Lectionary Calendar

Tuesday, July 29th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17

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Bible Lexicons

Old & New Testament Greek Lexical DictionaryGreek Lexicon

Strong's #630 - ἀπολύω

Transliteration

apolýō

Phonetics

ap-ol-oo'-o

Origin

from (G575) and (G3089)

Parts of Speech

verb

TDNT

None

Definition

Thayer
Strong
Mounce

Thayer's

to set free
to let go, dismiss, (to detain no longer)
1. a petitioner to whom liberty to depart is given by a decisive answer
2. to bid depart, send away
to let go free, release
1. a captive i.e. to loose his bonds and bid him depart, to give him liberty to depart
2. to acquit one accused of a crime and set him at liberty
3. indulgently to grant a prisoner leave to depart
4. to release a debtor, i.e. not to press one's claim against him, to remit his debt
used of divorce, to dismiss from the house, to repudiate. The wife of a Greek or Roman may divorce her husband.
to send one's self away, to depart

Hebrew Equivalent Words:

Strong #: 1478 ‑ גָּוַע (gaw‑vah'); 1644 ‑ גָּרַשׁ (gaw‑rash'); 1980 ‑ הָלַךְ (haw‑lak'); 7725 ‑ שׁוּב (shoob);

Frequency Lists

Book
Word
Parsing

Verse Results

ASV (89)

Matthew 28

Mark 16

Luke 18

John 5

Acts 21

Hebrews 1

BSB (66)

Matthew 19

Mark 12

Luke 14

John 5

Acts 15

Hebrews 1

CSB (66)

Matthew 19

Mark 12

Luke 14

John 5

Acts 15

Hebrews 1

ESV (66)

Matthew 19

Mark 12

Luke 14

John 5

Acts 15

Hebrews 1

KJV (89)

Matthew 27

Mark 15

Luke 19

John 6

Acts 21

Hebrews 1

LEB (0)

The Lexham English Bible
did not use
this Strong's Number

LSB (90)

Matthew 28

Mark 17

Luke 18

John 5

Acts 21

Hebrews 1

N95 (91)

Matthew 28

Mark 17

Luke 19

John 5

Acts 21

Hebrews 1

NAS (87)

Matthew 28

Mark 17

Luke 19

John 5

Acts 21

Hebrews 1

NLT (68)

Matthew 36

Mark 22

Luke 32

John 9

Acts 26

Hebrews 3

WEB (90)

Matthew 26

Mark 16

Luke 21

John 5

Acts 21

Hebrews 1

YLT (64)

Matthew 17

Mark 12

Luke 14

John 5

Acts 15

Hebrews 1

ASV (89)

after he had sent 1

and release 1

and release him 1

away 13

being let go 1

depart 1

go 4

hath been set at liberty 1

he dismissed 1

he released 1

he sent 1

he sent away 1

he should 1

he used to release 1

her when she is put away 2

herself shall put away 1

him 1

i send 1

i should release 1

is put away 1

let 3

let him go 1

let them go 1

let you go 1

lettest thou 1

me at liberty 1

release 4

released 2

released he 1

send 5

sent 1

set at liberty 1

shall put away 3

should send 1

that i release 4

that putteth away 2

them away 1

they departed 1

they let 1

they sent 1

they were dismissed 2

thou art loosed 1

thou release 1

to put 2

to put away 3

to put her away 1

to release 3

to release him 1

to set 1

up into 1

ye shall be released 1

BSB (66)

a divorced woman 2

and began to leave 1

and let them go 1

and release him 1

and released 1

and sent them off 1

and then released 1

dismiss 3

dismissed 2

divorces 5

forgive 1

has been released 1

have been released 1

have him release 1

he dismissed 2

he had sent them away 1

he released 1

he sent him away 1

i release 1

i send 1

i will release him 1

jesus had dismissed 2

me to release 4

on their release 1

pilate released 1

release 2

release you 1

released 1

released them 1

send her away 3

sent him on his way 1

they were sent off 1

to divorce 4

to release 5

to release him 1

to release me 1

to send them away 1

were sent off 1

who divorces 1

you are set free 1

you now dismiss 1

you release 1

you will be forgiven 1

CSB (66)

away 9

back 1

dismiss 1

dismissed 5

dismissing 2

divorce 4

divorced 2

divorces 6

forgive 1

forgiven 1

free 1

leave 1

off 2

release 18

released 11

send 1

ESV (66)

away 10

depart 1

departed 1

dismissed 5

divorce 3

divorced 1

divorces 6

forgive 1

forgiven 1

freed 1

go 6

let 1

liberty 1

release 15

released 6

sending away 1

sent him away 1

sent off 2

sent them off 1

set free 1

woman divorced 1

KJV (89)

away 27

depart 2

departed 1

dismissed 2

divorced 1

forgive 1

forgiven 1

go 13

he 1

let 7

liberty 2

loosed 2

put 2

release 13

released 3

send 6

sent 4

thou 1

LEB (0)

