ἀποφέρω (apopherō)
apopherō
to carry off
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apopherō means to carry something or someone away from a place, often implying force or removal. Its core sense is physical transport, but it frequently carries a connotation of taking hold and leading off, sometimes violently. In the New Testament, this word appears in six verses, with significant usage in the Gospel of Mark and the Book of Revelation.
One striking example occurs in Mark 15:1, where soldiers take Jesus away after his trial, using a term that emphasizes their act of seizing and removing him from the judgment scene. Similarly, in Revelation 17:3 and 21:10, an angel carries John away in the Spirit to show him visions, illustrating a movement that is both physical relocation and spiritual transition. The word captures the decisive action of moving someone or something from one context to another.
Its etymology combines apo ("away") and pherō ("to carry"), reinforcing the idea of removal. While it can describe neutral transport, as in carrying gifts (1 Corinthians 16:3), its frequent use in contexts of arrest or visionary experience highlights its power to denote a significant shift in location or state. Translators typically render it as "take away" or "carry off," preserving the sense of decisive movement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apopherō describes a decisive movement, taking something or someone away from one place to another. In the New Testament, this action often marks a significant shift in circumstances. For instance, in Mark 15:1, soldiers carry Jesus away after his trial, highlighting the abrupt transition from judgment to crucifixion. This physical removal underscores the reality of Christ’s suffering and the seriousness of the moment.
Yet, this word also appears in moments of divine revelation. In Revelation, an angel carries John away in the Spirit to show him visions of heaven (Revelation 17:3; 21:10). Here, the movement is not just physical but spiritual, transporting the believer into a new understanding of God’s purposes. It reminds us that God can move us from our current struggles into deeper insight and hope.
Even in practical matters, like carrying gifts to Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:3), this term signifies purposeful action. Whether in suffering, vision, or service, apopherō teaches us that God is actively involved in moving people and events toward His intended ends. We can trust that our lives are being carried by Him, even when the path seems uncertain.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he carried away2×
- to carry1×
- to be carried away1×
- they led [Him] away1×
- carrying1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπήνεγκέν2×
- ἀπήνεγκαν1×
- ἀποφέρεσθαι1×
- ἀπενεχθῆναι1×
- ἀπενεγκεῖν1×
Key Verses
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Mark 15:1
Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders, scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, bound Jesus, carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.
This verse shows the word used for soldiers forcibly removing Jesus from the trial, emphasizing the abrupt and decisive nature of his arrest.
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Revelation of John 17:3
He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
Here, the angel carries John away in the Spirit, illustrating how the word can denote a supernatural transition to a visionary experience.
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Luke 16:22
The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
The beggar is carried away by angels to Abraham’s bosom, highlighting the word’s use for post-mortem transport to a place of comfort.