ἄπειμι
ápeimi
G548 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be away, to be absent from a location; to not be present. In Koine Greek, ἄπειμι denotes the state or condition of a person who is physically distant or separated from a particular place. It can also refer, in certain contexts, to an official or formal absence, such as that of a leader or member of a group.
Semantic Range
to be away, to be absent, to not be present physically, to dwell elsewhere, to be distant
Root / Etymology
Compound of ἀπό (from, away) + εἰμί (to be). The construction gives a straightforward sense: 'to be away (from a place)'. Cognate with similar verbal compounds in Greek formed from prepositions and the verb of existence or state of being.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἄπειμι was used to indicate literal physical absence—someone not present at a meeting, gathering, or location. It carries no inherent emotional or moral connotation, unlike terms that express abandonment or desertion. In New Testament and Septuagint usage, ἄπειμι retains the straightforward sense of being away or absent (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:1,11: while present [παρών] vs. while absent [ἀπών]). English translations often render the word as 'to be absent,' which closely matches its original sense, though in Greek the term does not specify reason or duration for absence. It differs from more figurative language such as χωρίζω (to separate) or ἐκλείπω (to fail, disappear), as it is a simple statement of physical nonpresence. Used in epistolary formulae to mark the distinction between bodily presence and absence. The root appears with the same sense across Koine literary and epistolary sources.
Translation Consistency
ἄπειμι denotes the state of not being present. Using the phrase “be absent” consistently captures that stative sense naturally in English (e.g. “is absent,” “was absent,” “will be absent”). “Be” alone is too general; a single-word adjective like “absent” risks losing the verbal/copular sense. “Be absent” therefore best preserves the typical meaning and reads naturally across contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and εἰμί; to be away:--be absent. Compare ἄπειμι.
Root Family
ἄπειμι (apeimi) — to be, to exist, to be away, to be absent
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G549 | ἄπειμι | they were going away |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G548-02 |
ἀπὼν | apon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
absent | being away | being absent | 5 |
G548-03 |
ἀπόντες | apontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
being-absent | those being absent | being absent | 1 |
G548-01 |
ἄπειμι | apeimi | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
I am absent | I am away | I am absent | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G548-02 |
1 Corinthians 5:3 | ἀπὼν | apon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
absent | being away | being absent |
G548-02 |
2 Corinthians 10:1 | ἀπὼν | apon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
absent | being away | being absent |
G548-03 |
2 Corinthians 10:11 | ἀπόντες | apontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
being-absent | those being absent | being absent |
G548-02 |
2 Corinthians 13:2 | ἀπὼν | apon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
absent | being away | being absent |
G548-02 |
2 Corinthians 13:10 | ἀπὼν | apon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
being absent | being away | being absent |
G548-02 |
Philippians 1:27 | ἀπὼν | apon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
being absent | being away | being absent |
G548-01 |
Colossians 2:5 | ἄπειμι | apeimi | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
I am absent | I am away | I am absent |