ἀπέκδυσις (apekdusis)
apekdusis
removal
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun apekdusis describes the act of stripping off or laying aside something, specifically using the imagery of removing clothing. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Colossians 2:11, where it refers to the spiritual reality of putting off the sinful nature along with Christ.
This word is built from a prefix meaning "away" and a root related to dressing or putting on garments. By using this specific term, the author emphasizes that the believer's old self is not merely covered but completely discarded, much like taking off an old set of clothes. This vivid metaphor highlights the decisive break with past behaviors and identities.
While other Greek words exist for general removal, apekdusis carries a strong sense of undressing. In this context, it underscores that the change in a person's life is as fundamental as changing one's attire, marking a clear transition from an old way of living to 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 word apekdusis paints a clear picture of taking off old clothes. It describes the act of stripping away something completely so it is no longer worn. In Colossians 2:11, this image helps us understand spiritual growth as a decisive change in identity. We are not just covering up our past mistakes; we are removing them entirely.
This reminds us that our new life in Christ is real and tangible. Just as you would not wear torn or dirty garments to a special event, God calls us to leave behind old habits and attitudes. This process brings freedom from the weight of past sins and allows us to walk in a fresh way. It is a gift of grace that invites us to live with honesty and hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- removal1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπεκδύσει1×
Key Verses
-
Colossians 2:11
In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,
This verse uses apekdusis to describe the spiritual reality of putting off the sinful nature, emphasizing a complete removal rather than a mere covering.