ἀποκλείω
apokleíō
G608 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to shut out completely, to close off entirely; denotes the action of closing or barring so as to prevent entry, access, or participation, whether physically (shutting a door or gate) or metaphorically (excluding from a group or opportunity), with an emphasis on total exclusion or inaccessibility.
Semantic Range
to shut out completely, to bar entrance, to exclude, to close off, to prevent access, to confine, to lock out
Root / Etymology
From ἀπό ('from, away from') and κλείω ('to shut, to close'), meaning 'to shut out' or 'to completely shut.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb ἀποκλείω is rare in extant Greek literature, with few attestations in classical sources. In Koine Greek, it appears in contexts where total exclusion or the sealing off of a place or individual is meant. In the New Testament (e.g., Galatians 4:17), the verb is used metaphorically for being cut off or excluded from a group or opportunity. In the LXX and Hellenistic literature, similar terms indicate either the literal or figurative closure, with an emphasis on completeness. English translations such as 'shut up,' 'exclude,' or 'bar' partially render the sense but may not always convey the intensity of complete closure implicit in the Greek. Related verbs include κλείω ('to shut'), διακλείω ('to shut through or entirely'), and συγκλείω ('to shut together'), with ἀποκλείω emphasizing the aspect of exclusion 'away from.' The semantic range does not imply emotional connotations but rather the functional state of exclusion, whether spatial or metaphorical.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and κλείω; to close fully:--shut up.
Root Family
ἀποκλείω (apokleiō) — to shut, to close, to shut out completely, to exclude
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G608-01 |
ἀποκλείσῃ | apokleise | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
shuts | may shut out completely | may shut out completely | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G608-01 |
Luke 13:25 | ἀποκλείσῃ | apokleise | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
shuts | may shut out completely | may shut out completely |