ἀποστέλλω
I send forth, send, send away, dismiss
Definition
The verb ἀποστέλλω means to send forth, often with a specific purpose or mission. It carries the sense of sending someone out with authority, as a messenger or representative, as seen when Jesus sends out the twelve disciples with instructions (Matthew 10:5). It can also mean to send away or dismiss, as in Herod sending the Magi away (Matthew 2:16). In a theological sense, it frequently describes God the Father sending the Son into the world (e.g., Matthew 10:40, John 3:17) or Jesus sending the Holy Spirit or his followers.
Biblical Usage
ἀποστέλλω is used over 130 times in the New Testament, appearing frequently in the Gospels and Acts. It is the standard verb for sending with a commission, especially in the context of Jesus sending his disciples (Matthew 10:16, Luke 10:1) and for God sending prophets and his Son (Matthew 21:37, Mark 9:37). John's Gospel uses it repeatedly to emphasize Jesus being sent by the Father. The passive voice is often used to describe someone being sent by God.
Etymology
Derived from the preposition ἀπό (apo, meaning 'from') and the verb στέλλω (stellō, meaning 'to send, set, arrange'). The compound emphasizes the idea of sending from a source or point of origin. It is the root of the noun 'apostle' (ἀπόστολος, G652), meaning 'one who is sent forth.'
Semantic Range
This word is central to the biblical concept of mission and divine commissioning. It underscores the authority and purpose behind the sending. Understanding ἀποστέλλω enriches the reading of passages about Jesus' identity, as he is consistently presented as the one 'sent' by the Father (John 17:3). It also frames the ministry of believers, who are sent into the world by Christ just as he was sent by the Father (John 20:21).
In the Greco-Roman world, sending a messenger (ἄγγελος) or an envoy was a formal act that transferred the authority of the sender to the one sent. The messenger represented the sender fully. This cultural understanding directly informs the New Testament usage, where those 'sent' (apostles, prophets, the Son) carry the full weight and message of the one who commissioned them.
πέμπω (pempō, G3992) — A more general term for sending, often without the specific nuance of authoritative commissioning that ἀποστέλλω carries.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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