The Lexham English Bible
did not use
this Strong's Number

LSB (90)

away 20

dismissed 1

divorce 3

divorced 2

divorces 5

free 1

freed 1

go 2

leaving 1

let 2

pardon 1

pardoned 1

release 20

released 8

releasing 1

send 9

sending 2

sends 1

sent 8

set 1

N95 (91)

away 20

depart 1

dismissed 1

divorce 3

divorced 2

divorces 5

free 1

freed 1

go 2

leaving 1

let 2

pardon 1

pardoned 1

release 20

released 8

releasing 1

send 9

sending 2

sends 1

sent 8

set 1

NAS (87)

away 16

depart 1

dismiss 1

dismissed 3

divorce 3

divorced 2

divorces 5

free 1

freed 1

go 2

leaving 1

let 2

letting 1

pardon 1

pardoned 1

release 19

released 9

send 8

sending 1

sends 1

sent 7

set 1

NLT (68)

away 8

back 2

destroy 1

die 1

divorce 4

divorced 2

divorces 5

engagement 1

forgive 1

forgiven 1

free 1

freed 1

go 3

home 3

leave 1

left 1

messengers 1

release 20

released 6

send 1

sent 3

way 1

WEB (90)

and release 1

and release him 1

are releasing 1

away 12

divorce 1

divorces 2

go 4

has been freed 1

he 1

he dismissed 1

he had sent 1

he sent 1

he sent away 1

he should 1

he used to release 1

her when she is divorced 1

herself divorces 1

him 1

i send 1

i should release 1

is divorced 1

let 3

let go 1

let him go 1

let you go 1

me free 1

me go 1

or let 1

put away 1

puts away 1

release 2

released 3

send 5

sent 2

set free 2

them away 1

they departed 1

they let 1

they let them go 1

they sent 1

they were sent back 1

they were sent off 1

to divorce 3

to divorce her 1

to put 1

to release 4

to release him 1

to set 1

want me to release 4

when she is put away 1

who divorces 1

you 1

you are freed 1

you release 1

you will be set free 1

YLT (64)

[that] i shall release 1

a woman may put away 1

away 9

being let go 1

did he release 1

did release 1

go 4

have been released 1

having been let go 1

having let away 2

he dismissed 1

he might let away 1

he released 1

he was releasing 1

her sent away 1

her who hath been put away 1

i shall release 1

i will release 1

i will release [him 1

is released 1

let [him] go 1

let away 2

let them go 1

may put away 4

one thou mayest release 1

release 3

released 1

they sent [them] away 1

they were going away 1

they were let go 1

thou dost send away 1

thou hast been loosed 1

to put away 4

to release 5

to release [him 1

who is sending away 1

ye [that] i shall release 1

ye may be let go 1

ye shall be released 1

RAH

The
did not use
this Strong's Number

SWE

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 6

V-AAN 11

V-AAP-NSF 1

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 7

V-AAS-2P 1

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 7

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 1

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN 3

V-PAP-NSM 1

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN 1

V-RPP-ASF 3

V-RPP-ASM 1

ANT

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 6

V-AAN 11

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2P 1

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 8

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN 3

V-PAP-NSM 1

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN 1

V-RPP-ASF 3

V-RPP-ASM 1

BEZ

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 6

V-AAN- 11

V-AAP-NSF 1

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 5

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAI-3S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN- 3

