Greek · G622, G4263 · unreviewed
πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα
To destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively · sheep
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ἀπόλλυμι G622 to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively
Pronunciation apóllymi
Open lexicon entry →
πρόβατον G4263 sheep
Pronunciation próbaton
In NT metaphor, denotes Christ's vulnerable followers dependent on their shepherd's protective care and guidance.
Open lexicon entry →
What does πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα (probata ta apolōlota) mean in the Bible?
ἀπόλλυμι · πρόβατον is a Greek word meaning "lost sheep".
Full entry for πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα (G622, G4263) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
lost sheep
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 40×
Future Active Matt 10:39 · Matt 16:25 · Matt 21:41 · Mark 8:35 · Mark 12:9 · Luke 9:24 · Luke 17:33 · Luke 20:16 · 1 Cor 1:19 10×
Aorist Middle John 17:12 · Acts 5:37 · Jas 1:11 · 2 Pet 3:6 · Rev 18:14 · 1 Cor 10:10 · 1 Cor 15:18 · Jude 1:11 8×
Future Middle Matt 26:52 · Luke 5:37 · Rom 2:12 · Heb 1:11 · Luke 13:3 · Luke 13:5 · Acts 27:34 7×
Aorist Active Matt 22:7 · Luke 17:27 · Luke 17:29 · Jude 1:5 · Luke 15:9 · John 18:9 6×
Present Middle Matt 8:25 · Mark 4:38 · Luke 8:24 · Luke 15:17 4×
Present Passive Mark 2:22 · 1 Cor 8:11 · Matt 9:17 3×
Present Active John 12:25 1×
Imperfect Passive 1 Cor 10:9 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 22×
Aorist Active Matt 10:42 · Matt 16:25 · Mark 9:22 · Mark 9:41 · Luke 9:24 · Luke 15:8 · Luke 17:33 · John 10:10 · Matt 12:14 · Matt 27:20 · Mark 3:6 · Mark 11:18 · John 6:39 · 2 John 1:8 14×
Aorist Middle Matt 5:29 · Matt 5:30 · Matt 18:14 · Luke 21:18 · John 3:16 · John 6:12 · John 11:50 · John 10:28 8×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 9×
Aorist Active Matt 2:13 · Matt 10:28 · Mark 1:24 · Luke 4:34 · Luke 6:9 · Luke 19:47 · Jas 4:12 7×
Aorist Middle Luke 13:33 · 2 Pet 3:9 2×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 18×
Present Middle 1 Cor 1:18 · 2 Cor 2:15 · 2 Cor 4:3 · 2 Thess 2:10 · John 6:27 · 2 Cor 4:9 · 1 Pet 1:7 7×
Perfect Active Luke 15:4 · Luke 15:6 · Luke 19:10 · Matt 10:6 · Matt 15:24 · Luke 15:24 · Luke 15:32 7×
Aorist Active Matt 10:39 · Luke 9:25 · Luke 15:4 3×
Aorist Middle Luke 11:51 1×
Imperative command or strong request 1×
Present Active Rom 14:15 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 87 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 47 future 17 present 16 perfect 6 imperfect 1
Voice
active 46 middle 37 passive 4
Mood
indicative 40 subjunctive 22 participle 16 infinitive 8 imperative 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 2:13 ἀπολέσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Matthew 5:29 ἀπόληται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 5:30 ἀπόληται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 8:25 ἀπολλύμεθα present middle indicative ongoing Matthew 9:17 ἀπόλλυνται present passive indicative ongoing Matthew 10:28 ἀπολέσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Matthew 10:39 ἀπολέσει future active indicative prospective Matthew 10:39 ἀπολέσας aorist active participle participle Matthew 10:42 ἀπολέσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 10:6 ἀπολωλότα perfect active participle participle Matthew 12:14 ἀπολέσωσιν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 15:24 ἀπολωλότα perfect active participle participle Matthew 16:25 ἀπολέσει future active indicative prospective Matthew 16:25 ἀπολέσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 18:14 ἀπόληται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 21:41 ἀπολέσει future active indicative prospective Matthew 22:7 ἀπώλεσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 26:52 ἀπολοῦνται future middle indicative prospective Matthew 27:20 ἀπολέσωσιν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Mark 1:24 ἀπολέσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Mark 2:22 ἀπόλλυται present passive indicative ongoing Mark 3:6 ἀπολέσωσιν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Mark 4:38 ἀπολλύμεθα present middle indicative ongoing Mark 8:35 ἀπολέσει future active indicative prospective Mark 8:35 ἀπολέσει future active indicative prospective Mark 9:22 ἀπολέσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Mark 9:41 ἀπολέσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Mark 11:18 ἀπολέσωσιν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Mark 12:9 ἀπολέσει future active indicative prospective Luke 4:34 ἀπολέσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 5:37 ἀπολοῦνται future middle indicative prospective Luke 6:9 ἀπολέσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 8:24 ἀπολλύμεθα present middle indicative ongoing Luke 9:24 ἀπολέσει future active indicative prospective Luke 9:24 ἀπολέσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Luke 11:51 ἀπολομένου aorist middle participle participle Luke 13:3 ἀπολεῖσθε future middle indicative prospective Luke 13:33 ἀπολέσθαι aorist middle infinitive infinitive Luke 13:5 ἀπολεῖσθε future middle indicative prospective Luke 15:17 ἀπόλλυμαι present middle indicative ongoing
+47 more occurrences
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)
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
1 Corinthians 8 — Knowledge, Love, and the Weak Brother in a World of Idols Acts 27 — The Storm, the Shipwreck, and the Promise of God John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 11 — The Resurrection and the Life, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Plot to Kill Jesus John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World Luke 13 — Repentance, Kingdom Reversal, and the Urgent Narrow Door Luke 15 — The Joy of God over the Lost Being Found Luke 19 — The Son of Man Seeks the Lost, Receives the Kingly Kingdom, and Weeps over Jerusalem Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Mark 6 — Rejected Prophet, Sending Lord, Wilderness Shepherd, and Divine Son on the Sea Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 12 — The Lord of the Sabbath, the Servant of the Lord, and the Crisis of Unbelief Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 2 — The Messiah Worshiped, Threatened, Preserved, and Called Out of Egypt Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain