ἀπέχω

I have in full, am far, it is enough

Definition

The verb ἀπέχω has two primary, distinct meanings in the New Testament. The first, and most common, is 'to receive in full' or 'to have enough,' often used in commercial contexts to indicate a receipt or payment completed (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16; Luke 6:24). The second meaning is 'to be distant' or 'to be far away,' describing physical or metaphorical separation (Luke 7:6, 15:20). In Mark 7:6 and Matthew 15:8, it is used in a quotation from Isaiah to describe people whose hearts are 'far away' from God.

Biblical Usage

ἀπέχω appears 11 times, primarily in the Gospels. Its usage splits clearly by meaning. The 'receive in full' sense is used by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount regarding hypocritical religious acts, implying the actors have already received their full earthly reward. The 'be far away' sense appears in narratives (Luke 7:6, 15:20) and in a prophetic condemnation of hypocrisy (Mark 7:6).

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀπό (apo, 'from') and the verb ἔχω (echō, 'to have' or 'to hold'). Literally, it means 'to hold from' or 'to have from.' This root meaning branched into the two main senses: 'to have from (someone) in full' (receipt) and 'to hold oneself from' (distance).

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant for its stark contrast in meanings. In Jesus' teaching (Matthew 6), it warns that seeking human praise for piety results in receiving one's full reward from people, leaving no reward from God. Conversely, its use in Mark 7:6 highlights the grave spiritual condition of honoring God with lips while the heart is 'far away,' a core biblical concept of authentic versus hypocritical worship.

The commercial sense ('to receive in full') reflects a common business practice where a written receipt (also called an ἀπέχω) was given upon full payment. When Jesus says hypocrites 'have their reward in full,' he uses a term his audience would associate with a finalized financial transaction, making the spiritual consequence vivid and concrete.

λαμβάνω (lambanō, G2983) — a more general word for 'to receive,' without the connotation of finality or full payment. μακρὰν (makran, G3112) — an adverb meaning 'far away,' used to describe distance, whereas ἀπέχω is the verbal action of being far.

Word Details

Scripture References