851. aphaireó
Lexical Summary
aphaireó: To take away, remove, cut off

Original Word: ἀφαιρέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aphaireó
Pronunciation: af-ah-ee-reh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (af-ahee-reh'-o)
KJV: cut (smite) off, take away
NASB: take away, cut off, taken away, takes away, taking away
Word Origin: [from G575 (ἀπό - since) and G138 (αἱρέομαι - choose)]

1. to remove
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cut off, take away.

From apo and haireomai; to remove (literally or figuratively) -- cut (smite) off, take away.

see GREEK apo

see GREEK haireomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from apo and haireó
Definition
to take from, take away
NASB Translation
cut off (3), take away (4), taken away (1), takes away (1), taking...away (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 851: ἀφαιρέω

ἀφαιρέω, ἀφαίρω; future ἀφαιρήσω (Revelation 22:19 Rec. (from Erasmus, apparently on no Ms. authority; see Tdf.'s note)), and ἀφελῶ (ibid. G L T Tr WH; on this rarer future cf. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr. ii., p. 100); 2 aorist ἀφεῖλον; 1 future passive ἀφαιρεθήσομαι; middle, present ἀφαιροῦμαι; 2 aorist ἀφειλομην; (see αἱρέω); in Greek writings from Homer down; to take from, take away, remove, carry off: τί, Luke 1:25; to cut off, τό ὠτίον, Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:47 (L T Tr WH τό ὠτάριον); Luke 22:50 (τό οὖς) (τήν κεφαλήν τίνος, 1 Macc. 7:47; for כָּרַת, 1 Samuel 17:51); to take away, τί ἀπό with the genitive of a thing, Revelation 22:19; τί ἀπό with the genitive of person Luke 10:42 (T WH omit; L Tr brackets ἀπό) (Genesis 31:31; Job 36:7; Proverbs 4:16 (Alex.), etc.); middle (properly, to take away or bear off for oneself), Luke 16:3 (Leviticus 4:10; Micah 2:8; in Greek writings with a simple genitive for ἀπό τίνος); ἀφαιρεῖν τάς ἁμαρτίας to take away siins, of victims expiating them, Hebrews 10:4 (Jeremiah 11:15; Sir. 47:11); middle of God putting out of his sight, remembering no more, the sins committed by men, i. e., granting pardon for sins (see ἁμαρτία, 2 a.): Romans 11:27.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek number 851 gathers ten New Testament occurrences of a verb meaning to take away, remove, or cut off. The contexts range from violent action with a sword to the gracious removal of sin and disgrace. Together they trace a theology of subtraction—what God, or in some cases people, take away—and the lasting effect such removal has on covenant, discipleship, and judgment.

Removal of Sin and Guilt

Hebrews 10:4 declares, “because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Animal sacrifice under the old covenant could cover sin ceremonially but never truly eradicate guilt. The lasting, once-for-all removal awaited Jesus Christ’s self-offering (compare Hebrews 10:10, 14). Romans 11:27 cites Isaiah 27:9 regarding Israel’s future: “And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.” Here the verb points to the eschatological fulfillment of the new covenant promise. In both passages the emphasis lies on divine action; only God can lift sin’s burden from a people who cannot remove it themselves.

Removal of Disgrace

Luke 1:25 records Elizabeth’s thanksgiving after her conception of John the Baptist: “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” The term conveys deep personal shame being lifted. It demonstrates God’s tenderness toward individual reproach while also advancing His redemptive plan.

Removal of Privilege or Possession

Luke 10:42 portrays Jesus’ defense of Mary’s choice to sit at His feet: “Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.” Spiritual privilege secured by attentiveness to Christ cannot be revoked. Luke 16:3 offers a contrast: the dishonest manager fears the loss of his position—“since my master is taking away my position.” Earthly stewardship, when abused, is forfeited. Together the passages teach that what God grants for eternity cannot be stripped away, whereas what humans mishandle is easily removed.

Removal of Life and Bodily Integrity

Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:47; and Luke 22:50 describe the cutting off of the high priest’s servant’s ear in Gethsemane. The violent action exposes the disciples’ misunderstanding of the kingdom’s nature and Jesus’ refusal to advance by force. By healing the wound (Luke 22:51) Jesus reverses the wrongful removal, illustrating that the kingdom is built by restoration, not mutilation.

Removal of Inheritance for Tampering with Scripture

Revelation 22:19 issues one of Scripture’s sternest warnings: “And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the Holy City…” The reciprocal use of the verb underlines poetic justice. Altering God’s word risks forfeiting eternal inheritance, highlighting the inviolability of divine revelation.

Historical and Cultural Notes

• Temple Sacrifice: Hebrews’ claim that sacrifices cannot “take away” sin would have jarred first-century Jews accustomed to the Day of Atonement ritual, where two goats symbolically carried sin away (Leviticus 16).
• Patronage and Stewardship: In first-century estate management (Luke 16), a landowner could summarily discharge a steward, instantly stripping him of livelihood and status.
• Honor-Shame Society: Infertility brought communal reproach; Elizabeth’s relief showcases the social weight of “disgrace” and God’s compassion.
• Scribal Transmission: Revelation’s threat speaks into a culture where scribes copied texts by hand; deliberate alteration was a grave offense.

