verb
apostēamō
Strong’sG868
I lead away, seduce, depart, abstain from
stem apostē-14 times in the New Testamentin 6 of 27 books11 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
ἀφίσταμαι carries two distinct senses.
Used causatively, it means to put away or lead someone away, and by extension to incite to revolt, as when someone stirs others up to rebellion 1234. Dodson's gloss "seduce" reflects this same active idea of drawing someone away from where they were 4.
Used intransitively or reflexively, it means to stand off, withdraw, or depart from something or someone, whether a place, a person, or a course of action 1234; this includes withdrawing from wrongdoing, abstaining, or shrinking back from something 123. In a religious sense it can mean to fall away or apostatize, departing from faith or from God 1.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ἀφ-ίστημι,
[in LXX for סור, מעל, etc. (41 words in all);]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G868 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidaf-is'-tay-mee
to remove, i.e. (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.
King Jamesdepart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
causal in present and imperfect, in future ἀποστήσω, and aorist I ἀπέστησα, as also in aorist I middle (see. below):—put away, remove, keep out of the way, τὸ ἀσθενέστατον τοῦ στρατεύματοςRefs 5th c.BC+; of diseases, Refs 5th c.BC+hinder from.., Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀ. τὰς τῶν πολεμίων ἐπιβουλάς frustrate them, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀ. τὸν ἄρχοντα depose him, Refs 5th c.BC+ —aorist middle, Ἀργείων δόρυ πυλῶν ἀπεστήσασθε remoued it from your own gates, Refs 5th c.BC+, having retired.
2 cause to revolt, of allies, Refs 5th c.BC+
3 in geometrical constructions, cut off, Refs 5th c.AD+
II weigh out, Refs 5th c.BC+; pay, δραχμὰς ή ἀργυρίουRefs 2nd c.BC+aorist I middle, μὴ.. ἀποστήσωνται Ἀχαιοὶ χρεῖος lest they weigh out (i. e. pay in full) the debt, Refs 8th c.BC+ —in strict sense of middle, ἀποστήσασθαι τὸν χαλκόν to have the brass weighed out to one, Refs 8th c.BC+
III middle, give a final decision (or break up, dismiss the assembly), ῥήτρα cited in Refs 1st c.AD+
B intransitive, in passive, as also in aorist 2 ἀπέστην, imperative ἀπόστηθιRefs 5th c.BC+perfect ἀφέστηκα in present sense, syncopated. in plural ἀφέστᾰμεν, -στᾰτε, -στᾶσι, as in infinitive ἀφεστάναι, participle ἀφεστώς, -ῶσα, -ός or -ώς: pluperfect ἀφεστήκειν, Attic dialect -κηRefs 5th c.BC+: future middle ἀποστήσομαιRefs 5th c.BC+aorist I middle is causal (see. above)): for future ἀφεστήξω see entry .:—stand away or aloof from, keep far from, ὅσσον δὲ τροχοῦ ἵππος ἀφίσταταιRefs 8th c.BC+; ὡς γραφεὺς (or βραβεὺς) ἀποσταθείςRefs 5th c.BC+ lose one's wits, Refs 5th c.BC+; οὐδενὸς ἀποστήσονται ὅσα ἂν δίκαια λέγητε depart from, object to right proposals, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀ. ἀρχῆς to be deposed from office, Refs 5th c.BC+; simply, resign, Refs 3rd c.BC+; ἀ. τῶν πραγμάτων, τῆς πολιτείας, etc., withdraw from business, politics, have done with it, Refs 4th c.BC+; ἔργων ἢ πόνων ἢ κινδύνων shun them, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὧν εἷλεν ἀποστάς giving up all claim to what he had won (at law), Refs 4th c.BC+; τὴν πολιτείαν.. τὴν ἀφεστηκυῖαν τοῦ μέσου πλεῖον further removed from.., Refs 4th c.BC+; ἀ. ἐκ Σικελίας withdraw from the island, give up the expedition, Refs 5th c.BC+; retire, ἐς ἸθώμηνRefs: rarely c.accusative, avoid, shrink from, τὸν ἥλιονRefs 5th c.BC+
B.2 in Prose, ἀ. ἀπό τινος revolt from.., Refs 5th c.BC+: absolutely, revolt, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὑπό τινος at his instigation, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.3 ἀ. τινί make way for another, give way to him, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.4 with genitive, shrink from, τῶν κινδύνωνRefs 5th c.BC+: also with infinitive, shrink from doing, ἀπέστην τοῦτ᾽ ἐρωτῆσαι σαφῶςRefs 5th c.BC+
B.5 absolutely, stand aloof, recoil from fear, horror, etc., τίπτε καταπτώσσοντες ἀφέστατ;Refs 8th c.BC+; desist, μὴ νῦν -ώμεθαRefs 5th c.BC+a runaway, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.6 in Medicine texts, ἀφίσταται, ={ἀπόστασις γίγνεται, εἰς ἄρθρα} Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀ. ὀστέον exfoliates, Refs; also ἀ. ἀπὸ τῶν ὀστῶνRefs 5th c.BC+; also, project, stand out, ὦτα ἀφεστηκόταRefs 1st c.BC+
B.6.b to be separated by the formation of an abscess, Refs 2nd c.AD+ (also in active, τὸ πύον ἀφίστησι 7.715).
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| apostēolōἀφίστανται | happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | fall away | 1× |
| apostēoteἀφίστατο | was happening · he/she/itimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | depart | 1× |
