ἀποβάλλω (apoballō)
apoballō
to throw away
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apoballō means to throw off or cast away something that is no longer needed. It appears only twice in the New Testament, creating a vivid picture of decisive action. In Mark 10:50, the blind Bartimaeus throws aside his cloak to rush toward Jesus, leaving behind the very tool of his trade and identity to receive healing.
Hebrews 10:35 uses the word metaphorically to urge believers not to lose their confidence. Here, the sense is not physical removal but a refusal to let go of spiritual assurance in the face of persecution. The root combines apo ("away from") with ballō ("to throw"), emphasizing a complete separation from what was once held.
Translators typically render this as "throw off" or "cast aside," capturing the abruptness of the gesture. Unlike words that suggest gradual discarding, apoballō implies an immediate, intentional act of release.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apoballō describes a sudden, decisive action of throwing something off. It is not a slow process of letting go, but an immediate release. In Mark 10:50, Bartimaeus throws aside his cloak to run to Jesus. He leaves behind the very item that defined his blindness and dependence on others. This gesture shows that following Christ requires us to let go of what holds us back.
Hebrews 10:35 uses this same idea metaphorically. It encourages believers not to discard their confidence in God, even when facing hardship. The message is clear: do not cling to fear or shame. Instead, hold fast to the hope you have in Christ. This word reminds us that true faith involves a bold step forward, leaving the old life behind.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- may throw away1×
- having cast away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀποβάλητε1×
- ἀποβαλὼν1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 10:50
He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Bartimaeus physically discards his cloak to remove any barrier between himself and Jesus, showing that following Him requires immediate action.
-
Hebrews 10:35
Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.
The author uses the word metaphorically to urge believers to keep their spiritual confidence rather than giving up under pressure.