ἀπαλγέω
apalgéō
G524 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To lose sensitivity, to become insensible to pain or feeling (whether physical or moral); by extension, to become callous or unresponsive, especially to moral or emotional stimuli. The primary sense involves a loss of sensation or responsiveness, leading metaphorically to disregard or indifference, particularly in moral contexts.
Semantic Range
to lose feeling, to become insensitive, to become callous, to lose moral sensitivity, to be past feeling, to be unresponsive, to grow indifferent
Root / Etymology
From ἀπό (away, from) and ἄλγος (pain), the verb ἀλγέω meaning 'to suffer pain.' Thus, ἀπαλγέω literally means 'to cease from pain,' i.e., 'to lose all feeling.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀπαλγέω is rare, with only sparse attestations, and usually retains a literal sense—'to be without pain' or 'to lose sensitivity.' In Hellenistic and Koine usage (including the Septuagint and New Testament), its attested meaning is mainly metaphorical: to lose moral sensitivity, to become unresponsive or indifferent to ethical considerations. In the New Testament (Eph 4:19), the term characterizes a state of moral numbness or callousness toward wrongdoing, distinct from mere ignorance or error. Standard English translations such as 'become callous,' 'lose all sensitivity,' or 'be past feeling' only partially capture the vivid metaphor of losing sensation. While related words (like ἀλγέω, 'to feel pain') describe active suffering, ἀπαλγέω emphasizes the resulting dullness or inability to be affected. The term does not necessarily indicate a total lack of humanity, but rather a hardened indifference, particularly in ethical matters.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and (to smart); to grieve out, i.e. become apathetic:--be past feeling.
Root Family
ἀπαλγέω (apalgéō) — to cease from pain, to lose feeling, to become insensitive, to grow callous
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G524-01 |
ἀπηλγηκότες | apelgekotes | V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having become callous | having become calloused | having become calloused | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G524-01 |
Ephesians 4:19 | ἀπηλγηκότες | apelgekotes | V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having become callous | having become calloused | having become calloused |