| apostēeliἀποστήσονταί | will happen · theyfuture middle indicative 3rd person plural | depart | 1× |
| apostēataἀπέστη | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | departed | 3× |
| apostēalaἀπέστησαν | happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural | withdrew | 1× |
| apostēateiaἀποστῇ | happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular | depart | 1× |
| apostēatarἈποστήτω | happened · he/she/itaorist active imperative 3rd person singular | turn away | 1× |
| apostēavarἀπόστητε | happened · yeaorist active imperative 2nd person plural | depart | 2× |
| apostēaraἀποστῆναι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | turns away | 1× |
| apostēarantosἀποστὰς | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine | withdrew | 1× |
| apostēarantonἀποστάντα | happened · objectaorist active participle accusative singular masculine | deserted | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 7 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | apostēamō | apostēame | apostēami | apostēama | apostēamē | apostēamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | apostēasō | apostēase | apostēasi | apostēasa | apostēasē | apostēaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēatō | apostēate | apostēati | apostēata3×ἀπέστη | apostēatē | apostēatelē |
| we 1st person plural | apostēanō | apostēane | apostēani | apostēana | apostēanē | apostēanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēavō | apostēave | apostēavi | apostēava | apostēavē | apostēavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēalō | apostēale | apostēali | apostēala1×ἀπέστησαν | apostēalē | apostēalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | apostēomō | apostēome | apostēomē | apostēomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | apostēosō | apostēose | apostēosē | apostēoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēotō | apostēote1×ἀφίστατο | apostēotē | apostēotelē |
| we 1st person plural | apostēonō | apostēone | apostēonē | apostēonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēovō | apostēove | apostēovē | apostēovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēolō1×ἀφίστανται | apostēole | apostēolē | apostēolelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | apostēemi | apostēema |
| you 2nd person singular | apostēesi | apostēesa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēeti | apostēeta |
| we 1st person plural | apostēeni | apostēena |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēevi | apostēeva |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēeli1×ἀποστήσονταί | apostēela |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | apostēameiō | apostēameia | apostēameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | apostēaseiō | apostēaseia | apostēaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēateiō | apostēateia1×ἀποστῇ | apostēateiē |
| we 1st person plural | apostēaneiō | apostēaneia | apostēaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēaveiō | apostēaveia | apostēaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēaleiō | apostēaleia | apostēaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | apostēomeiō | apostēomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | apostēoseiō | apostēoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēoteiō | apostēoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | apostēoneiō | apostēoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēoveiō | apostēoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēoleiō | apostēoleiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | apostēemeia |
| you 2nd person singular | apostēeseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēeteia |
| we 1st person plural | apostēeneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēeveia |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēeleia |
Commands — imperative mood, 3 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | apostēasōr | apostēasar | apostēasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēatōr | apostēatar1×Ἀποστήτω | apostēatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēavōr | apostēavar2×ἀπόστητε | apostēavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēalōr | apostēalar | apostēalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | apostēosōr | apostēosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēotōr | apostēotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēovōr | apostēovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēolōr | apostēolēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | apostēesar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēevar |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēelar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | apostēamoiō | apostēamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | apostēasoiō | apostēasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēatoiō | apostēatoia |
