ἀπέκδυσις
apékdysis
G555 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The act of stripping off or divesting oneself of something (used especially of clothing or equipment); in figurative contexts, refers to the removal or renunciation of a state, practice, or aspect of identity. In Pauline literature, notably Colossians, it refers to a metaphorical 'putting off' or renunciation (e.g., of the 'body of flesh' or sinful nature). The primary sense is the intentional removal or discarding of something that is worn or possessed.
Semantic Range
act of divesting, putting off (clothing or character), removal (physical or figurative), renunciation, rejection of a former state
Root / Etymology
From the verb ἀπεκδύομαι (to strip off, to divest oneself), consisting of the preposition ἀπό ('from, away') and the verb ἐκδύω ('to strip, to take off clothing'). The noun-form combines the aspect of removal (ἀπό) with the action of stripping (ἐκδύω), denoting an act or result of complete removal.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Rare in extant Greek literature, ἀπέκδυσις appears most prominently in Colossians 2:11 and 2:15, where it is used by Paul in a metaphorical sense to describe spiritual renewal or transformation, particularly the removal or renunciation of the 'body of flesh' (σώματος τῆς σαρκός). While the verb ἀπεκδύομαι occurs more frequently, the noun form is primarily Hellenistic-Koine. The concept of removal or laying aside has parallels in philosophical and ethical traditions which describe action or moral change in terms of changing garments. The English rendering 'putting off' captures the literal sense but can obscure the dramatic, deliberate act implied by the prefix and verb combination. No clear semantic overlap exists with terms for removal by force or violence; rather, this noun emphasizes voluntary action. The Septuagint does not use this noun, but the related verbs for 'stripping off' appear in both literal and metaphorical contexts. In the New Testament, the word is used exclusively in Pauline literature, colored by his distinctive soteriological and ethical language.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπεκδύομαι; divestment:--putting off.
Root Family
ἀπέκδυσις (apekdysis) — stripping off, divesting, removal, renunciation
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G555-01 |
ἀπεκδύσει | apekdusei | N DAT F SG |
putting off | to the stripping off | stripping off | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G555-01 |
Colossians 2:11 | ἀπεκδύσει | apekdusei | N DAT F SG |
putting off | to the stripping off | stripping off |