ἀπελαύνω
apelaúnō
G556 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To drive or send away, to expel or dismiss someone or something from a location or presence. The term typically denotes the act of actively causing a person, group, or animal to leave, often with a sense of force, authority, or deliberate intent; may be used for driven movement over a distance.
Semantic Range
to drive away, to send out, to expel, to dismiss, to banish, to cause to depart, to lead off forcibly
Root / Etymology
From ἀπό (away from) and ἐλαύνω (to drive, to lead, to march, to impel). The verb is a compound formation expressing separation (by means of ἀπό) from a prior location, action, or group, effected through the act of driving or leading out (ἐλαύνω).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀπελαύνω is attested as early as Herodotus, commonly used for the expulsion of people (e.g., banishment) or driving out animals or enemies. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, its core meaning endures; in the Septuagint and New Testament, it is used for dismissing or expelling people (especially with some authority or by command). It does not imply execution or destruction, but rather removal, and is sometimes contrasted with more neutral verbs for sending (πέμπω) or departing (ἀπέρχομαι). In English Bibles, it is often rendered as 'drive away' or 'send out,' but those renderings do not always capture the active, sometimes forcible, aspect of the original. Not limited to people: may be used for herds, armies, or objects. Related terms include ἐξέλαυνω (to drive out) and ἐλαύνω (to drive, lead). While dismissal may be involuntary or with social or legal implications (banishment, exclusion), context determines the nuance. No significant divergence in meaning between the Septuagint and New Testament usage, although in later Greek it can have a more general meaning of 'to marshal' or 'to set in motion.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and ἐλαύνω; to dismiss:--drive.
Root Family
ἀπελαύνω (apelaunō) — to drive, to send forcefully, to expel
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G556-01 |
ἀπήλασεν | apelasen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he drove | he drove away | he drove away | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G556-01 |
Acts 18:16 | ἀπήλασεν | apelasen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he drove | he drove away | he drove away |