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G3089 λύω (lýō)

Greek 📖 Greek Word Study
Verb
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Quick Definition

λύω v. I loose, untie, release, destroy

Strong's Definition

to "loosen" (literally or figuratively)

Derivation: a primary verb;

KJV Usage: break (up), destroy, dissolve, (un-)loose, melt, put off

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

verb | ἀκατάλυτος · ἀλυσιτελής · ἀνάλυσις · ἀναλύω · ἀντίλυτρον · ἀπολύτρωσις · ἀπολύω · διαλύω · ἐκλύομαι · ἐπίλυσις · ἐπιλύω · κατάλυμα · καταλύω · λύσις · λυσιτελεῖ · λύτρον · λυτρόομαι · λύτρωσις · λυτρωτής · παραλύομαι · παραλυτικός

18.18 · Attachment · Fasten, Stick To

to untie, to loosen to reverse the result of tying by untying

MAT 16:19 · MAT 21:2 · MRK 1:7 · MRK 7:35 · MRK 11:2 · MRK 11:4 · MRK 11:5 · LUK 3:16 · LUK 13:15 · LUK 19:30 · LUK 19:31 · LUK 19:33 · LUK 19:33 · JHN 1:27 · JHN 11:44 · ACT 2:24 · ACT 7:33 · ACT 13:25 · ACT 22:30

37.127 · Control, Rule · Release, Set Free

to release, to set free to release from control, to set free (highly generic meaning applicable to a wide variety of circumstances, including confinement, political domination, sin, sickness) In a number of languages there are problems with a somewhat literal translation of λυθῆναι ἀπὸ τοῦ δεσμοῦ τούτου in LUK 13:16 since the expression is highly figurative. The reference, of course, is to the woman’s condition as a cripple. Furthermore, it may not make sense to speak of ‘Satan binding’ such a person, as in the first part of verse 16. In a number of languages, therefore, one may speak of ‘Satan causing the woman to be a cripple,’ and then in the latter part of verse 16, one may speak of ‘causing a person no longer to be a cripple.’

LUK 13:16 · 1CO 7:27 · REV 1:5 · REV 9:14 · REV 9:15 · REV 20:3 · REV 20:7

20.53 · Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill · Destroy

to destroy, to tear down, to break to pieces to destroy or reduce something to ruin by tearing down or breaking to pieces In some languages there may be an important distinction in terms meaning ‘to destroy,’ depending upon whether the destruction is purposeful or not. A still further distinction may arise on the basis of beneficial or non-beneficial results. In EPH 2:14 the destruction is regarded as beneficial, while in ACT 27:41 the opposite is the case.

JHN 2:19 · ACT 27:41 · EPH 2:14 · 2PE 3:10 · 2PE 3:11 · 2PE 3:12

15.139 · Linear Movement · Disperse, Scatter

to dismiss, to disperse to cause a gathering to be dismissed or dispersed In some languages it may be more appropriate to render this expression in ACT 13:43 as ‘when most of the people had left’ or ‘when the meeting was over.’

ACT 13:43

36.30 · Guide, Discipline, Follow · Obey, Disobey

to break (a law), to transgress the failure to conform to a law or regulation, with a possible implication of regarding it as invalid See also discussion at 36.29.

MAT 5:19 · JHN 5:18 · JHN 7:23

37.47 · Control, Rule · Exercise Authority

to permit, to allow to exercise authority over something on the basis of its being legitimate There are a number of different interpretations of the implication of this statement in MAT 16:19, and translators should carefully review this passage in various commentaries.

