ἀπολείχω (apoleichō)
apoleichō
to lick
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apoleichō describes the physical act of licking something up or off. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 16:21, where it depicts the destitute man Lazarus longing to be fed by the crumbs falling from the rich man’s table. The text specifies that even dogs came to lick his sores, using this precise term to capture the intimate, desperate contact between animal and human suffering.
Etymologically, the word combines the intensifying prefix apo- with leichō, meaning "to lick." While some sources note a variant form with epí-, the sense remains grounded in the simple motion of the tongue against a surface. It is not a metaphorical term for spiritual hunger but a stark, literal description of physical need and degradation.
Translators consistently render this word as "lick" or "lick up," preserving its concrete imagery. Its solitary occurrence highlights a moment of profound humiliation, where the boundary between human misery and animal behavior blurs in the face of extreme poverty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apoleichō appears only once in Scripture, capturing a moment of profound human vulnerability. In Luke 16:21, it describes dogs licking the sores of Lazarus, a man reduced to extreme poverty and physical decay. This stark image reminds us that God sees those who are overlooked by society. He notices the pain that others ignore or walk past.
While the rich man in the parable remained indifferent, the text highlights Lazarus’s suffering with unflinching honesty. This word grounds our faith in reality rather than abstraction. It assures us that no amount of human neglect hides anyone from God’s sight. Even in your lowest moments, when you feel unseen or unheard, He is present.
We are called to mirror this divine attention. When we encounter those who are broken or marginalized, we are invited to look closer. The Gospel calls us to recognize the dignity in every person, regardless of their condition. May we find comfort knowing that our suffering is known and valued by the Creator.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- were licking1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπέλειχον1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 16:21
and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
This verse uses apoleichō to describe dogs licking Lazarus's sores, emphasizing the depth of his physical degradation and the indifference of those around him.