To have in full
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Ἀπέχω can mean to be distant, to keep away from something, or to have received a payment in full. Those senses are related to the idea of holding something off or having the account fully settled, but context must decide which one is present.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἀπέχω (G568) · Open the biblical lexicon
Ἀπέχω can mean to be distant, to keep away from something, or to have received a payment in full. Those senses are related to the idea of holding something off or having the account fully settled, but context must decide which one is present.
The BSB source-word alignment has 19 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include they already have (3), . . . (1), [and require] abstinence (1), [You must] abstain (1), Abstain (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 6:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Matthew (5), Luke (4), 1 Thessalonians (2), Acts (2).
Ἀπέχω can mean to be distant, to keep away from something, or to have received a payment in full. Those senses are related to the idea of holding something off or having the account fully settled, but context must decide which one is present. Jesus says hypocrites who seek public honor already have their reward, and He pronounces woe on the rich who have received their comfort.
Paul uses the same verb in a warm acknowledgment that he has received the Philippians' gift and has abundance. In commands to abstain, the emphasis shifts to deliberate distance from corrupting practices. The word can therefore mark completed receipt or chosen separation, not a single generalized spiritual principle.
Ἀπέχω spans two major contextual uses: receiving something in full and keeping oneself away. The contrast between applause already paid, material support gratefully received, and conduct deliberately avoided prevents one English gloss from flattening the verb.
So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
Jesus describes public praise as payment already received in full. The warning exposes religious action aimed at an earthly audience rather than condemning every visible act of generosity.
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
Isaiah's charge that hearts are far from God uses the verb spatially. Outward honor cannot erase inward distance from the Lord.
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
The rich have already received their comfort, a sobering account of present satisfaction that leaves no room for treating prosperity as proof of final blessing.
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
The Jerusalem letter uses the verb for abstaining from practices that would compromise holiness and table fellowship among Jewish and Gentile believers.
I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
Paul's receipt is neither cynical nor self-indulgent. He gratefully acknowledges material provision and interprets the church's gift as worship pleasing to God.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. Full receipt of payment; emphasizes completion through the perfective prefix rather than ongoing reception.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 18 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
I have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseI have in full, am far, it is enough
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
How this verb appears across 12 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 19 lexical occurrence verses.
ἀπέχω is built from these roots:
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
What counts as enough depends on the account being considered. In Matthew 6 the hypocrite accepts human recognition as the full settlement for religious performance, revealing how a small audience can replace the Father's approval. Luke 6 similarly warns that present comfort can become a closed horizon. Philippians 4 sounds entirely different: Paul receives the church's provision with contentment and abundance, while directing its deepest meaning toward God as a fragrant offering.
The abstinence uses add another dimension, showing that faith sometimes creates deliberate distance from what damages holiness and fellowship. Teachers should preserve these contrasts. Christian contentment gratefully receives provision, Christian integrity refuses corrupting participation, and Christian worship refuses to cash out obedience for public applause.
Matt.6.2
Ἀπέχω is formed with a prefix expressing separation and a verb of having or holding. In active constructions it may describe distance or completed receipt; in middle forms and commands it commonly means to keep oneself from something. Voice, object, and idiom are decisive.
Israel is repeatedly called to turn away from uncleanness and false worship, while wisdom warns against rewards that satisfy only for a moment. In Christ, believers receive generous provision without making comfort their god and abstain from practices opposed to holy fellowship.
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