"also spelled ἀποκτέννω or ἀποκτένω, to kill, Mt. 14:5; to destroy, annihilate, Mt. 10:28; to destroy a hostile principle, Eph. 2:16; met. to kill by spiritual condemnation, Rom. 7:11; 2 Cor. 3:6"
Definition and meaning
also spelled ἀποκτέννω or ἀποκτένω, to kill, Mt. 14:5; to destroy, annihilate, Mt. 10:28; to destroy a hostile principle, Eph. 2:16; met. to kill by spiritual condemnation, Rom. 7:11; 2 Cor. 3:6
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀποκτείνω
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 apokteino (G615) across the King James Bible.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
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Common questions
Strong's G615 (apokteino) is a Greek word that means: also spelled ἀποκτέννω or ἀποκτένω, to kill, Mt. 14:5; to destroy, annihilate, Mt. 10:28; to destroy a hostile principle, Eph. 2:16; met. to kill by spiritual condemnation, Rom. 7:11; 2 Cor. 3:6 It appears 69 times in the King James Bible.
The word apokteino (G615) appears 69 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G615 is apokteino, a Greek word defined as: also spelled ἀποκτέννω or ἀποκτένω, to kill, Mt. 14:5; to destroy, annihilate, Mt. 10:28; to destroy a hostile principle, Eph. 2:16; met. to kill by s. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
apokteino is a Greek word found in the New Testament.