V-PAP-NSM 2

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN- 1

V-RPP-ASF 3

V-RPP-ASM 1

BGB

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 5

V-AAN 11

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 7

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN 3

V-PAP-NSM 1

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN 1

V-RPP-ASF 3

V-RPP-ASM 1

BMT

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 5

V-AAN 11

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 7

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN 3

V-PAP-NSM 1

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN 1

V-RPP-ASF 3

V-RPP-ASM 1

BYZ

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 6

V-AAN 11

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2P 1

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 8

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN 3

V-PAP-NSM 1

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN 1

V-RPP-ASF 3

V-RPP-ASM 1

ELZ

V-AAD-2S 6

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 8

V-AAN 11

V-AAPNSF 1

V-AAPNSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 5

V-API-3P 1

V-APPNPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAD-2P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAI-3S 1

V-PAN 2

V-PAPNSM 2

V-XPN 1

V-XPPASF 2

V-XPPASM 1

NA26

V-1AASS 6

V-1FAIS 2

V-2AADS 6

V-2AASS 1

V-2APSP 1

V-2FPIP 1

V-2PADP 1

V-2PAIS 1

V-2XPIS 1

V-3AAIP 4

V-3AAIS 9

V-3AASS 5

V-3APIP 1

V-3IAIS 1

V-3IMIP 1

V-3PAIS 1

V-AAN 11

V-AAPNSF 1

V-AAPNSM 2

V-APPNPM 2

V-PAN 2

V-PAPNSM 2

V-XPN 1

V-XPPASF 3

V-XPPASM 1

SBL

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 6

V-AAN 11

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2P 1

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 8

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN 3

V-PAP-NSM 1

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN 1

V-RPP-ASF 3

V-RPP-ASM 1

SCV

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 6

V-AAN 11

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2P 1

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 8

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN 3

V-PAP-NSM 1

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN 1

V-RPP-ASF 3

V-RPP-ASM 1

STV

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 6

V-AAN 12

V-AAP-NSF 1

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 5

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAI-3S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN 2

V-PAP-NSM 2

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN 1

V-RPP-ASF 2

V-RPP-ASM 1

TIS

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 6

V-AAN 11

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2P 1

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 8

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN 3

V-PAP-NSM 1

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN 1

V-RPP-ASF 3

V-RPP-ASM 1

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 9

V-AAM-2S 6

V-AAN 11

V-AAP-NSF 1

V-AAP-NSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 5

V-API-3P 1

V-APP-NPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAI-3S 1

V-PAM-2P 1

V-PAN 2

V-PAP-NSM 2

V-RPI-2S 1

V-RPN 1

V-RPP-ASF 1

V-RPP-ASM 1

TRG

V-AAD-2S 6

V-AAI-3P 4

V-AAI-3S 8

V-AAN 12

V-AAPNSF 1

V-AAPNSM 2

V-AAS-1S 6

V-AAS-2S 1

V-AAS-3S 5

V-API-3P 1

V-APPNPM 2

V-APS-2P 1

V-FAI-1S 2

V-FPI-2P 1

V-IAI-3S 1

V-IMI-3P 1

V-PAD-2P 1

V-PAI-2S 1

V-PAI-3S 1

V-PAN 2

V-PAPNSM 2

V-XPN 1

V-XPPASF 2

V-XPPASM 1

The
did not use
this Strong's Number

Liddell-Scott-Jones Definitions

ἀπολύω [v. λύω ], fut. -λύσω, etc.: fut. Pass. ἀπολελύσομαι X. Cyr. 6.2.37: —

1. loose from, ἱμάντα θοῶς ἀπέλυσε κορώνης Od. 21.46; ὄφρ' ἀπὸ τοίχους λῦσε κλύδων τρόπιος the sides of the ship from the keel, ib. 12.420; undo, ἀπὸ κρήδεμνον ἔλυσεν ib. 3.392; ἐπιδέσματα Hp. Fract. 25.

2. set free, release, relieve from, ἀ. τινὰ τῆς φρουρῆς Hdt. 2.30; τῆς ἐπιμελείας X. Cyr. 8.3.47; τῶν ἐκεῖ κακῶν Pl. R. 365a; τὴν ψυχὴν ἀπὸ τῆς τοῦ σώματος κοινωνίας Id. Phd. 65a, cf. 67a; ἀ. τῆς μετρήσεως save them from the trouble of measuring, Arist. Pol. 1257a40: — Pass., to be set free, τῶν δεινῶν, φόβου, Th. 1.70, 7.56, etc. freq. in legal sense, ἀ. τῆς αἰτίης acquit of the charge, Hdt. 9.88, X. An. 6.6.15; opp. καταψηφίζω, Democr. 262; τῆς εὐθύνης Ar. V. 571: c. inf., ἀ. τινὰ μὴ φῶρα εἶναι acquit of being a thief, Hdt. 2.174; so ἀπολύεται μὴ ἀδικεῖν Th. 1.95, cf. 128: abs., acquit, Ar. V. 988, 1000, Lys. 20.20, etc.

