Original Word: ἀφανίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aphanizó
Pronunciation: af-an-id'-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (af-an-id'-zo)
Definition: To destroy, to vanish, to disappear, to make unseen
Meaning: I cause to disappear, hide, remove; I disfigure (probably by leaving unwashed for a long period), destroy.

corrupt, disfigure, destroy

From aphanes; to render unapparent, i.e. (actively) consume (becloud), or (passively) disappear (be destroyed) -- corrupt, disfigure, perish, vanish away.

see GREEK aphanes

Word Origin
from aphanés
Definition
to make unseen, i.e. destroy
NASB Translation
destroy (1), destroys (1), neglect (1), perish (1), vanishes away (1).

STRONGS NT 853: ἀφανίζω

ἀφανίζω; (passive, present ἀφανίζομαι); 1 aorist ἠφανίσθην; (ἀφανής);

a. to snatch out of sight, to put out of view, to make unseen (Xenophon, an. 3, 4, 8 ἥλιον νεφέλη παρακαλύψασα ἠφανισε namely, τήν πόλιν, Plato, Phil. 66 a. ἀφανιζοντες κρύπτομεν).

b. to cause to vanish away, to destroy, consume: Matthew 6:19f (often so in Greek writings and the Sept. (cf. Buttmann, § 130, 5)); passive to perish: Acts 13:41 (Luth.vorSchreckenvergehen); to vanish away, James 4:14 (Herodotus 7, 6; 167; Plato and following).

c. to deprive of lustre, render unsightly; to disfigure: τό πρόσωπον, Matthew 6:16.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek prefix ἀ- (a-, "not") and φαίνω (phainō, "to appear"), meaning "to make unseen" or "to vanish."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀφανίζω, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew words such as אָבַד (abad, Strong's Hebrew 6), meaning "to perish" or "to destroy," and חָבַל (chabal, Strong's Hebrew 2254), meaning "to ruin" or "to spoil." These terms reflect the idea of destruction or disappearance, akin to the Greek ἀφανίζω.

Usage: The term ἀφανίζω is used in the New Testament to describe actions that cause something to become invisible, destroyed, or unrecognizable. It is often used metaphorically to describe the fading or vanishing of earthly things in contrast to eternal values.

Context: The Greek verb ἀφανίζω appears in the New Testament primarily in the context of teaching about the transient nature of earthly possessions and the importance of focusing on spiritual and eternal matters. In Matthew 6:16, Jesus uses the term to instruct His followers on the proper way to fast: "When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward." Here, ἀφανίζω is translated as "disfigure," indicating the act of altering one's appearance to gain human approval rather than divine reward.

Additionally, in Matthew 6:19, Jesus warns against storing up treasures on earth, "where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." The word ἀφανίζω is translated as "destroy," emphasizing the impermanence and vulnerability of material wealth. This usage underscores a central theme in Jesus' teachings: the contrast between the temporary nature of worldly possessions and the enduring value of spiritual treasures.

The verb also appears in James 4:14, where it describes the fleeting nature of human life: "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." Here, ἀφανίζω conveys the idea of life’s transience, urging believers to live with an awareness of their mortality and the eternal significance of their actions.

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