"to thrust away, repel from one’s self, repulse, Acts 7:27; to refuse, reject, cast off, Acts 7:39; 13:46; Rom. 11:1, 2; 1 Tim. 1:19*"
Definition and meaning
to thrust away, repel from one’s self, repulse, Acts 7:27; to refuse, reject, cast off, Acts 7:39; 13:46; Rom. 11:1, 2; 1 Tim. 1:19*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀπωθέω
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 apotheo (G683) across the King James Bible.
But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
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Common questions
Strong's G683 (apotheo) is a Greek word that means: to thrust away, repel from one’s self, repulse, Acts 7:27; to refuse, reject, cast off, Acts 7:39; 13:46; Rom. 11:1, 2; 1 Tim. 1:19* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word apotheo (G683) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G683 is apotheo, a Greek word defined as: to thrust away, repel from one’s self, repulse, Acts 7:27; to refuse, reject, cast off, Acts 7:39; 13:46; Rom. 11:1, 2; 1 Tim. 1:19*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
apotheo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.