ἀποκεφαλίζω (apokephalizō)
apokephalizō
to behead
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apokephalizō means to cut off someone’s head, or to behead. It is a stark, physical term describing execution by decapitation. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, always in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The word combines the prefix apo (“off” or “away”) with kephalē (“head”), making its meaning quite literal: to remove the head from the body.
This term carries heavy historical weight because it is used to describe the death of John the Baptist. In Matthew 14:10 and Mark 6:28, Herod orders John’s execution by this method after Salome dances for him. Luke 9:9 also references this event when King Herod becomes troubled by rumors about Jesus. The word is never used metaphorically here; it refers to a specific, brutal form of capital punishment carried out in a political context.
Translators consistently render apokephalizō as “behead” or “cut off his head.” Because the term is so rare and specific, there is little ambiguity in how it is understood. It serves as a grim reminder of the cost of prophetic witness and the dangerous power dynamics at play in the Gospels’ narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apokephalizō describes the brutal act of beheading. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, always in connection with the death of John the Baptist. This stark term reminds us that following God’s call can come at a high personal cost. John stood firm in his truth despite the political pressure and danger surrounding him.
When Herod ordered this execution, he thought he was silencing a prophet. Instead, John’s faithful witness continued to echo through history. His courage shows that integrity matters more than safety. We are encouraged to stand for what is right, trusting that God sees our faithfulness even when the world does not.
This word invites us to reflect on the price of discipleship. It is a sobering reminder that truth often meets resistance. Yet, like John, we can find strength in knowing that our lives are held securely in God’s hands, beyond any earthly power.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- beheaded2×
- he beheaded1×
- beheaded;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπεκεφάλισεν2×
- ἀπεκεφάλισα·1×
- ἀπεκεφάλισα1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 14:10
and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
This verse records the finality of John's execution, highlighting the concrete cost of his prophetic stand against Herod's unlawful marriage.
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Mark 6:27
Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard and commanded to bring John’s head; and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
The detail of the soldier bringing the head emphasizes the cold, bureaucratic nature of the order carried out in a prison setting.
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Luke 9:9
Herod said, “I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him.
Herod’s confused question reveals his lingering guilt and fear, showing how John’s faithful death continued to haunt him even after the act was done.