ἀποθνήσκω (G599) — Greek Lexicon

ἀποθνήσκω

apothnḗskō

G599 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To die, to undergo death, to come to an end of physical life. Also, to perish, be put to death, or undergo figurative forms of 'dying' such as loss or destruction. In some contexts, refers not only to the literal cessation of biological life but also to perishing in a broader existential, spiritual, or ethical sense (e.g., being lost, ruined, or excluded from a group). Its primary meaning is always rooted in the event or process of death, but context may extend the sense to loss of status, relationship, or spiritual condition.

Semantic Range

to die (literally), perish, be put to death, die spiritually or figuratively, undergo destruction or ruin, cease to exist

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἀπό (away, from) and the verb θνήσκω (to die). The prefix intensifies or emphasizes the act: 'to die off,' 'to die away.' θνήσκω is an ancient Indo-European verb attested in Homeric and Classical Greek, with ἀπό- used intensively or to denote completion.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb ἀποθνήσκω is found throughout Classical and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, with consistent reference to literal death or demise. In the Septuagint, it commonly renders Hebrew מוּת (mût, 'to die'), and in the New Testament, it is used of both human and animal death, as well as of figurative death (e.g., 'dying to sin' in Romans 6:2,7,8). In Hellenistic literature, it may be used metaphorically for ruin, destruction, or complete loss. The intensifying nuance of the ἀπό- prefix in Koine is often secondary and can be idiomatic, with the verb generally serving as the standard term for 'to die' in narrative. The semantic overlap with θνήσκω is nearly complete in later periods, but ἀποθνήσκω is more common in Koine, especially in biblical usage. English translations traditionally use 'die' or 'perish'; renderings such as 'be slain' or 'be destroyed' are contextually determined. The word does not in itself carry assumptions about afterlife or theological consequences, and such meanings must be inferred from broader context.

Translation Consistency

primary "die" 99 occurrences

The primary and most natural English equivalent for ἀποθνήσκω is "die." It captures the literal sense (cease physical life) and the common figurative senses (perish, be destroyed, be lost) while matching the majority of existing renderings (e.g. "died," "die"). "Die" is simple, frequent, and will produce natural English across all inflected forms.

Alternatives (13 occurrences):

"dying" (10x) "those dying" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀπό and θνήσκω; to die off (literally or figuratively):--be dead, death, die, lie a-dying, be slain (X with).

Root Family

ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō) — to die, to perish, to be destroyed

Root θαν- to die, to perish, to be destroyed

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G599-02`	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died	32
`G599-08`	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die	16
`G599-07`	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	dies	may die	may die	13
`G599-05`	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	died	they died off	they died	12
`G599-17`	ἀποθνῄσκει	apothneskei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	dies	is dying	is dying	5
`G599-18`	ἀποθνῄσκειν	apothneskein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die	5
`G599-20`	ἀποθνῄσκωμεν	apothneskomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we die	we may die off	we die	4
`G599-22`	ἀποθνῄσκοντες	apothneskontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	die	those dying	those dying	3
`G599-09`	ἀποθανεῖσθε	apothaneisthe	`V FUT MID IND 2P PL`	you will die	you yourselves will die off	you yourselves will die off	3
`G599-12`	ἀποθανὼν	apothanon	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	being dead	having died	having died	3
`G599-04`	ἀπεθάνομεν	apethanomen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	died	we died	we died	2
`G599-03`	ἀπεθάνετε	apethanete	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	you died	you died off	you (plural) died	2
`G599-21`	ἀποθνῄσκων	apothneskon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	dying	the one dying off	dying	2
`G599-10`	ἀποθανεῖται	apothaneitai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	will die	will die	will die	1
`G599-14`	ἀποθανόντες	apothanontes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having died	having died	having died	1
`G599-16`	ἀποθανόντος	apothanontos	`V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	having died	of having died	having died	1
`G599-13`	ἀποθανόντα	apothanonta	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM N PL`	dead	the ones having died	having died	1
`G599-06`	ἀπέθνῃσκεν	apethnesken	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was dying	was dying	was dying	1
`G599-23`	ἀποθνῄσκουσιν	apothneskousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	die	they are dying	are dying	1
`G599-15`	ἀποθανόντι	apothanonti	`V AOR ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	who died	to the one having died	the one having died	1
`G599-11`	ἀποθάνωμεν	apothanomen	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we may die	we might die	we might die	1
`G599-19`	ἀποθνῄσκω	apothnesko	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I die	I am dying	I am dying	1
`G599-01`	ἀπέθανε	apethane	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died	1