| we 1st person plural | apostēanoiō | apostēanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēavoiō | apostēavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēaloiō | apostēaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | apostēomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | apostēosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | apostēonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēoloiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | apostēemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | apostēesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | apostēetoia |
| we 1st person plural | apostēenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | apostēevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | apostēeloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | apostēarō | apostēari | apostēara1×ἀποστῆναι | apostēarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | apostēorō | apostēorē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | apostēeri | apostēera |
Used as an adjective — participle, 2 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | apostēarōntos | apostēarintos | apostēarantos2×ἀποστὰς | apostēarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | apostēorōntos | apostēorēntos | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | apostēerintos | apostēerantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
apostē is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
14 occurrences, every one of them listed
apostēolō“fall away”happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Luke 8:13… kairon pisteualō kai en kairo peirasmou apostēolō.… in the time of testing, they fall away.
apostēote“depart”was happening · he/she/itimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Luke 2:37“depart”… heōs eteiu ogdoēkonta tessares, has ouk apostēote teu hiereu nēsteiai kai deēsiai latreuarōntas …… a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
apostēeli“depart”will happen · theyfuture middle indicative 3rd person plural1×
1 Timothy 4:1“depart”… rētōs legatō hoti en husteroi kairoi apostēeli tinois tau pistiau, prosecharōntois pneumei planei …… the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the …
apostēata“departed”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular3×
Luke 4:13“departed”kai suntelarantos panton peirasmon tos diabolos apostēata apo autou achri kairou.When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Acts 5:37… en tai hēmerai tau apografau kai apostēata laon opisō autou; kakeinos apoleta kai …… the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished …
Acts 12:10“departed”… exercharantois proerchala ruman henan, kai eutheōs apostēata tos angelos apo autou.… length of one block, the angel suddenly left him.
apostēala“withdrew”happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural1×
Acts 22:29“withdrew”eutheōs oun apostēala apo autou tois mellarōntois auton anetazarō; …At once those who were about to interrogate Paul …
apostēateia“depart”happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular1×
2 Corinthians 12:8“depart”… houteu tris ton kurion parakalama hina apostēateia apo mu;Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
apostēatar“turn away”happened · he/she/itaorist active imperative 3rd person singular1×
2 Timothy 2:19… Gnōskata kurios toin arōntoin autou, kai; Apostēatar apo adikiau pantos tos onomazarōntos tem …… the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
apostēavar“depart”happened · yeaorist active imperative 2nd person plural2×
Luke 13:27… legarōntos vi; Ouk oidamē pothen avō; apostēavar apo mu, pantoir ergatoir adikiau.… not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’
Acts 5:38“keep away”kai teim nun legamō vi, apostēavar apo toiu anthrōpoiu houtoiu kai afiēkavar …So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go …
apostēara“turns away”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive1×
Hebrews 3:12… vu kardias ponēras apistiau en te apostēara apo theou zōarōntou,… a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.
apostēarantos“withdrew”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Acts 19:9“withdrew”… kakologarōntois tan hodan enōpion teu plētheu, apostēarantos apo autoiu aforizata toin mathētoin, kata …… some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall …
apostēaranton“deserted”happened · objectaorist active participle accusative singular masculine1×
Acts 15:38Paulos de axiate, ton apostēaranton apo autoiu apo Pamfuliau kai mē …… to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not …