Ministry Significance

1. Preaching the Gospel: Only Christ removes sin. All religious activity apart from His atonement is insufficient.
2. Pastoral Care: God still lifts disgrace—whether shame over past sin or social stigma—and replaces it with honor in Christ.
3. Discipleship Priorities: Devotion to Jesus’ words, like Mary’s, yields an imperishable “portion.”
4. Stewardship and Accountability: Ministry roles are gifts, not entitlements; unfaithfulness can lead to sudden removal.
5. Handling Scripture: Teachers must guard against adding to or subtracting from God’s word, lest they jeopardize their share in eternal life.
6. Non-Violence in Kingdom Work: The ear-severing episodes warn against advancing God’s purposes by force; true power lies in redemptive healing.

Summary

Strong’s 851 consistently underscores decisive subtraction—of sin, shame, privilege, bodily parts, or eternal reward. Its theological thrust is clear: what God removes stays removed, what He secures cannot be taken away, and tampering with His purposes brings severe loss. Each use invites believers to trust Him for the removal of guilt, guard what He has granted, and honor His word with reverent fidelity.

Forms and Transliterations
αφαιρεθησεται αφαιρεθήσεται ἀφαιρεθήσεται αφαιρεθήση αφαιρειν αφαιρείν ἀφαιρεῖν αφαιρειται αφαιρείται αφαίρειταί ἀφαιρεῖται αφαιρήτε αφαιρουμένω αφαιρούνται αφαιρούσι αφαιρών αφείηλαντο αφείλαντο αφείλατο αφείλατό αφείλε αφειλεν αφείλεν ἀφεῖλεν αφείλες αφείλετο αφείλον αφείλοντο αφείλου άφελε αφελει αφελεί ἀφελεῖ αφελειν αφελείν ἀφελεῖν αφελείς αφελείτε αφελέσθαι αφέλεσθε αφέλετε αφελέτω αφελη αφέλη ἀφέλῃ αφελής αφέλης αφέλητε αφέλοι αφελού αφελούμαι αφελούνται αφελούσι αφελούσιν αφελώ αφελωμαι αφέλωμαι ἀφέλωμαι αφέλωνταί αφέλωσιν αφ'ήλατο αφηρέθη αφηρημένα αφηρημένοι αφηρημένος αφήρηται aphairein aphaireîn aphaireitai aphaireîtai aphairethesetai aphairethēsetai aphairethḗsetai apheilen apheîlen aphele aphelē aphelei apheleî aphélei aphélēi aphelein apheleîn aphelomai aphelōmai aphélomai aphélōmai
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 26:51 V-AIA-3S
GRK: τοῦ ἀρχιερέως ἀφεῖλεν αὐτοῦ τὸ
NAS: of the high priest and cut off his ear.
KJV: of the high priest's, and smote off his
INT: of the high priest cut off of him the

Mark 14:47 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ἀρχιερέως καὶ ἀφεῖλεν αὐτοῦ τὸ
NAS: of the high priest and cut off his ear.
KJV: and cut off his
INT: high priest and cut off of him the

Luke 1:25 V-ANA
GRK: αἷς ἐπεῖδεν ἀφελεῖν ὄνειδός μου
NAS: He looked [with favor] upon [me], to take away my disgrace
KJV: he looked on [me], to take away my
INT: in which he looked upon [me] to take away [the] disgrace of me

Luke 10:42 V-FIP-3S
GRK: ἥτις οὐκ ἀφαιρεθήσεται αὐτῆς
NAS: which shall not be taken away from her.
KJV: shall not be taken away from her.
INT: which not will be taken from her

Luke 16:3 V-PIM-3S
GRK: κύριός μου ἀφαιρεῖται τὴν οἰκονομίαν
NAS: my master is taking the management
KJV: my lord taketh away from me
INT: master of me is taking away the management

Luke 22:50 V-AIA-3S
GRK: δοῦλον καὶ ἀφεῖλεν τὸ οὖς
NAS: of the high priest and cut off his right
KJV: and cut off his
INT: servant and cut off the ear

Romans 11:27 V-ASM-1S
GRK: διαθήκη ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι τὰς ἁμαρτίας
NAS: WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.
KJV: when I shall take away their
INT: covenant when I might have taken away the sins

Hebrews 10:4 V-PNA
GRK: καὶ τράγων ἀφαιρεῖν ἁμαρτίας
NAS: of bulls and goats to take away sins.
KJV: and of goats should take away sins.
INT: and of goats to take away sins

Revelation 22:19 V-ASA-3S
GRK: ἐάν τις ἀφέλῃ ἀπὸ τῶν
NAS: anyone takes away
KJV: any man shall take away from
INT: if anyone should take from the

Revelation 22:19 V-FIA-3S
GRK: προφητείας ταύτης ἀφελεῖ ὁ θεὸς
NAS: takes away from the words
KJV: prophecy, God shall take away his part
INT: prophecy this will take away God

Strong's Greek 851
10 Occurrences


ἀφαιρεῖν — 1 Occ.
ἀφαιρεῖται — 1 Occ.
ἀφαιρεθήσεται — 1 Occ.
ἀφεῖλεν — 3 Occ.
ἀφέλῃ — 1 Occ.
ἀφελεῖ — 1 Occ.
ἀφελεῖν — 1 Occ.
ἀφέλωμαι — 1 Occ.

850b
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