ἀπαλλάσσω

I free from

Definition

The verb ἀπαλλάσσω means to free, release, or deliver someone from something. In its active voice, it describes an external agent performing the act of freeing, as seen in Acts 19:12 where handkerchiefs carried from Paul 'freed' people from diseases. In the middle voice, which is more common, it means to free oneself, be released, or depart from a situation. For example, in Luke 12:58, a person is advised to be 'released' from an accuser on the way to court. In Hebrews 2:15, it describes Jesus' mission to 'free' those who were enslaved by the fear of death.

Biblical Usage

ἀπαλλάσσω appears three times in the New Testament, each in a distinct context. In Luke 12:58, it is used in a legal parable about settling a dispute and being 'released' from an opponent. In Acts 19:12, it describes a miraculous physical healing, where people are 'freed' from illnesses. In Hebrews 2:15, it carries profound theological weight, describing Christ's work to 'free' humanity from spiritual bondage to the fear of death. The usage thus spans practical, miraculous, and soteriological contexts.

Etymology

Derived from the prefix ἀ- (meaning 'away from' or indicating separation) and the verb πάλλω (pallō), which means 'to swing' or 'to brandish.' The combined sense evolved to mean 'to set free by removing' or 'to release from.' It is related to the simpler verb ἀλλάσσω (allassō, G236), meaning 'to change' or 'to exchange,' with ἀπαλλάσσω emphasizing a change of state by removal or separation.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant, especially in Hebrews 2:15, where it captures the core of Christ's redemptive work. It portrays salvation not merely as forgiveness but as a decisive liberation from the power and fear of death, a fundamental human bondage. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting the deliverance aspect of the gospel—Jesus actively frees believers from a tyrannical master.

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of 'release' or 'deliverance' had legal, medical, and philosophical dimensions. Legally, it could refer to discharge from an obligation or court case (as in Luke 12:58). Medically, it described recovery from illness. Philosophically, freedom from passions or fears was a central ideal. Hebrews 2:15 taps into this broader cultural longing for liberation, presenting Christ as the ultimate answer to the universal human fear of death.

ἐλευθερόω (eleutheroō, G1659) — to set free, often with a focus on liberty or manumission from slavery. λυτρόω (lytroō, G3084) — to redeem or ransom by payment, emphasizing the price of release. ῥύομαι (rhyomai, G4506) — to rescue or deliver from immediate danger or peril.

Word Details

Scripture References