ἀπαίρω

I take away, remove

Definition

The verb ἀπαίρω means to take away, remove, or carry off. In its three New Testament occurrences, it is used in the passive voice to describe something being taken away or withdrawn. Specifically, it refers to the future time when the 'bridegroom' (a metaphor for Jesus) will be taken away from his disciples, leaving them in a state of mourning and fasting (Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:20, Luke 5:35). The action implies a forcible or sudden removal that creates a significant change in circumstance for those who remain.

Biblical Usage

ἀπαίρω is used exclusively in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) within the identical context of Jesus's teaching on fasting. In all three instances (Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:20, Luke 5:35), it appears in the future passive form ('will be taken away') as part of Jesus's metaphorical explanation that his disciples do not fast while he, the bridegroom, is present. The word highlights the impending, disruptive event of his crucifixion and departure.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀ- (apo, meaning 'away from') and the verb αἴρω (airō, G142, meaning 'to lift up, take up, or remove'). The compound form intensifies the sense of removal, emphasizing a taking away from a specific place or person. Its meaning is straightforward, directly stemming from its root components.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it is Jesus's own prophetic reference to his violent removal through crucifixion. The metaphor of the bridegroom being 'taken away' directly points to the passion events, framing the disciples' future grief and the subsequent practice of fasting in the church. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading of these parallel passages by clarifying that the departure is an act done to Jesus, underscoring the sacrificial nature of his mission.

In the cultural context of a first-century Jewish wedding, the bridegroom's presence was a time of supreme joy and celebration, where fasting was utterly inappropriate. Jesus's statement that the bridegroom will be 'taken away' would have evoked a powerful image of the greatest joy being violently and tragically severed, plunging the wedding party into mourning. This contrasts with a modern, more abstract understanding of 'departure'.

αἴρω (airō, G142) — The root verb, meaning simply 'to lift' or 'take up', without the compounded sense of 'away from'. ἀφαιρέω (aphaireō, G851) — Also means 'to take away', but often with a stronger connotation of cutting off or removing by force, used in contexts like losing a body part (Matthew 5:29-30).

Word Details

Scripture References