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ἀπό

apó

G575 preposition

SILEX Entry

Root ἀπό- to move away, to separate, to originate

Definition

A preposition indicating movement or origin away from a person, place, thing, or state; expressing separation, source, or origin. It generally marks the point of departure or differentiation, frequently translated as 'from.' In various contexts, ἀπό can denote physical separation ('from a place'), temporal separation ('since'), or the source/cause ('because of'). In compound words (as a prefix), it intensifies the sense of removal, completion, or reversal.

Semantic Range

from (indicating point of departure), away from, since (denoting time), because of (expressing cause or origin), by (indicating agency), after (in temporal sequences), off, out of, removal, cessation (in prefixes), completion, reversal

Root / Etymology

Primary particle of separation; not derived from an older Greek word, but related in sense to the preposition πό, indicating 'distance.' Cognate with the Latin ab.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ἀπό is one of the standard Greek prepositions expressing separation or origin. In classical and Hellenistic Greek, it primarily denoted movement away from a specific point (e.g., ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου, 'from the house'). Its range broadened in Koine Greek, where it can mark source or cause (e.g., 'because of'), or temporal starting point ('since'). The Septuagint often uses ἀπό to render Hebrew prepositions indicating separation (e.g., מִן ‎[min]), and its use in the New Testament reflects both Greek and Semitic syntactic patterns. In compounds, ἀπό functions as a prefix to verbs or nouns, signaling the idea of removal, cessation, or completion. English translation as 'from' or 'away from' most often captures its core sense, but in other cases ('because of,' 'since') a broader rendering is required, dependent on the context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):--(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.

Root Family

ἀπό (apó) — to move away, to separate, to originate

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G575-03 ἀπὸ apo PREP GEN from from 476
G575-01 ἀπ’ ap PREP GEN from from 125
G575-02 ἀφ’ aph PREP GEN from from 43

Occurrences in Scripture

644 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G575-03 Matthew 1:17 ἀπὸ apo PREP GEN from from
G575-03 Matthew 1:17 ἀπὸ apo-2 PREP GEN from from
G575-03 Matthew 1:17 ἀπὸ apo-3 PREP GEN from from
G575-03 Matthew 1:21 ἀπὸ apo PREP GEN from from
G575-03 Matthew 1:24 ἀπὸ apo PREP GEN from from
G575-03 Matthew 2:1 ἀπὸ apo PREP GEN from from
G575-03 Matthew 2:16 ἀπὸ apo PREP GEN from from
G575-03 Matthew 3:4 ἀπὸ apo PREP GEN of from
G575-03 Matthew 3:7 ἀπὸ apo PREP GEN from from
G575-03 Matthew 3:13 ἀπὸ apo PREP GEN from
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