MAT 16:19 · MAT 18:18 · MAT 18:18

13.38 · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · State

to do away with, to remove, to eliminate to cause a state to cease

ACT 2:24 · REV 5:2

13.100 · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · Exist

to cause to come to an end, to cause to become nothing, to put an end to to cause to cease to exist

JHN 10:35 · 1JN 3:8

1 It is possible that ἀπολύω[c] is somewhat more emphatic in meaning than λύω[b] in view of the prepositional prefix ἀπο, but NT contexts are not sufficient to indicate any precise degree of distinction. The same possible distinction also applies to the meanings in 37.128. 2 There are undoubtedly some significant differences of meaning in this series in 13.38, but it is not possible to determine the distinctive differences on the basis of existing contexts. 3 1JN 3:8 The phrase τὰ ἔργα τοῦ διαβόλου ‘the works of the Devil’ may be regarded either as something which the Devil has done and therefore something which exists (in which case the meaning of λύω is appropriately in Domain 13), or the phrase could mean ‘what the Devil is doing,’ and accordingly λύω could be interpreted as a type of aspect, that is to say, it would mean ‘causing an activity to cease.’ There are a number of such problems involved in meanings which may be interpreted as fitting either into Domain 13 or into Domain 68 Aspect.

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

λύω; imperfect ἐλυον; 1 aorist ἔλυσά; passive, present λύομαι; imperfect ἐλυομην; perfect 2 person singular λέλυσαι, participle λελυμενος; 1 aorist ἐλυθην; 1 future λυθήσομαι; from Homer down; the Sept. several times for τΘΜϊΗη, to open, δΔϊΔΜιψ and Chaldean ωΐΡψΕΰ (Dan_3:25; Dan_5:12); to loose; i. e.: 1. to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened: properly, the bandages of the feet, the shoes, Mar_1:7; Luk_3:16; Joh_1:27; Acts (); (so for πΘωΗΡμ to take off, Exo_3:5; Jos_5:15); πῶλον (δεδεμένον), Mat_21:2; Mar_11:2,( L marginal reading),f; Luke 19:30 f, 33 ; bad angels, Rev_9:14 f; τόν βοῦν ἀπό τῆς φάτνης, Luk_13:15; tropically: of husband and wife joined together by the bond of matrimony, λέλυσαι ἀπό γυναικός (opposed to δέδεσαι γυναικί), spoken of a single man, whether he has already had a wife or has not yet married, 1Co_7:27. 2. to loose one bound, i. e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free: one bound up (swathed in bandages), Joh_11:44; bound with chains (a prisoner), Act_22:30 (where Rec. adds ἀπό τῶν δεσμῶν); hence, equivalent to to discharge from prison, let go, Act_24:26 Rec. (so as far back as Homer); in Apocalyptic vision of the devil (κεκλεισμένον), Rev_20:3; ἐκ τῆς φυλακῆς αὐτοῦ, 7; metaphorically, to free (ἀπό δεσμοῦ) from the bondage of disease (one held by Satan) by restoration to health, Luk_13:16; to release one bound by the chains of sin, ἐκ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν, Rev_1:5 L T Tr WH (see λούω at the end (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 30, 6 a.)). 3. to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together: the seal of a book, Rev_5:2 (5 Rec.); tropically, τόν δεσμόν τῆς γλώσσης τίνος, to remove an impediment of speech, restore speech to a dumb man, Mar_7:35 (Justin, hist. 13, 7, 1 cui nomen Battos propter linguae obligationem init; 6 linguae nodis solutis loqui primum coepit); an assembly, i. e. to dismiss, break up: τήν συναγωγήν, passive, Act_13:43 (ἀγορην, Homer, Iliad 1, 305; Odyssey 2, 257, etc.; Apoll. Rh. 1, 708; τήν στρατιάν, Xenophon, Cyril 6, 1, 2); of the bonds of death, λύειν τάς ὠδῖνας τοῦ θαντου, Act_2:24 (see ὠδίν). Laws, as having binding force, are likened to bonds; hence, λύειν is equivalent to to annul, subvert; to do away with; to deprive of authority, whether by precept or by act: ἐντολήν, Mat_5:19; τόν νόμον, Joh_7:23; τό σάββατον, the commandment concerning the sabbath, Joh_5:18; τήν γραφήν, Joh_10:35; cf. Kuinoel on Mat_5:17; (on the singular reading λύει τόν Ἰησοῦ, 1Jn_4:3 WH marginal reading see Westcott's Commentary at the passage); by a Chaldean and Talmudic usage (equivalent to ΰΗϊΕΜψ, ωΐΡψΕΰ (cf. Winer's Grammar, 32)), opposed to δέω (which see 2 c.), to declare lawful: Mat_16:19; Mat_18:18 (but cf. Weiss in Meyer 7te Aufl. ad the passages cited). to loose what is compacted or built together, to break up, demolish, destroy: properly, in passive ἐλύετο ἡ πρύμνα, was breaking to pieces, Act_27:41; τόν ναόν, Joh_2:19; τό μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ, Eph_2:14 (τά τείχη, 1Es_1:52; γέφυραν, Xenophon, an. 2, 4, 17f); to dissolve something coherent into parts, to destroy: passive (τούτων πάντων λυομένων, 2Pe_3:11); τά στοιχεῖα (καυσούμενα), 2Pe_3:10; οὐρανοί (πυρούμενοι), 2Pe_3:12; metaphorically, to overthrow, do away with: τά ἔργα τοῦ διαβόλου, 1Jn_3:8. (Compare: ἀναλύω, ἀπολύω, διαλύω, ἐκλύω, ἐπιλύω, καταλύω, πυραλύω.)

