ἀπελαύνω (apelaunō)
apelaunō
to eject
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apelaunō means to drive someone away or force them off, carrying a sense of decisive removal. It combines the prefix apo, indicating separation or away from, with elaunō, which means to drive or push. This construction emphasizes not just movement, but the active expulsion of a person from a specific place or situation.
In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Acts 18:16. There, the proconsul Gallio orders the synagogue officials to be driven out of the judgment seat. This single occurrence highlights its legal and authoritative context; it is not a casual dismissal but an official command to remove individuals from a position of authority or presence.
The sources note that in the Septuagint, this Greek term was used to translate Hebrew words meaning to deliver or send away. While the New Testament usage is rare, its force remains clear: it describes a final act of ejection. Translators typically render it as "drove out" or "cast out," capturing the physical and authoritative nature of the action without adding emotional nuance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apelaunō describes a decisive act of removal, where someone is driven away from a place or position of authority. In Acts 18:16, the proconsul Gallio orders the synagogue officials to be ejected from the judgment seat. This was not a casual dismissal but an official command that ended their ability to exercise power in that setting.
For your faith, this reminds us that human authority has limits. When unjust pressures arise, God’s justice can intervene to protect His people and silence false accusations. You do not need to fight every battle yourself; sometimes the Lord simply removes the obstacle or silences the accuser.
This assurance brings peace in difficult seasons. Trust that God sees the injustices you face and has the power to set boundaries where they are needed. Rest in the knowledge that He is your protector, even when circumstances feel overwhelming.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he drove1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπήλασεν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 18:16
So he drove them from the judgment seat.
This verse shows the word used for an official legal ejection, where Gallio removes the synagogue leaders from their position of authority to protect Paul.