ἀποφορτίζομαι
apophortízomai
G670 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To unload, to remove a burden or cargo (in a literal sense, typically of ships or beasts of burden); by extension, to relieve or free from a load or burden (figurative or metaphorical use). The verb primarily describes the act of offloading physical goods but can be used more broadly for the act of being rid of encumbrances.
Semantic Range
to unload (cargo from a ship or animal), to unburden oneself, to discharge a load, to relieve of a burden
Root / Etymology
A compound of ἀπό ('from, away from') and φορτίζω ('to load, to burden'), itself derived from φόρτος ('load, freight'). The middle voice here conveys the sense of 'unloading for oneself' or reflexively, 'to unload oneself.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested very rarely in extant Greek literature, and its use in the New Testament (Acts 21:3) is directly related to the unloading of ship cargo. In broader Koine and post-classical Greek, the verb maintains a concrete maritime context but can analogically extend to personal burdens. The standard English translation 'unlade' or 'unload' captures the basic sense, but does not always reflect the possible reflexive nuance of the middle voice ('to unload oneself'). The form is middle-voice, emphasizing the agent's involvement in the unloading. Contrasts with φορτίζω, which means 'to load' or 'to burden.' The term appears almost exclusively in practical, commercial, or nautical contexts and is not commonly employed in metaphoric or abstract senses outside such domains.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and the middle voice of φορτίζω; to unload:--unlade.
Root Family
ἀποφορτίζομαι (apophortizomai) — to load, to burden, to unload, to unburden
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G670-01 |
ἀποφορτιζόμενον | apophortizomenon | V PRS MID PTCP NOM N SG |
unloading | unloading itself | unloading itself | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G670-01 |
Acts 21:3 | ἀποφορτιζόμενον | apophortizomenon | V PRS MID PTCP NOM N SG |
unloading | unloading itself | unloading itself |