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

λύω lyō 42x

to loosen, unbind, unfasten, Mk. 1:7; to loose, untie, Mt. 21:2; Jn. 11:44; to disengage, 1 Cor. 7:27; to set free, set at liberty, deliver, Lk. 13:16; to break, Acts 27:41; Rev. 5:2, 5; to break up, dismiss, Acts 13:43; to destroy, demolish, Jn. 2:19; Eph. 2:14; met to infringe, Mt. 5:19; Jn. 5:18; 7:23; to make void, nullify, Jn. 10:35; in NT to declare free, of privileges, or, in respect of lawfulness, Mt. 16:19

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

λύω,

[in LXX for פּתח, נתר hi., etc.;]

to loose, unbind, release: of things, Mk 1:7, Lk 3:16, al.; of beasts, Mt 21:2, Lk 13:15, al.; of persons, Jo 11:44, Ac 22:30; of Satan, Re 20:3, 7; metaph., of the marriage tie, I Co 7:27; of one diseased, Lk 13:16; of release from sin, Re 1:5, WH, R, txt. (v.s. λούω).

To resolve a whole into its parts, loosen, dissolve, break up, destroy: Jo 2:19, Ac 27:41, Re 5:2; metaph., II Pe 3:11; of an assembly, to dismiss: Ac 13:43; τ. μεσότοιχον τ. φραγμοῦ, Eph 2:14; τ. στοιχεῖα, II Pe 3:10; οὐρανοί, II Pe 3:12; τ. ἔργα τ. διαβόλου, I Jo 3:8; τ. ὠδῖνας τ. θανάτου, Ac 2:24; of laws, etc., to break, annul, cancel (MM, xvi): ἐντολήν, Mt 5:19; τ. νόμον, Jo 7:23; τ. σάββατον, Jo 5:18; τ. γραφήν, Jo 10:35. (Cf. ἀνα-, ἀπο-, δια-, ἐκ-, ἐπι-, κατα-, παρα-λύω.)