Occurrences in Scripture

112 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G599-05`	Matthew 8:32	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	perished	they died off	they died
`G599-02`	Matthew 9:24	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	has died	he/she/it died	she died
`G599-07`	Matthew 22:24	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	dies	may die	may die
`G599-02`	Matthew 22:27	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	she died
`G599-08`	Matthew 26:35	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-02`	Mark 5:35	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	has died	he/she/it died	she died
`G599-02`	Mark 5:39	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	has died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-02`	Mark 9:26	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	He is dead	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-07`	Mark 12:19	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	dies	may die	may die
`G599-21`	Mark 12:20	ἀποθνῄσκων	apothneskon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	dying	the one dying off	dying
`G599-02`	Mark 12:21	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-02`	Mark 12:22	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-02`	Mark 15:44	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he-had-died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-06`	Luke 8:42	ἀπέθνῃσκεν	apethnesken	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was dying	was dying	was dying
`G599-02`	Luke 8:52	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	she died	he/she/it died	she died
`G599-02`	Luke 8:53	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	she had died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-08`	Luke 16:22	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-02`	Luke 16:22	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-07`	Luke 20:28	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	dies	may die	may die
`G599-02`	Luke 20:29	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-05`	Luke 20:31	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they died	they died off	they died
`G599-02`	Luke 20:32	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	she died
`G599-08`	Luke 20:36	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	die	to die off	to die
`G599-18`	John 4:47	ἀποθνῄσκειν	apothneskein	`V PRS ACT INF`	dying	to die off	to die
`G599-08`	John 4:49	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	dies	to die off	to die
`G599-05`	John 6:49	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	died	they died off	they died
`G599-07`	John 6:50	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	die	may die	may die
`G599-05`	John 6:58	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	died	they died off	they died
`G599-09`	John 8:21	ἀποθανεῖσθε	apothaneisthe	`V FUT MID IND 2P PL`	you will die	you yourselves will die off	you yourselves will die off
`G599-09`	John 8:24	ἀποθανεῖσθε	apothaneisthe	`V FUT MID IND 2P PL`	you will die	you yourselves will die off	you yourselves will die off
`G599-09`	John 8:24	ἀποθανεῖσθε	apothaneisthe-2	`V FUT MID IND 2P PL`	you will die	you yourselves will die off	you yourselves will die off
`G599-02`	John 8:52	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-02`	John 8:53	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-05`	John 8:53	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	died	they died off	died
`G599-02`	John 11:14	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	is dead	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-11`	John 11:16	ἀποθάνωμεν	apothanomen	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we may die	we might die	we might die
`G599-02`	John 11:21	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	have died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-07`	John 11:25	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	he dies	may die	may die
`G599-07`	John 11:26	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	die	may die	may die
`G599-02`	John 11:32	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	have died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-07`	John 11:37	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	die	may die	may die
`G599-07`	John 11:50	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	should die	may die	may die
`G599-18`	John 11:51	ἀποθνῄσκειν	apothneskein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-07`	John 12:24	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	dies	may die	may die
`G599-07`	John 12:24	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane-2	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	it dies	may die	may die
`G599-18`	John 12:33	ἀποθνῄσκειν	apothneskein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-08`	John 18:14	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	should die	to die off	to die
`G599-18`	John 18:32	ἀποθνῄσκειν	apothneskein	`V PRS ACT INF`	die	to die off	to die
`G599-08`	John 19:7	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-17`	John 21:23	ἀποθνῄσκει	apothneskei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	dies	is dying	is dying
`G599-17`	John 21:23	ἀποθνῄσκει	apothneskei-2	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	dies	is dying	is dying
`G599-08`	Acts 7:4	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-08`	Acts 9:37	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-08`	Acts 21:13	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-08`	Acts 25:11	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	die	to die off	to die
`G599-02`	Romans 5:6	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-10`	Romans 5:7	ἀποθανεῖται	apothaneitai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	will die	will die	will die
`G599-08`	Romans 5:7	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-02`	Romans 5:8	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-05`	Romans 5:15	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	died	they died off	died