II in Il. always, = cross ἀπολυτρόω,

1.release on receipt of ransom, οὐδ' ἀπέλυσε θύγατρα καὶ οὐκ ἀπεδέξατ' ἄποινα 1.95; Ἕκτορ' ἔχει.. οὐδ' ἀπέλυσεν 24.115, al.: — Med., set free by payment of ransom, ransom, redeem, χαλκοῦ τε χρυσοῦ τ' ἀπολυσόμεθ' at a price of.., Il. 22.50 (but Act. in Prose, ἀπολύειν πολλῶν χρημάτων X. HG 4.8.21).

2. let go, let alone, leave one, of an illness, Hp. Coac. 564.

III

1. discharge, disband an army, ἀ. οἴκαδε X. HG 6.5.21; generally, dismiss, discharge, ἐμὲ.. ἀπέλυσ' ἄδειπνον Ar. Ach. 1155, cf. Bion 1.96.

2. divorce a wife, Matthew 1:19, etc.; τὸν ἄνδρα D.S. 12.18.

3. do away with, remove, αἰσχύνην D. 20.47: — Pass., Antipho 2.1.5.

4. discharge or pay a debt, Pl. Cra. 417b; pay, ἀ. τὸν χαλκόν PTeb. 490 (i B. C.); pay off a mortgage, POxy. 509.15.

1. dismiss a charge, εἰσαγγελία ὑπὸ τοῦ κατηγόρου ἀπολελυμένη Hyp. Eux. 38. ἀ. ἀνδράποδα Θρᾳξίν sell, Antipho 5.20; ἀ. οἰκίαν τινί sell a mortgaged house outright, Isa 6.33. deliver, τί τινι PFlor. 123.2 (iii A. D.): — Pass., ib. 228.6 (iii A. D.). begin to count, [ μοίρας] ἀπό.. Vett. Val. 135: abs., Id. 19.19, Paul.Al. Q. 2. intr., depart (cf. B.IV, C. 2), Plb. 3.69.14, al. Med. with aor. 2 ἀπελύμην (in pass. sense), Opp. C. 3.128: — redeem, v. supr. A. 11.

II ἀπολύεσθαι διαβολάς do away with, refute calumnies against one, Th. 8.87, Pl. Ap. 37b, al.: abs., Arist. Rh. 1416b9.

2. τὴν αἰτίαν, τὰς βλασφημίας, τὰ κατηγορημένα, Th. 5.75, D. 15.2, 18.4: c. gen., τῶν εἰς Ἀριστόβουλον -σασθαι J. AJ 15.3.5. refute, τοὺς ἐναντίους λόγους Dam. Pr. 126 ter: abs., ὁ δὲ ἀπολυόμενος ἔφη in defence, Hdt. 8.59.

III like Act.,

1. acquit, τοῦ μὴ κακῶς ἔχειν ἀλλ' ὀρθῶς Pl. Lg. 637c.

2. release from, τοὺς Ἕλληνας ἀ. δουλείας Id. Mx. 245a. like Pass. (c. 11), depart, S. Ant. 1314; also, put off, πνεῦμα ἀ. AP 9.276 (Crin.); but πνεῦμα μελῶν ἀπέλυε IG 14.607e (Carales). Pass., to be released, ἐλπίζων τοὺς υἱέας τῆς στρατηΐης ἀπολελύσθαι from military service, Hdt. 4.84, cf. X. Cyr. 6.2.37; τῆς ἀρχῆς ἀπολυθῆναι βουλόμενοι to be freed from their rule, Th. 2.8; τῶν δεινῶν μηδέποτε οἴεσθαι ἀπολυθήσεσθαι Id. 1.70; τῆς ὑποψίας Antipho 2.4.3; τῆς μιαρίας ib. 3.11: abs., to be acquitted, Th. 6.29; to be absolved from, τῶν ἀδικημάτων Pl. Phd. 113d.

