T Tr WH.

2. Middle (present ά῾πτομαι); imperfect ἡπτομην (Mark 6:56 R G Tr marginal reading); 1 aorist ἡψάμην; in the Sept. generally for נָגַע , הִגִּיעַ ; properly, to fasten oneself to, adhere to, cling to (Homer, Iliad 8. 67);

a. to touch, followed by the object in genitive (Winers Grammar, § 30, 8 c.; Buttmann, 167 (146); cf. Donaldson, p. 483): Matthew 8:3; Mark 3:10; Mark 7:33; Mark 8:22, etc.; Luke 18:15; Luke 22:51 — very often in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In John 20:17, μή μου ἅπτου is to be explained thus: Do not handle me to see whether I am still clothed with a body; there is no need of such an examination, for not yet etc.; cf. Baumg.-Crusius and Meyer at the passage (as given by Hackett in Bib. Sacr. for 1868, p. 779f, or B. D. American edition, p. 1813f).

b. γυναικός, of carnal intercourse with a woman, or cohabitation, 1 Corinthians 7:1, like the Latintangere, Horace sat. 1, 2, 54: Terence, Heaut. 4, 4, 15, and the Hebrew נָגַע , Genesis 20:6; Proverbs 6:29 (Plato, de legg. viii. 840 a.; Plutarch, Alex. Magn c. 21).

c. with allusion to the levitical precept ἀκαθάρτου μή ἅπτεσθε, have no contact with the Gentiles, no fellowship in their heathenish practices, 2 Corinthians 6:17 (from Isaiah 52:11); and in the Jewish sense, μή ἅψῃ, Colossians 2:21 (the things not to be touched appear to be both women and certain kinds of food, so that, celibacy and abstinence from various kinds of food and drink are recommended; cf. DeWette at the passage (but also Meyer and Lightfoot; on the distinction between the stronger term ἅπτεσθαι (to handle?) and the more delicate θιγεῖν (to touch?) cf. the two commentators just named and Trench, § xvii. In classic Greek also ἅπτεσθαι is the stronger term, denoting often to lay hold of, hold fast, appropriate; in its carnal reference differing from θιγγάνειν by suggesting unlawfulness. θιγγάνειν, is used of touching by the hand as a means of knowledge, handling for a purpose; ψηλαφαν signifies to feel around with the fingers or hands, especially in searching for something, often to grope, fumble, cf. ψηλαφινδα blindman's buff. Schmidt, chapter 10.)).

d. to touch i. e. assail: τίνος, anyone, 1 John 5:18 (1 Chronicles 16:22, etc.). (Compare: ἀνάπτω, καθάπτω, περιάπτω.)

Word Origin: A primary verb

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 5060: נָגַע (naga) • to touch, reach, strike. This Hebrew verb shares a similar range of meanings with ἅπτω, often used in contexts of physical contact or influence.
• Strong's Hebrew 2883: טָמֵא (tame) • to be unclean, defile. While not a direct translation, this term relates to the concept of touch in terms of ritual purity and defilement, paralleling some uses of ἅπτω in the New Testament.

Usage: The verb ἅπτω is used in various contexts in the New Testament, often conveying the act of touching or making contact with something or someone. It can imply a physical touch or a metaphorical influence.

Context: The Greek verb ἅπτω appears in several New Testament passages, illustrating both literal and figurative uses. In its literal sense, it often describes physical contact, as seen in the healing narratives where Jesus touches individuals to heal them. For example, in Luke 8:44, the woman with the issue of blood touches the fringe of Jesus' garment, demonstrating faith and resulting in her healing: "She came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped."

In a metaphorical sense, ἅπτω can describe spiritual or moral influence. In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul advises, "It is good for a man not to touch a woman," using the term to imply engaging in intimate relations, thus extending the meaning beyond mere physical contact to moral and ethical considerations.

The middle voice of ἅπτω often emphasizes the subject's involvement in the action, suggesting a deliberate or intentional touch. This is evident in John 20:17, where Jesus tells Mary Magdalene, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father." Here, the term conveys a deeper relational or spiritual connection rather than a simple physical touch.

The verb is also used in contexts of ritual purity, as in Colossians 2:21, where Paul refers to human commandments: "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" This usage highlights the cultural and religious significance of touch in maintaining ceremonial cleanliness.

απτει ἅπτει άπυρον αψαντες ἅψαντες αψας ἅψας περιαψαντων περιαψάντων apsantes apsas aptei hapsantes hápsantes hapsas hápsas haptei háptei periapsanton periapsantōn periapsánton periapsántōnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts