"to receive what is due, sought, or needed, Lk. 23:41; Rom. 1:27; Gal. 4:5; Col. 3:24; 2 Jn. 8; to receive in full, Lk. 16:25; to receive back, recover, Lk. 6:34; 15:27; 18:30; mid. to take aside, lead away, Mk. 7:33"
Definition and meaning
to receive what is due, sought, or needed, Lk. 23:41; Rom. 1:27; Gal. 4:5; Col. 3:24; 2 Jn. 8; to receive in full, Lk. 16:25; to receive back, recover, Lk. 6:34; 15:27; 18:30; mid. to take aside, lead away, Mk. 7:33
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀπολαμβάνω
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
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 apolambano (G618) across the King James Bible.
And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
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Common questions
Strong's G618 (apolambano) is a Greek word that means: to receive what is due, sought, or needed, Lk. 23:41; Rom. 1:27; Gal. 4:5; Col. 3:24; 2 Jn. 8; to receive in full, Lk. 16:25; to receive back, recover, Lk. 6:34; 15:27; 18:30; mid. to take aside, lead... It appears 11 times in the King James Bible.
The word apolambano (G618) appears 11 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G618 is apolambano, a Greek word defined as: to receive what is due, sought, or needed, Lk. 23:41; Rom. 1:27; Gal. 4:5; Col. 3:24; 2 Jn. 8; to receive in full, Lk. 16:25; to receive back, recover. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
apolambano is a Greek word found in the New Testament.