II of combatants,

1. to be separated, part, οὐ ῥᾳδίως ἀπελύοντο Th. 1.49; generally, to be separated or detached, ἀλλήλων or ἀπ' ἀλλήλων, Arist. Metaph. 1031b3, Ph. 185a28; ἀ. τὰ ᾠὰ τῆς ὑστέρας Id. GA 754b18, al.; ἀπολελυμένος, abs., detached, αἰδοῖον, γλῶττα, ὄρχεις, Id. HA 500b2, 533a27, 535b2; τὴν γλῶτταν ἀ. having its tongue detached, Id. Fr. 319, al.; also, distinct, differentiated, Id. HA 497b22.

2. depart, ἔθανες, ἀπελύθης, S. Ant. 1268 (lyr.), cf. Plb. 6.58.4, al., LXX Numbers 20:29, al.; cf. supr. B.IV.

III of a child, to be brought forth, Hp. Superf. 11, cf. 24, Arist. GA 745b11; of the mother, to be delivered, Hp. Epid. 2.2.17. to be annulled, Arist. EN 1156a22. ἀπολελυμένος, η, ον, absolute, esp. in Gramm., D.T. 636.15, A.D. Synt. 97.20, al.: also, general, of meaning, Olymp.Alch. p.72B. of metres, irregular, without strophic responsion, Heph. Poëm. 5.

Thayer's Expanded Definition

ἀπολύω; (imperfect ἀπελυον); future ἀπολύσω; 1 aorist ἀπελυσα; passive, perfect ἀπολελυμαι; 1 aorist ἀπελυθην; (future ἀπολυθήσομαι); imperfect middle ἀπελυομην (Acts 28:25); used in the N. T. only in the historical books and in Hebrews 13:23; to loose from, sever by loosening, undo (see ἀπό, V.);

1. to set free: τινα τίνος (so in Greek writings even from Homer down), to liberate one from a thing (as from a bond), Luke 13:12 (ἀπολέλυσαι (thou hast been loosed i. e.) be thou free from (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 40, 4) τῆς ἀσθενείας (L T ἀπό τῆς ἀσθενείας)).

2. to let go, dismiss (to detain no longer); τινα, a. a suppliant to whom liberty to depart is given by a decisive answer: Matthew 15:23; Luke 2:29 (`me whom thou hadst determined to keep on earth until I had seen the salvation prepared for Israel, cf. Luke 2:26, thou art now dismissing with my wish accomplished, and this dismission is at the same time dismission also from life' — in reference to which ἀπολύειν is used in Numbers 20:29; Tobit 3:6; (cf. Genesis 15:2; 2 Macc. 7:9; Plutarch, consol. ad Apoll. § 13 cf. 11 at the end)); (Acts 23:22).

b. to bid depart, send away: Matthew 14:15, 22; Matthew 15:32, 39; Mark 6:36, 45; Mark 8:3, 9; Luke 8:38; Luke 9:12; Luke 14:4; Acts 13:3; Acts 19:41 (τήν ἐκκλησίαν); passive Acts 15:30, 33.

3. to let go free, to release;

a. a captive, i. e. to loose his bonds and bid him depart, to give him liberty to depart: Luke 22:68 (R G L Tr in brackets); ; John 19:10; Acts 16:35; Acts 26:32 (ἀπολελύσθαι ἐδύνατο (might have been set at liberty, cf. Buttmann, 217 (187), § 139, 27 c.; Winers Grammar, 305 (286) i. e.) might be free; perfect as in Luke 13:12 (see 1 above, and Winer's Grammar, 334 (313))); Acts 28:18; Hebrews 13:23; ἀπολύειν τινα τίνι, to release one to one, grant him his liberty: Matthew 27:15, 17, 21, 26; Mark 15:6, 9, 11, 15; Luke 23:(), (R L in brackets), ; (John 18:39).

b. to acquit one accused of a crime and set him at liberty: John 19:12; Acts 3:13.

c. indulgently to grant a prisoner leave to depart: Acts 4:21, 23; Acts 5:40; Acts 17:9.

d. to release a debtor, i. e. not to press one's claim against him, to remit his debt: Matthew 18:27; metaphorically, to pardon another his offences against me: Luke 6:37 (τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἀπολύεσθαι, 2 Macc. 12:45).