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

λύω. With the use of λύω in Rev 5? τίς ἄξιος ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον kal λῦσαι τὰς σφραγῖδας αὐτοῦ ; cf. P Oxy IV. 71519 (A.D. 131) κατὰ διαθήκην τὴν Kal λυθεῖσαν τῶι LB (ἔτει) ᾿Αδριανοῦ Καίσαρος τοῦ κυρίου, ‘in accordance with a will which was opened in the 12th year of Hadrianus Caesar the lord ” (Edd.), and similarly BGU 1. 326411 (a.p. 194) kal ἀνεγνώσθησαν τῇ αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐν ἣ Kal ἡ διαθήκη ἐλύθη. In P Oxy XII. 1473° (A.D. 201) ἥτις συνγραφὴ ἐλύθη τῷ διελθόντι ς (ἔτει) μηνὶ Θώθ, the reference is to the “discharge” of a marriage-contract, a usage which lends point to the verb in I Jn 3°. For Ave, “‘set at naught,” ‘‘ break,” as in Mt 519, Jn 778, see Sy// 479 (iii/B.c.) where certain regulations are followed by the threat—*! ἐὰν δέ τις τούτων τι λύηι, κατάpatos ἔστω. With ‘‘ breaking’ the Sabbath we may compare λύειν τὰ πένθη, “to go out of mourning,” Sy// 879! (end of iii/B.c.), In P Fay 1197 (c. a.D. 100) rotten hay is described as ὥλον (/. ὅλον) λελυμένον ὡς σκύβαλον, ‘the if AL@ whole of it decayed—no better than dung ” (Edd.), and in 7. 1208 (c. A.D. 100) we have—Atvorts εὐθέω (1. εὐθέως) εἰς °A.[ . . ] τὰ δράγματα, ‘you will send off the sheaves immediately to A . - 7: cf. also P Oxy XII. 147718 (question to an oracle—iii/iv A.D.) εἶ λύεταί μοι 6 Spacpds ; “is my flight to be stopped ?” (Edd.). The verb is = “‘ pay” in P Oxy IV. 7458 (c. A.D. 1) οὐκ οἶδας yap πῶς por ἐχρήσατο ἐν ᾿Οξυρύγχοις οὐχ ὡς λύσατι (1. λύσαντι) ἀλλ᾽ ὥς τινί ποτε ἀποστερητῆι μὴ ἀποδεδωκότι, “you don’t know how he treated me at Oxyrhynchus (Ὁ), not like a man who had paid but like a defrauder and a debtor” (Edd.), while in Syil 226" (iii/B.c.) the middle is used of ‘‘ redeeming” property—avros ὑπεραποδοὺς τοὺς ἑκατὸν χρυσοῦς ἐλύσατο : cf. P Lond 1179 (ii/A.p.) (= III. p. 146) λύ]σασθαι τὴν ὑποθήκην. For the weak aor. stem of this verb see Moulton Gr. il. p. 215 ff. MGr λνυώνω (Pontic Adve), ‘ dissolve,” so mel tons

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

λύω (luō) — to loose. λύω, poetry imperative λῦθι [Refs 5th c.BC+]future λύσω [ῡ] [Refs 8th c.BC+]: aorist ἔλῡσα [Refs]: perfect λέλῠκα [Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.:— passive, perfect λέλῠμαι [Refs 8th c.BC+], etc.: pluperfect ἐλελύμην [ῠ] [Refs 8th c.BC+], etc.: aorist ἐλύθην, Epic dialect λύθην [ῠ] [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future λῠθήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist passive λύμην [ῠ] [Refs 8th c.BC+]; λύτο [ῠ[Refs]; λύντο [Refs]: also 3rd.pers. singular optative perfect λελῦτο [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—middle, future λύσομαι [Refs 8th c.BC+]: aorist ἐλυσάμην [Refs]perfect passive λέλῦμαι in middle sense, [Refs 4th c.BC+]future λύσομαι in passive sense, (δια-) [Refs 5th c.BC+]—Homer uses all tenses except perfect active, present and future passive [In present and imperfect ῡ always in Attic dialect, ῠ mostly in Epic dialect, though [Refs 8th c.BC+] has ῡ twice, ἔλῡεν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also in compounds, ἀλλῡεσκεν [Refs]future and aorist 1 ῡ always: in other tenses ῠ always, except in the forms λελῦτο, λῦτο (see. above).] (Cf. Latin luo (pay), re-luo, solvo (for se-luo), solūtus, etc.):—loosen:

