ἀπεκδύομαι (apekduomai)
apekduomai
to take off
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apekduomai describes the act of stripping off garments or armor, specifically emphasizing removal for one’s own benefit. In Colossians 3:9, Paul uses this vivid image to urge believers to "put off" their old nature, including lies and anger, as one would discard worn-out clothes. The prefix suggests a complete separation from what is being removed, indicating that the change is total rather than partial.
Its most striking usage appears in Colossians 2:15, where it describes Christ disarming spiritual powers through the cross. Here, the word shifts from personal moral renewal to cosmic victory; Jesus strips principalities and authorities of their power, publicly displaying them as defeated. This dual application highlights the word’s range, moving from individual ethical transformation to divine triumph over hostile forces.
Translators typically render apekduomai as "put off" or "strip," capturing the physicality of the metaphor. The middle voice implies that the subject acts for themselves, taking ownership of this removal. This grammatical nuance reinforces the seriousness of the command: believers are not merely adjusting habits but actively discarding a former identity to embrace a new one in Christ.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word apekduomai paints a vivid picture of taking off heavy clothing or armor. It is not a gentle adjustment but a decisive removal. When Paul uses this term in Colossians, he invites believers to actively discard the old patterns that weigh them down. This includes habits like lying or anger, which no longer fit the new life found in Christ.
There is also a profound cosmic dimension to this stripping away. In Colossians 2:15, the word describes Christ disarming spiritual powers through the cross. He did not just defeat enemies; He stripped them of their authority, making a public display of their defeat. This reminds us that our struggle against sin is supported by a victory already won.
For your daily walk, this means you are called to own your transformation. You do not merely try to improve old habits; you put off the old self entirely. This act of removal creates space for the new identity in Christ to take its place, offering hope and freedom from past burdens.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having put off1×
- Having disarmed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπεκδυσάμενος1×
- ἀπεκδυσάμενοι1×
Key Verses
-
Colossians 2:15
Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
This verse uses the word to describe Christ's cosmic victory, stripping spiritual powers of their authority rather than merely describing personal moral change.
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Colossians 3:9
Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
Here the term urges believers to actively discard the 'old man' and its deeds, emphasizing a complete separation from former sinful behaviors like lying.