Strong's Greek: 607. ἀποκεφαλίζω (apokephalizó) -- To behead

Strong's Lexicon

apokephalizó: To behead

Original Word: ἀποκεφαλίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: apokephalizó
Pronunciation: ah-po-keh-fah-LEE-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ok-ef-al-id'-zo)
Definition: To behead
Meaning: I behead.

Word Origin: From the Greek prefix ἀπό (apo, meaning "from" or "off") and κεφαλή (kephalē, meaning "head").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀποκεφαλίζω, the concept of execution by beheading can be related to the Hebrew verb כָּרַת (karath, Strong's H3772), which means "to cut off" or "to cut down," often used in the context of making covenants or cutting off life.

Usage: The verb ἀποκεφαλίζω (apokephalizó) is used in the New Testament to describe the act of beheading or decapitating someone. It is a literal term that refers to the physical removal of the head from the body, often as a form of execution or punishment.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient world, beheading was a common method of execution, particularly for those considered enemies of the state or guilty of serious crimes. It was often seen as a swift and decisive form of capital punishment. In the Roman context, beheading was sometimes reserved for Roman citizens as a more "honorable" form of execution compared to crucifixion or other methods.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from apo and kephalé
Definition
to behead
NASB Translation
beheaded (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 607: ἀποκεφαλίζω

ἀποκεφαλίζω: 1 aorist ἀπεκεφάλισα; (κεφαλή); to cut off the head, behead, decapitate: Matthew 14:10; Mark 6:16, 27 (28); Luke 9:9. A later Greek word: (the Sept. Ps. at the end); Epictetus diss. 1, 1, 19; 24; 29; Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 1, 35; cf. Fischer, De vitiis lexamples N. T., p. 690ff; Lob. ad Phryn., p. 341.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

behead.

From apo and kephale; to decapitate -- behead.

see GREEK apo

see GREEK kephale

Forms and Transliterations

απεκεφαλισα απεκεφάλισα ἀπεκεφάλισα απεκεφάλισε απεκεφαλισεν απεκεφάλισεν ἀπεκεφάλισεν αποκεφαλίζουσιν αποκιδαρώσει αποκλαιομένη αποκλαιόμενος αποκλαύσομαί απόκλεισμα apekephalisa apekephálisa apekephalisen apekephálisen

Links

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