I. of things, unbind, unfasten, especially clothes and armour, λῦσε δέ οἱ ζωστῇρα, θώρηκα, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; λ. παρθενίην ζώνην loose the maiden-girdle, of the husband after marriage, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of the wife, λύοι χαλινὸν ὑφ᾽ ἥρωϊ παρθενίας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; frequently of the tackling of ships, λ. πρυμνήσια, ἱστία, λαῖφος, etc., [Refs 8th c.BC+]; λ. πρύμνας, νεῶν πόδα, [Refs 5th c.BC+], of ships, set sail, λῦε, κυβερνήτα [Refs]; ἀσκὸν λ. untie a skin (used as a bag), [Refs 8th c.BC+]; λ. ἡνίαν slacken the rein, [Refs]; κλῄθρων λυθέντων when the gates have been opened, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; λ. γράμματα, δέλτον, open a letter, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λ. πέδας, δεσμά, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀρτάνας.. δέρης ἔλυσαν loosed it from my neck,[Refs 5th c.BC+] —middle, ἀπὸ στήθεσφιν ἐλύσατο κεστὸν ἱμάντα undid her belt, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but λύοντο τεύχεα they undid the armour for themselves, i.e. stripped it off (others), [Refs]; later λυσαμένα πλοκαμῖδας unbinding her hair, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]

I. b in various phrases, στόμα λ. open the mouth, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λ. βλεφάρων ἕδραν wake up, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λ. ὀφρύν unfold the brow, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

I.2. of living beings,

I.2. a of horses, etc., unyoke, unharness, opposed to ζεύγνυμι, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπὲξ ὀχέων, [Refs 8th c.BC+] unyoke our horses, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; λύε μώνυχας ἵππους loosed them, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; λ. κύνα let him loose, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

I.2. b of men, release, deliver, especially from bonds or prison, and so, generally, from difficulty or danger, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὁ λύσων he that shall deliver, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also λ. δόμους ἁβρότατος rob the house of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λ. τινὰ τῆς ἀρχῆς depose him from.., [Refs 1st c.BC+]:—middle, properly get one loosed or set free, λύσασθαί τινα δυσφροσυνάων [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, λυθῆναι τὰς πέδας [Refs 1st c.BC+]; λέλυται γὰρ λαὸς ἐλεύθερα βάζειν, ὡς ἐλύθη ζυγὸν ἀλκᾶς has been let loose to speak, since the yoke was loosed, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

I.2. c of prisoners, release on receipt of ransom, admit to ransom, release, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Σαρπηδόνος ἔντεα καλὰ λύσειαν would give them up, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀνὴρ ἀντ᾽ ἀνδρὸς λυθείς [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, release by payment of ransom, get a person released, redeem, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἑαυτοὺς λ. pay their own ransom, [Refs]; buy from a pimp, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

I.2. d λελύσθαι τῶν νόμων, = Latin legibus solvi, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

I.3. give up, [θρόνον] λῦσον ἄμμιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II. resolve a whole into its parts, dissolve, break up, λ. ἀγορήν dissolve the assembly, [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, λῦτο δ᾽ ἀγών [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πρὶν [ἂν].. ἡ ἀγορὰ (market) λυθῇ [Refs 2nd c.BC+]

II.2. of concrete objects, σπάρτα λέλυνται, i. e. have rotted, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; λ. τὴν σχεδίην break it up, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; [τὴν γέφυραν] [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.3. especially of physical strength, loosen, i. e. weaken, relax, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα made his limbs slack or loose, i. e. killed him, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but οἵ μοι καμάτῳ.. γούνατ᾽ ἔλυσαν made my knees weak with toil, [Refs 8th c.BC+] —passive, λύντο δὲ γυῖα, etc., as the effect of death, sleep, weariness, fear, [Refs 8th c.BC+]

II.3. b λύει βλέφαρα closes her eyes in sleep, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.3. c metaphorically, λ. τὴν ἐν ταῖς ψυχαῖς πρὸς μάχην παρασκευήν [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.4. undo, bring to naught, destroy, πολίων κάρηνα [Refs 8th c.BC+]: generally, put an end to, νείκεα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; βίον, i.e. die, [Refs]; αἰῶν᾽ ἔλυσε, i.e. died, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μαχας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; forgive, ἁμαρτήματα [LXX]

