ἀφοράω (aphoraō)
aphoraō
to consider
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb aphoraō describes the act of looking away from distractions to focus intently on a single object or person. Its literal sense involves turning one’s gaze aside from other things to fix attention on what matters most. This physical image carries a strong metaphorical weight, suggesting deliberate concentration and undivided interest.
In Scripture, this word appears in only two passages, both emphasizing sustained focus. Hebrews 12:2 uses it to describe Jesus enduring the cross by looking away from shame to fix His gaze on the joy set before Him. Similarly, Philippians 2:23 refers to Timothy as someone who genuinely cares for the believers’ welfare, implying a heart that looks beyond self-interest to attend to others.
The word’s construction highlights its directional nature: turning away from one thing to see another clearly. Translators often render it as "consider" or "look," but the Greek implies an active choice of attention. It is not passive observation, but a focused engagement that excludes competing concerns.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aphoraō invites us to practice a deliberate narrowing of our focus. It describes the active choice to turn our gaze away from surrounding distractions so that we can fix our attention on what truly matters. In a world full of competing demands, this kind of concentration is not passive; it requires intentionality and effort.
Hebrews 12:2 shows us Jesus doing exactly this. He looked past the shame of the cross to fix His eyes on the joy set before Him. This offers a powerful model for our own lives. When we feel overwhelmed by immediate difficulties, we can choose to look away from the noise and fix our sight on Christ.
Paul also uses this concept when describing Timothy’s care for others. Timothy did not just glance at the needs of the believers; he considered them with undivided attention. This reminds us that genuine love requires looking beyond our own interests to attend faithfully to those around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- looking1×
- I may have seen1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀφίδω1×
- ἀφορῶντες1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 12:2
looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
This verse uses the word to describe Jesus actively turning His gaze away from shame to focus on the joy ahead, demonstrating sustained spiritual concentration.
-
Philippians 2:23
Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.
Here the term highlights Timothy’s genuine care, showing he looked beyond his own circumstances to consider the welfare of others with undivided interest.