ἀποδοκιμάζω (apodokimazō)
apodokimazō
to reject
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apodokimazō means to reject or disapprove of something after testing it, much like a craftsman discards metal that fails quality control. It carries the sense of finding something wanting and therefore refusing to accept it as valid or useful.
This word appears nine times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels and First Peter. Jesus uses it when predicting his own suffering, noting that the Son of Man will be rejected by the religious leaders (Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22). The imagery draws from the Old Testament Psalm 118:22, where the stone the builders reject becomes the cornerstone—a paradox of divine value versus human dismissal.
Its root combines apō ("away from") and dokimazō ("to test or approve"). This etymology highlights that rejection here is not arbitrary but follows a judgment of inadequacy. In 1 Peter 2:7, believers are described as precious to God even though they are rejected by those who disobey, underscoring the contrast between human standards and divine approval.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apodokimazō describes a specific kind of rejection: being tested and found wanting. Imagine a builder inspecting a stone, finding it flawed, and casting it aside. It is not random malice, but a judgment that the object fails to meet the required standard. This concept appears when Jesus predicts his own suffering, noting he would be rejected by religious leaders who failed to recognize his true identity.
Yet this human dismissal does not define ultimate value. In 1 Peter 2:4, believers are described as living stones rejected by men but chosen and precious to God. Your worth is not determined by the standards of those who do not understand you. Even when you feel overlooked or judged unfairly, remember that divine approval stands firm against human failure.
This truth offers deep comfort. When you face criticism or exclusion, it does not mean you are flawed in God’s eyes. The stone discarded by builders becomes the cornerstone of the temple. Your life has purpose and honor in Christ, regardless of how others assess your worth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- rejected5×
- to be rejected3×
- he was rejected;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπεδοκίμασαν4×
- ἀποδοκιμασθῆναι3×
- ἀποδεδοκιμασμένον1×
- ἀπεδοκιμάσθη·1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 8:31
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
This verse establishes that Jesus’ rejection was a necessary part of his mission, not a failure of his identity.
-
I Peter 2:4
Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
Peter contrasts human rejection with divine selection, showing that God’s approval overrides human judgment.
-
Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?
Jesus uses this imagery to show that what humans discard is often central to God’s plan.