4. used of divorce, as ἀπολύω τήν γυναῖκα to dismiss from the house, to repudiate: Matthew 1:19; Matthew 5:31; Matthew 19:3, 7-9; Mark 10:2, 4, 11; Luke 16:18; (1 Esdr. 9:36); and improperly a wife deserting her husband is said τόν ἄνδρα ἀπολύειν in Mark 10:12 (cf. Diodorus 12, 18) (unless, as is more probable, Mark, contrary to historic accuracy (yet cf. Josephus, Antiquities 15, 7, 10), makes Jesus speak in accordance with Greek and Roman usage, according to which wives also repudiated their husbands (references in Meyer, at the passage)); (cf. שִׁלַּח, Jeremiah 3:8; Deuteronomy 21:14; Deuteronomy 22:19, 29).

5. Middle ἀπολύομαι, properly, to send oneself away; to depart (Winer's Grammar, 253 (238)): Acts 28:20 (returned home; Exodus 33:11).

Abbott-Smith Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament

ἀπο -λύω ,

[in LXX for H7725, etc., freq. in 1-4 Mac;]

1. to set free, release: Luke 13:12, John 19:10, al.; a debtor, Matthew 18:27; metaph., of forgiveness, Luke 6:37.

2. to let go, dismiss (Field, Notes, 9 f.): Matthew 15:23, Luke 2:29; Luke 9:12, Acts 19:41, al.; of divorce, τ . γυναῖκα : Matthew 1:19; Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:3; Matthew 19:8; Matthew 19:10 Mark 10:2; Mark 10:4; Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18; with ref. to Gk. and Rom. (net Jewish) custom, τ . ἄνδρα : Mark 10:12. Mid., to depart: Acts 28:25 (MM, s.v.).

Abbott-Smith Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.
Copyright © 1922 by G. Abbott-Smith, D.D., D.C.L.. T & T Clarke, London.

Vocabulary of the Greek NT

This common verb, in the sense ";dismiss,"; ";send away on a mission"; (as Acts 13:3, and probably Hebrews 13:23) may be illustrated by P Par 49.19 (B.C. 164–58) (= Witkowski.2 p. 70) ἀπέλυσα εἴπας αὐτῶι ὀρθρίτερον ἐλθεῖν. In P Lond 42.26 (see above under ἀπολαμβάνω) it is used of departure from seclusion in the Serapeum—ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἀπολελύσθαι σε ἐκ τῆς κατοχῆς : cf. P Petr II. 11(i).3 (iii/B.C.) (= Selections, p. 7) ὅπως τῆς ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος σχολῆς ἀπολυθῶ, ";in order that I may be relieved from my present occupation,"; BGU I. 27.14 (ii/A.D.) (= Selections, p. 101) ὥστε ἕως σήμερον μηδέν᾽ ἀπολελύσθαι τῶν μετὰ σίτου, ";so that up till to-day no one of us in the corn service has been let go."; Release from prison is implied in P Giss I. 65a.4, 66.11 (ii/A.D.) : see Kornemann’s note. P Oxy X. 1271.5 (A.D. 246) is in a request to the Prefect for a permit to leave the country by ship from Pharos : ἀξιῶ γράψαι σε τῷ ἐπιτρόπῳ τῆς Φάρου ἀπολῦσαί με κατὰ τὸ ἔθος. The sense of ";grant an amnesty to"; underlies P Par 63xiii. 2ff. (B.C. 165) ἀπολελυκότες πάντας τοὺς ἐνεσχημένους ἔν τισιν ἀγνοήμασιν ἤ ἁμαρτήμασιν, and P Tor I. 1vii. 13 (B.C. 116) (= Chrest. II. p. 37) : see Mitteis in loc. Akin to this is the use in BGU IV. 1106.34 (B.C. 13) πλὴν συνφανοῦς ἀ ̣π ̣ωλήας, ἧς καὶ φανερᾶς γενηθείσ [ης ἀ ]πολελύσθω. In P Tebt II. 490.3 (B.C. 92 or 59) ἀ ̣πολύσομ ̣α ̣ι ̣ τὸν χαλκόν the verb is used in the sense of ";pay,"; cf. P Rein 54.7 (iii/iv A.D.) διε ̣πεμψάμην σο ̣ι ̣ (κτήνη) . . . ὅπως γεμίσῃς αὐτὰ οἴνου ἐκ τῶν ἀπολυθέντων μοι ὑπὸ Ἰσχυρίωνος, ";afin que tu les charges de vin, acheté sur la somme que m’a remboursée Ischyrion"; (Ed.) : so elsewhere of delivering goods. The index to OGIS gives a long list of citations in various senses, which need not be further illustrated. But the idea of a veteran ";released"; from long service, suggestive for Luke 2:29, may be noted in the t.t. ἀπολύσιμος ἀπὸ στ [ρ ]ατείας, CPR 1.3 (A.D. 83–4) : cf. P Tebt II. 292.6 (A.D. 189–90) ἱερέως ἀπολυσίμου, P Lond 345.4 (A.D. 193) (= II. p. 114) ἀπολυσί (μων) τῆς λαογ ̣ρ ̣(αφίας). We may also compare Wünsch AF 4.30 (iii/A.D.) ὁρκίζω σε τὸν θεὸν τὸν τὴν κοίμησίν σοι δεδωρημένον καὶ ἀπολύσαντά σε ἀπὸ δ [εσμῶ ]ν τοῦ βίου Νεθμομαω, and a tombstone of ii/A.D. (Alexandria), Preisigke 2477 Ἡλιόδωρε οὐετρανὲ ἐντείμως ἀπολελυμένε, εὐψύχει : the perfect here might perhaps encourage us to take the phrase metaphorically—or literally, with a secondary application. It occurs with the aorist in Preisigke 423.8, seemingly a ii/A.D. papyrus : οὐετρα [νῷ ] τῶν ἐντείμως ἀπολυθέντων. Whether or no we may recognize the figurative sense in the veteran’s epitaph above, we may certainly illustrate the Nunc dimittis by this familiar term of military life.

