ἀπό (apo)
apo
away from
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 618 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The preposition apo serves as a foundational marker of separation in New Testament Greek. With its core sense meaning "away from," it establishes distance between two points, whether those points are physical locations, distinct moments in time, or separate entities. Its frequent use with the genitive case allows it to function as a versatile bridge for describing origin, source, and departure.
This word covers a wide spectrum of usage beyond simple spatial movement. It marks partitive distinctions, such as taking one item from a larger group, and indicates temporal boundaries, as seen when Jesus begins his ministry "from that time" in Matthew 4:17. It also describes relational separation, appearing in contexts where individuals are detached from sin or social ties.
A notable feature of apo is its role as a prefix in compound verbs, where it often intensifies the idea of removal or completion. In these forms, the sense of "away" combines with action words to create nuanced meanings like deliverance or sending forth. This structural flexibility highlights how central the concept of separation is to the biblical narrative’s understanding of movement and change.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek preposition apo carries the simple but profound sense of moving or being separated "away from" a source. In the New Testament, this word does more than describe physical distance; it marks the beginning of a new reality. When Jesus began his ministry, Matthew notes he started preaching "from that time" (Matthew 4:17), signaling a decisive break from the past and the arrival of God's Kingdom.
This concept of separation is central to Christian hope. We are called to be saved "from our sins" (Matthew 1:21) and delivered "from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13). Apo reminds us that faith involves a clear departure from what harms us, moving toward the source of life and truth found in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 618 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from526×
- of44×
- by19×
- From18×
- from [the]9×
- in7×
- for7×
- out of5×
- away from5×
- on4×
- because of4×
- Of3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπὸ483×
- ἀπ᾽133×
- ἀφ᾽42×
- ἀπό12×
- Ἀπὸ5×
- Ἀπ᾽1×
- ἀπέπνιξαν1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 4:17
From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
This verse uses apo to mark a sharp temporal break, indicating that Jesus' public ministry began at a specific point in history, shifting the focus of God's work.
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Matthew 1:21
She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
Here apo defines the purpose of Jesus' name, highlighting his role in separating believers from the power and penalty of sin.
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Matthew 6:13
Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
In the Lord's Prayer, this preposition expresses a plea for divine protection, asking God to keep us away from the influence of evil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does apo mean in the New Testament?
How is apo different from ek?
Where does apo appear in key verses?
Every Occurrence (618 verses across 27 books)
Matthew 106 verses
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen…
Matthew 1:21She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:24Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;
Matthew 2:1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to…
Matthew 2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male…
Matthew 3:4Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild…
Matthew 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers,…
Matthew 3:13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
Matthew 3:16Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the…
Matthew 4:17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:25Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
Matthew 5:18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke…
Matthew 5:29If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you…
Matthew 5:30If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you…
Matthew 5:42Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
Matthew 6:13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory…
Matthew 7:15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:16By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?
Matthew 7:20Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 7:23Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’
Matthew 8:1When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
Matthew 8:11I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the…
Matthew 8:30Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them.
Matthew 8:34Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders.
Matthew 9:15Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will…
Matthew 9:16No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse…
Matthew 9:22But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was…
Matthew 10:17But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
Matthew 10:28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy…
Matthew 11:12From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax…
Matthew 11:25At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise…
Matthew 11:29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 12:38Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
Matthew 12:43“When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, and doesn’t find it.
Matthew 13:1On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside.
Matthew 13:12For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken…
Matthew 13:35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will…
Matthew 13:44“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and…
Matthew 14:2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.”
Matthew 14:13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it,…
Matthew 14:24But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
Matthew 14:26When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.
Matthew 14:29He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.
Matthew 15:1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
Matthew 15:8‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Matthew 15:22Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My…
Matthew 15:27But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
Matthew 15:28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was…
Matthew 16:6Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Matthew 16:11How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees…
Matthew 16:12Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and…
Matthew 16:21From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders,…
Matthew 17:18Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
Matthew 17:25He said, “Yes.” When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the…
Matthew 17:26Peter said to him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Therefore the children are exempt.
Matthew 18:7“Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person…
Matthew 18:8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into…
Matthew 18:9If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one…
Matthew 18:35So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”
Matthew 19:1When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 19:4He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
Matthew 19:8He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the…
Matthew 20:8“When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages,…
Matthew 20:20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
Matthew 20:29As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
Matthew 21:8A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Matthew 21:11The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Matthew 21:43“Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you and will be given to a nation producing its fruit.
Matthew 22:46No one was able to answer him a word, neither did any man dare ask him any more questions from that day forward.
Matthew 23:33You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?
Matthew 23:34Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of…
Matthew 23:35that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of…
Matthew 23:39For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Matthew 24:1Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the…
Matthew 24:21for then there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever…
Matthew 24:27For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:29“But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the…
Matthew 24:31He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the…
Matthew 24:32“Now from the fig tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that…
Matthew 25:28Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
Matthew 25:29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he…
Matthew 25:32Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the…
Matthew 25:34Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from…
Matthew 25:41Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared…
Matthew 26:16From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
Matthew 26:29But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with…
Matthew 26:39He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away…
Matthew 26:42Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink…
Matthew 26:47While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and…
Matthew 26:58But Peter followed him from a distance to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to…
Matthew 26:64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the…
Matthew 27:9Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver,…
Matthew 27:21But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
Matthew 27:24So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water and washed…
Matthew 27:40and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down…
Matthew 27:42“He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we…
Matthew 27:45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
Matthew 27:51Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
Matthew 27:55Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.
Matthew 27:57When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came.
Matthew 27:64Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal…
Matthew 28:2Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the…
Matthew 28:4For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.
Matthew 28:7Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you…
Matthew 28:8They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.