Greek · G649 · unreviewed

ἀποστέλλω

To send

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.

ἀποστέλλω G649

Pronunciation apostéllō

What does ἀποστέλλω (apostéllō) mean in the Bible?

ἀποστέλλω (apostéllō) is a Greek word meaning "to send". ἀπο-στέλλω, [in LXX very freq. Salvation originates in the Father’s initiative, not human pursuit. This term runs through the canonical themes of Redemption.

Full entry for ἀποστέλλω (G649) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to send

Extended definition

To send with official authority or commission, particularly for service or mission.

prop., to send away, to dispatch on service;

1to send with a commission, or on service;

aof persons: Christ, Mat.10:40; the apostles, 10:16; servants, Mrk.12:2; angels, 13:27;

bof things: ὄνος, Mat.21:3; τὸ δρέπανον, Mrk.4:29; τ. λόγον, Act.10:36; τ. ἐπαγγελίαν (i.e. the promised Holy Spirit), Luk.24:49, Rec.; before εἰς, Mat.20:2, Luk.11:49, Jhn.3:17; ὀπίσω, Luk.19:14; ἔμπροσθεν, Jhn.3:28; πρὸ προσώπου, Mat.11:10; πρός, Mat.21:34; with ref. to sender or place of departure: ἀπό, Luk.1:26 (Rec. ὑπό); παρά, Jhn.1:6; ἐκ, ib. 1:19; ὑπό, Act.10:17 (Rec. ἀπό); before inf., Mrk.3:14, al.; ἵνα, Mrk.12:2, al.; εἰς (of purpose), Heb.1:14; without direct obj.: before πρός, Jhn.5:33; λέγων, Jhn.11:3; ἀποστείλας, with indic., Mat.2:16, Act.7:14, Rev.1:1.

2to send away, dismiss: Luk.4:18, Mrk.5:10 8:26 12:3 (cf. ἐξ-, συν-αποστέλλω).

Synonymsπέμπω, the general term. ἀ. "suggests official or authoritative sending" (see Thayer, see word πέμπω; Westc., Jo., 298; Epp. Jo., 125; Cremer, 529; MM, see word).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Salvation originates in the Father’s initiative, not human pursuit. 1 John 4:7-12

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Aorist Present Perfect Future

Voices

Active Passive

Indicative states a fact or reality 98×

Aorist Active Matt 10:5 · Matt 20:2 · Matt 21:1 · Matt 21:34 · Matt 21:36 · Matt 21:37 · Matt 22:3 · Matt 22:4 · Matt 27:19 · Mark 8:26 · Mark 12:2 · Mark 12:4 · Mark 12:5 · Mark 12:6 · Luke 7:3 · Luke 7:20 63×

Present Active Matt 10:16 · Matt 11:10 · Matt 23:34 · Mark 1:2 · Luke 7:27 · Luke 10:3 · Acts 26:17 · Mark 4:29 · Mark 11:1 · Mark 11:3 · Mark 14:13 · Matt 22:16 · Mark 12:13 13×

Perfect Active Luke 4:18 · John 5:36 · John 20:21 · Acts 7:35 · Acts 9:17 · 1 John 4:9 · 1 John 4:14 · Acts 10:20 · 2 Cor 12:17 · John 5:33 · Acts 15:27 · Acts 16:36 12×

Future Active Matt 13:41 · Matt 21:3 · Matt 24:31 · Mark 13:27 · Luke 11:49 5×

Aorist Passive Matt 15:24 · Luke 1:19 · Luke 4:43 · Luke 1:26 · Acts 28:28 5×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 25×

Aorist Active Matt 2:16 · Mark 6:17 · Mark 6:27 · Luke 14:32 · Acts 7:14 · Acts 19:22 · Rev 1:1 · Matt 10:40 · Mark 9:37 · Luke 9:48 · Luke 10:16 · Acts 11:30 · Acts 15:33 13×

Perfect Passive Luke 19:32 · John 1:24 · Acts 10:17 · Acts 11:11 · Rev 5:6 · John 1:6 · John 3:28 · John 9:7 · Matt 23:37 · Luke 13:34 10×

Present Passive Heb 1:14 1×

Aorist Passive 1 Pet 1:12 1×

Imperative command or strong request 2×

Aorist Active Matt 8:31 · Acts 11:13 2×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 5×

Aorist Active Mark 5:10 · Acts 3:20 · Acts 7:34 3×

Present Active Mark 3:14 1×

Aorist Passive Rom 10:15 1×

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 2×

Present Active Mark 6:7 1×

Aorist Active Luke 4:18 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 131 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 68 ongoing 13 prospective 5 resultant 12 imperative 2 subjunctive 5 infinitive 2 participle 24

Tense

aorist 89 perfect 21 present 16 future 5

Voice

active 114 passive 17

Mood

indicative 98 participle 24 subjunctive 5 imperative 2 infinitive 2

NT 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)

Canonical Themes

Redemption

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 John 4:7-12 sent apostéllō Indicative · Perfect Active

To commission or dispatch with authority.

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

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.

Acts 10 — God Opens the Gospel Door to the Gentiles Acts 26 — Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles 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 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 5 — The Son Who Gives Life, Judges, and Is Witnessed by the Father John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Luke 10 — The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen Luke 4 — The Spirit-Anointed Son Tested, Rejected, and Proclaiming the Kingdom 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 Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Romans 10 — Christ the End of the Law and the Righteousness Received by Faith

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details