List of Word Forms

απελυεν απέλυεν ἀπέλυεν απελύετο απελύθη απελυθησαν απελύθησαν ἀπελύθησαν απελυοντο απελύοντο ἀπελύοντο απελυσαν απέλυσαν ἀπέλυσαν απελυσε απέλυσε ἀπέλυσε απελυσεν απέλυσεν ἀπέλυσεν απολελυμενην απολελυμένην ἀπολελυμένην απολελυμενον απολελυμένον ἀπολελυμένον απολελυσαι απολέλυσαι ἀπολέλυσαι Απολελυσθαι απολελύσθαι Ἀπολελύσθαι απολυει ἀπολύει απολυειν απολύειν ἀπολύειν απολυεις απολύεις ἀπολύεις απολυετε απολύετε ἀπολύετε Απολυθεντες απολυθέντες Ἀπολυθέντες απολυθησεσθε απολυθήσεσθε ἀπολυθήσεσθε απολυθητε απολυθήτε ἀπολυθῆτε απολύομαι απολυσαι απολύσαι απολύσαί ἀπολῦσαι ἀπολῦσαί απολυσας απολύσας ἀπολύσας απολυσασα ἀπολύσασα απολύσεται απολυση απολύση ἀπολύσῃ απολυσης απολύσης ἀπολύσῃς απολύσητε απολυσον απόλυσον ἀπόλυσον απολυσω απολύσω ἀπολύσω απολυων απολύων ἀπολύων apeluen apeluonto apelusan apeluse apelusen apeluthesan apeluthēsan apelyen apélyen apelyonto apelýonto apelysan apélysan apelyse apélyse apelysen apélysen apelythesan apelythēsan apelýthesan apelýthēsan apolelumenen apolelumenēn apolelumenon apolelusai Apolelusthai apolelymenen apolelymenēn apolelyménen apolelyménēn apolelymenon apolelyménon apolelysai apolélysai Apolelysthai Apolelýsthai apoluei apoluein apolueis apoluete apoluon apoluōn apolusai apolusas apolusasa apoluse apolusē apoluses apolusēs apoluso apolusō apoluson Apoluthentes apoluthesesthe apoluthēsesthe apoluthete apoluthēte apolyei apolýei apolyein apolýein apolyeis apolýeis apolyete apolýete apolyon apolyōn apolýon apolýōn apolysai apolŷsai apolŷsaí apolysas apolýsas apolysasa apolýsasa apolyse apolysē apolýsei apolýsēi apolýseis apolýsēis apolyses apolysēs apolyso apolysō apolýso apolýsō apolyson apólyson Apolythentes Apolythéntes apolythesesthe apolythēsesthe apolythḗsesthe apolythete apolythête apolythēte apolythē̂te