ἀκυρόω

akyróō

G208 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To render void, to make legally or functionally ineffective; to invalidate or annul something so that it loses its force, authority, or binding character. The term refers primarily to the cancellation or negation of a previous act, rule, agreement, or statement, thereby removing its validity or operative power. In various contexts, it may denote rendering something powerless, disregarded, or obsolete.

Semantic Range

to invalidate, to annul a law or contract, to make void or of no effect, to render powerless, to disregard as having force, to nullify an obligation or declaration

Root / Etymology

From the alpha privative prefix (ἀ-) expressing negation, and κυρόω ('to confirm, make valid'), thus meaning 'to make not valid' or 'to invalidate'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb ἀκυρόω is found in Hellenistic and Koine usage primarily in legal or quasi-legal contexts, where it refers to annulling contracts, abolishing laws, or nullifying declarations. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it often describes settings where human action renders a divine command or another's declaration ineffective (e.g., annulling God's word by human tradition). The sense is not limited to formal legal contracts but extends to making any authority or statement void, whether in interpersonal, familial, or religious settings. Traditional English translations sometimes use 'disannul' or 'make of none effect,' but these may obscure the broader range of 'to invalidate' or 'to render powerless.' Does not inherently carry the sense of negative judgment but may simply refer to the neutral (or even necessary) act of negation or repeal. The root κυρόω is rare in classical Greek but becomes more prominent in legal papyri of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and κυρόω; to invalidate:--disannul, make of none effect.

Root Family

ἀκυρόω (akyroō) — to invalidate, to annul, to render void, to make ineffective

Root κυρό- to make valid, to confirm, to ratify (negated here: to annul, to invalidate)

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G208-01 ἀκυροῖ akuroi V PRS ACT IND 3P SG invalidate invalidates invalidates 1
G208-02 ἀκυροῦντες akurountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL making void annulling annulling 1
G208-03 ἠκυρώσατε ekurosate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you have nullified you annulled you annulled 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G208-03 Matthew 15:6 ἠκυρώσατε ekurosate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you have nullified you annulled you annulled
G208-02 Mark 7:13 ἀκυροῦντες akurountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL making void annulling annulling
G208-01 Galatians 3:17 ἀκυροῖ akuroi V PRS ACT IND 3P SG invalidate invalidates invalidates