ἀφαιρέω (aphaireō)
aphaireō
to remove
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb aphaireō means to take away or remove something, often with a sense of force or finality. It appears in nine verses across the New Testament, notably in Luke’s Gospel and Pauline letters. The word carries the idea of subtraction or removal, whether physical or spiritual.
Its components suggest movement: "aph-" meaning from, and "aireō" meaning to take. This combination emphasizes the act of taking something away from its place. In Matthew 26:51, it describes cutting off a servant's ear, while in Luke 10:42, it refers to Mary choosing the better portion that will not be taken away.
Translators typically render this word as "take away" or "remove," capturing its straightforward meaning. The term appears in contexts ranging from literal physical removal to more abstract concepts like sin being taken away (Hebrews 10:4). Its usage spans both violent acts and divine actions, showing the breadth of what can be removed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aphaireō describes the act of taking something away, whether it is a physical object, a position of power, or a burden from your life. In the New Testament, this term appears in moments of sudden loss, such as when a servant’s ear was cut off during Jesus’ arrest, and in profound spiritual promises, like God’s commitment to remove sin entirely. It reminds us that removal is not always negative; sometimes it is the necessary clearing away of what distracts us from what truly matters.
Consider Mary, who chose the one thing needed, a portion that would not be taken away. This suggests that while earthly roles and possessions may be removed by circumstances or others, spiritual realities remain secure when rooted in Christ. The same word used to describe the removal of management duties also describes God’s covenant to take away sins. This duality offers comfort: what is temporary passes, but what is eternal stays.
When you face seasons where things feel like they are being stripped away, remember that God is sovereign over both loss and redemption. He removes what hinders your growth and takes away the weight of guilt through Jesus. Your security does not rest in what you hold onto, but in what He has promised to keep for you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- cut off3×
- to take away2×
- will take away1×
- will be taken away from1×
- shall take away1×
- is taking away1×
- I may take away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀφεῖλεν3×
- ἀφέλῃ1×
- ἀφέλωμαι1×
- ἀφελεῖν1×
- ἀφελεῖ1×
- ἀφαιρεῖται1×
- ἀφαιρεῖν1×
- ἀφαιρεθήσεται1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 10:42
but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
This verse highlights the permanence of spiritual priorities by stating that the good part chosen by Mary will not be taken away.
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Romans 11:27
This is my covenant with them, when I will take away their sins.”
Here the word defines God’s covenant action to remove sins, linking physical removal to spiritual cleansing.
-
Hebrews 10:4
For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
The text uses this verb to contrast the inability of animal sacrifices with the sufficiency of Christ’s work in taking away sins.
-
Matthew 26:51
Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
This occurrence records a violent physical act, showing the word's use for immediate and irreversible removal of body parts.