`G599-04`	Romans 6:2	ἀπεθάνομεν	apethanomen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	died	we died	we died
`G599-12`	Romans 6:7	ἀποθανὼν	apothanon	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	who has died	having died	having died
`G599-04`	Romans 6:8	ἀπεθάνομεν	apethanomen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	we died	we died	we died
`G599-17`	Romans 6:9	ἀποθνῄσκει	apothneskei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	dies	is dying	is dying
`G599-02`	Romans 6:10	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-02`	Romans 6:10	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen-2	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-07`	Romans 7:2	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	dies	may die	may die
`G599-07`	Romans 7:3	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	dies	may die	may die
`G599-14`	Romans 7:6	ἀποθανόντες	apothanontes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having died	having died	having died
`G599-05`	Romans 7:10	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	died	they died off	died
`G599-18`	Romans 8:13	ἀποθνῄσκειν	apothneskein	`V PRS ACT INF`	die	to die off	to die
`G599-12`	Romans 8:34	ἀποθανών	apothanon	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	who died	having died	having died
`G599-17`	Romans 14:7	ἀποθνῄσκει	apothneskei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	dies	is dying	is dying
`G599-20`	Romans 14:8	ἀποθνῄσκωμεν	apothneskomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we die	we may die off	we die
`G599-20`	Romans 14:8	ἀποθνῄσκομεν	apothneskomen-2	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we die	we may die off	we die
`G599-20`	Romans 14:8	ἀποθνῄσκωμεν	apothneskomen-3	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	we die	we may die off	we die
`G599-02`	Romans 14:9	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-02`	Romans 14:15	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-02`	1 Corinthians 8:11	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-08`	1 Corinthians 9:15	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-02`	1 Corinthians 15:3	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-23`	1 Corinthians 15:22	ἀποθνῄσκουσιν	apothneskousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	die	they are dying	are dying
`G599-19`	1 Corinthians 15:31	ἀποθνῄσκω	apothnesko	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I die	I am dying	I am dying
`G599-20`	1 Corinthians 15:32	ἀποθνῄσκομεν	apothneskomen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we die	we may die off	we die
`G599-07`	1 Corinthians 15:36	ἀποθάνῃ	apothane	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	it dies	may die	may die
`G599-02`	2 Corinthians 5:14	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-05`	2 Corinthians 5:14	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	died	they died off	they died
`G599-02`	2 Corinthians 5:15	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-15`	2 Corinthians 5:15	ἀποθανόντι	apothanonti	`V AOR ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	who died	to the one having died	the one having died
`G599-22`	2 Corinthians 6:9	ἀποθνῄσκοντες	apothneskontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	dying	those dying	those dying
`G599-05`	Galatians 2:19	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	died	they died off	I died off
`G599-02`	Galatians 2:21	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-08`	Philippians 1:21	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-03`	Colossians 2:20	ἀπεθάνετε	apethanete	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	you died	you died off	you (plural) died
`G599-03`	Colossians 3:3	ἀπεθάνετε	apethanete	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	you have died	you died off	you (plural) died
`G599-02`	1 Thessalonians 4:14	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-16`	1 Thessalonians 5:10	ἀποθανόντος	apothanontos	`V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	having died	of having died	having died
`G599-22`	Hebrews 7:8	ἀποθνῄσκοντες	apothneskontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	who die	those dying	those dying
`G599-08`	Hebrews 9:27	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-17`	Hebrews 10:28	ἀποθνῄσκει	apothneskei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	dies	is dying	is dying
`G599-12`	Hebrews 11:4	ἀποθανὼν	apothanon	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	being dead	having died	having died
`G599-05`	Hebrews 11:13	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	died	they died off	they died
`G599-21`	Hebrews 11:21	ἀποθνῄσκων	apothneskon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	when he was dying	the one dying off	dying
`G599-05`	Hebrews 11:37	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they died	they died off	they died
`G599-02`	1 Peter 3:18	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	he/she/it died
`G599-13`	Jude 1:12	ἀποθανόντα	apothanonta	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM N PL`	dead	the ones having died	having died
`G599-08`	Revelation 3:2	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-01`	Revelation 8:9	ἀπέθανε	apethane	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died
`G599-05`	Revelation 8:11	ἀπέθανον	apethanon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	died	they died off	died
`G599-08`	Revelation 9:6	ἀποθανεῖν	apothanein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to die	to die off	to die
`G599-22`	Revelation 14:13	ἀποθνῄσκοντες	apothneskontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	die	those dying	those dying
`G599-02`	Revelation 16:3	ἀπέθανεν	apethanen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	died	he/she/it died	died

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