ἀπειλέω
apeiléō
G546 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To threaten, to speak or act in a way that communicates an intention to inflict harm or punishment; by extension, to issue authoritative warnings or injunctions. The primary meaning is 'to threaten,' whether with words, gestures, or implied actions; in some contexts, may extend to the sense of forbidding by means of a threat or stern warning.
Semantic Range
to threaten, to menace (verbally or by action), to issue warnings backed by threat, to forbid with threat, to pronounce authoritative injunctions with threat of consequences
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. Possibly related to ἀπειλή (apeilē, 'threat, menace'), which in turn derives from the verb ἀπειλέω. No clear connection to a more basic Greek root is attested.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, the noun ἀπειλή (apeilē) is well-attested, meaning 'threat' or 'menace'; however, the verb ἀπειλέω is found much more sparsely in classical literature and becomes more common in Hellenistic and Koine Greek. In the New Testament (e.g., Acts 4:17, 4:21), the verb is used for authoritative, often public threats or stern warnings issued by those in positions of power, particularly with the sense of official or legal warning (often by magistrates or councils) rather than casual or personal menace. The Septuagint also uses the verb for God's threatening words or actions (e.g., in Psalms), indicating a range that includes both human and divine sources of authority. English translations such as 'threaten' or 'warn sternly' capture primary use cases, but do not distinguish nuances between personal menace and formal injunctions. ἀπειλέω does not commonly mean 'forbid' in the neutral sense, but rather 'forbid with threat' or 'command under threat of consequences.' Differentiated from synonyms like ἐντέλλομαι ('to command'), ἀπειλέω focuses on the menace or implicit consequences behind the words, rather than the content of the command itself.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; to menace; by implication, to forbid:--threaten.
Root Family
ἀπειλέω (apeileō) — to threaten, to menace, to warn sternly
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G546-01 |
ἀπειλησώμεθα | apeilesometha | V AOR MID SUBJ 1P PL |
let us threaten | let us threaten | 1 |
G546-02 |
ἠπείλει | epeilei | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
threaten | he was threatening | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G546-01 |
Acts 4:17 | ἀπειλησώμεθα | apeilesometha | V AOR MID SUBJ 1P PL |
let us threaten | let us threaten |
G546-02 |
1 Peter 2:23 | ἠπείλει | epeilei | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
threaten | he was threatening |