ἀποτίθημι (apotithēmi)
apotithēmi
to put aside
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apotithēmi literally means to put off or lay aside, often using the image of removing a garment. In the New Testament, it appears in nine verses, frequently describing the removal of physical items like garments (Acts 7:58) or placing something into storage (Matthew 14:3). However, its most significant usage is metaphorical, urging believers to discard sinful habits and attitudes as one would strip off old clothes.
This ethical application appears prominently in Paul’s letters, where he instructs readers to put off the "old self" with its corrupt practices (Ephesians 4:22) and to lay aside falsehood (Ephesians 4:25). The Apostle Peter similarly calls for putting away malice and deceit (1 Peter 2:1), while James advises receiving the implanted word with meekness by laying aside evil (James 1:21). Hebrews 12:1 extends this imagery, urging Christians to throw off every hindrance that slows their spiritual race.
The consistent thread across these passages is the deliberate, active nature of moral change. Just as one physically removes a heavy coat to move freely, the word suggests shedding burdensome behaviors to live in accordance with faith. This concrete metaphor emphasizes that ethical renewal requires intentional effort, not merely passive feeling.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apotithēmi paints a vivid picture of daily life in the ancient world: taking off a heavy, soiled garment to put on something clean. It is a deliberate action, not a passive drift. When Scripture uses this term for our spiritual lives, it invites us to view sin and harmful habits not as abstract concepts, but as burdens we can physically remove. This imagery reminds us that change requires intention. We do not wait for bad traits to fade away; we actively strip them off.
Consider the call in Ephesians 4:22 to put off the old self. This is a fresh start, a conscious decision to leave behind patterns of deceit and corruption. It is encouraging because it means our past does not have to define our present. Just as we change clothes when they become worn or dirty, we are invited to lay aside anger, falsehood, and malice. This process is part of walking in the light, allowing God’s truth to shape who we are each day.
There is hope in this active participation. We are not left to struggle alone with these habits. The same grace that calls us to put off the old also empowers us to live differently. By laying aside what weighs us down, as Hebrews 12:1 suggests, we can run our race with greater freedom and perseverance. This is a gentle invitation to grow, one step of shedding at a time.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- put [him] aside1×
- laid aside1×
- having put off1×
- having put aside1×
- having laid aside1×
- do put off1×
- We may cast off1×
- Having put aside1×
- Are to have put off1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀποθέμενοι3×
- Ἀποθέμενοι1×
- ἀπόθεσθε1×
- ἀπέθετο1×
- ἀπέθεντο1×
- ἀποθώμεθα1×
- ἀποθέσθαι1×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 4:22
that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit,
This verse establishes the core ethical command to discard the corrupt 'old self,' framing spiritual growth as a decisive act of removal.
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Hebrews 12:1
Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
Here the word describes laying aside every weight and sin that entangles, using the metaphor of an athlete preparing to run a race.
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Romans 13:12
The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.
Paul pairs putting off the deeds of darkness with putting on armor of light, showing this action as part of living in the nearness of Christ's return.
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James 1:21
Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
The instruction to put away filthiness and wickedness is directly linked to receiving the implanted word with humility.