ἀπολύω

ἀπολύω (apolyō) means to release, let go, dismiss, send away, or, in particular relational settings, divorce. The verb joins ἀπό, away from, to λύω, to loose, but its meaning is established by the people, authority, and relationship in each scene. Simeon asks the Sovereign Lord to dismiss His servant in peace after seeing the promised Christ. Jesus commands His hearers to release or forgive rather than condemn.

He tells a woman bent over by disability that she has been set free. The church at Antioch sends Barnabas and Saul off after prayer and fasting. Elsewhere the word names the dismissal of a spouse, and the Passion narratives use it for the legal release Pilate could grant a prisoner. Those settings cannot be treated as interchangeable. A peaceful dismissal at death is not a divorce, a missionary sending is not an acquittal, and a civil governor’s release does not establish innocence or justice.

The verb is especially pastorally sensitive where forgiveness, disability, divorce, detention, or coercive control is involved. Luke 6 does not teach that forgiving cancels truth, restitution, protection, or lawful accountability. Luke 13 describes Christ’s compassionate liberation of a particular woman and should not be turned into blame against people who remain disabled.

Jesus’ teaching on divorce addresses covenant faithfulness and sexual betrayal; the lexical range must not be used to force endangered people back under violence. ἀπολύω helps readers ask who has authority to release whom, from what bond or obligation, and with what moral result.

ἀπολύω describes dismissal, release, sending away, forgiveness as letting go, freedom from an affliction, marital dismissal, and legal release. The moral character of the action depends on the authority exercised, the relationship altered, and whether release serves peace, mercy, mission, abandonment, or injustice.