ἀποκόπτω

I smite, cut off, emasculate

Definition

The verb ἀποκόπτω means 'to cut off' or 'to cut away,' often with a sense of forceful removal. In its literal sense, it describes physically cutting off a body part, as when Jesus speaks of cutting off a hand or foot to avoid sin (Mark 9:43, 9:45), or when Peter cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant (John 18:10). It can also mean to cut something loose, as when the sailors cut away the lifeboat in Acts 27:32. In a figurative and shocking metaphorical sense, Paul uses it in Galatians 5:12 to express a wish that the agitators promoting circumcision would go beyond that ritual and 'mutilate' or 'emasculate' themselves entirely.

Biblical Usage

ἀποκόπτω is used six times in the New Testament across various contexts. In the Gospels (Mark and John), it is used literally for cutting off body parts—either in hyperbolic teaching about sin or in a violent act. In Acts, it describes cutting a boat loose in a storm. Its most theologically charged usage is in Galatians, where Paul employs it in a harsh, figurative polemic against those insisting on circumcision for salvation, urging them to 'cut themselves off' completely.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀπό ('away from') and the verb κόπτω ('to cut, strike, smite'). The compound thus literally means 'to cut off from.' The root κόπτω is common, appearing in words like κόπος (kopos, G2873) meaning 'labor' or 'beating,' conveying a sense of strenuous action.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant, particularly in Galatians 5:12. Paul's shocking use of the term underscores his vehement opposition to legalism and the 'yoke of slavery' (Galatians 5:1) represented by mandatory circumcision. It highlights the radical nature of grace and the sufficiency of faith in Christ alone. Understanding this strong Greek term enriches the reading of Jesus' teachings in Mark 9, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the cost of discipleship, which is about radical spiritual amputation, not physical self-harm.

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, the act of castration or emasculation (the middle voice sense) was associated with certain pagan religious practices (e.g., priests of Cybele) and was generally viewed with horror by Jews and Romans alike. Paul's use in Galatians 5:12 would have been culturally shocking and insulting, intensifying his rhetorical condemnation. Jesus' commands in Mark 9 to cut off a hand or foot were understood as drastic hyperbole, not literal instruction, emphasizing the ultimate value of entering God's kingdom.

κόπτω (koptō, G2875) — the simpler root meaning 'to cut' or 'to strike,' without the intensive 'off/away' sense. ἐκκόπτω (ekkoptō, G1581) — 'to cut out' or 'cut down,' often used figuratively for removal (e.g., Matthew 3:10).

Word Details

Scripture References