"to remove out of sight, cause to disappear; pass. to disappear, vanish, Jas. 4:14; by impl. to destroy, consume, so that nothing shall be left visible, Mt. 6:19, 20; met. to spoil, deform, disfigure, Mt. 6:16; to perish, Acts 13:41*"
Definition and meaning
to remove out of sight, cause to disappear; pass. to disappear, vanish, Jas. 4:14; by impl. to destroy, consume, so that nothing shall be left visible, Mt. 6:19, 20; met. to spoil, deform, disfigure, Mt. 6:16; to perish, Acts 13:41*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀφανίζω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of aphanizo (G853) across the King James Bible.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
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Common questions
Strong's G853 (aphanizo) is a Greek word that means: to remove out of sight, cause to disappear; pass. to disappear, vanish, Jas. 4:14; by impl. to destroy, consume, so that nothing shall be left visible, Mt. 6:19, 20; met. to spoil, deform, disfigure, ... It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word aphanizo (G853) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G853 is aphanizo, a Greek word defined as: to remove out of sight, cause to disappear; pass. to disappear, vanish, Jas. 4:14; by impl. to destroy, consume, so that nothing shall be left visible. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
aphanizo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.