II.4. b in Prose, λ. νόμους repeal or annul laws, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐθὲν τῶν περὶ τὴν πολιτείαν[Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐπεὶ ἐκεῖνοι ἔλυσαν τὰς σπονδὰς λελύσθαι μοι δοκεῖ ἡ ἐκείνων ὕβρις καὶ ἡ ἡμετέρα ὑποψία [Refs 5th c.BC+]; rescind a vote, ψῆφον λύει ὁ νόμος [Refs 4th c.BC+]; revoke a will, διαθήκην [Refs 4th c.BC+] (but in passive, to be opened, of a will, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; unbind a spell, [Refs 4th c.AD+] —passive, λέλυται πάντα all ties are broken, all is in confusion, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II.4. c as a technical term, solve a difficulty, a problem, a question, λύεται ἡ ἀπορία [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.4. d refute an argument, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.4. e unravel the plot of a tragedy, opposed to πλέκειν, [Refs]

II.4. f λ. τὴν φάσιν, of the Moon, pass out of, [Refs]

II.5. break a legal agreement or obligation, τὸν νόμον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σίς κε τὰς ϝρήτας τάσδε λύση whoso breaks this agreement, [Refs]

II.6. in physical sense, dissolve, λύθεν, opposed to πάγεν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ θερμὸν λύει, opposed to πήγνυσι, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἀμμωνιακὸν ὄξει λύσας [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; melt, παγείσας χιόνας [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

II.7. of medicines, λ. τὴν κοιλίαν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so of the effects of terror, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II.8. resolve [musical notation] into [musical notation], in passive, [Refs 1st c.AD+]

III. solve, fulfil, accomplish, τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεῖα [Refs 5th c.BC+]

IV. atone for, make up for, τὰς πρότερον ἁμαρτίας [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, τῶν πάλαι πεπραγμένων λύσασθ᾽ αἷμα.. δίκαις [Refs 4th c.BC+]

V. μισθὸν λύειν pay wages in full, quit oneself of them, used only in cases of obligation, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

V.2. τέλη λύειν, ={λυσιτελεῖν}, pay, profit. avail, ἔνθα μὴ τέλη λύει φρονοῦντι where it boots not to be wise, [Refs 5th c.BC+], construed like{λυσιτελεῖ}, absolutely, λύει δ᾽ ἄλγος [Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive, πῶς οὖν λύει.. ἐπιβάλλει; [Refs]; ἐμοί τελύειτοῖσιμέλλουσιν τέκνοις τὰ ζῶντ᾽ ὀνῆσαι it is good for me to benefit my living children by means of those to come,[Refs 2nd c.BC+]infinitive, λύει γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐδέν, οὐδ᾽ ἐπωφελεῖ,.. θανεῖν it is not expedient that we should die (οὐδ᾽ ἐπωφελεῖ being parenthetic), [Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare λυσιτελέω.

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

λύω [in LXX for פָּתַח, נָתַר hi., etc. ;] __1. to loose, unbind, release: of things, Mrk.1:7, Luk.3:16, al.; of beasts, Mat.21:2, Luk.13:15, al.; of persons, Jhn.11:44, Act.22:30; of Satan, Rev.20:3, 7; metaphorically, of the marriage tie, 1Co.7:27; of one diseased, Luk.13:16; of release from sin, Rev.1:5, WH, R, txt. (see: λούω). __2. To resolve a whole into its parts, loosen, dissolve, break up, destroy: Jhn.2:19, Act.27:41, Rev.5:2; metaphorically, 2Pe.3:11; of an assembly, to dismiss: Act.13:43; τ. μεσότοιχον τ. φραγμοῦ, Eph.2:14; τ. στοιχεῖα, 2Pe.3:10; οὐρανοί, 2Pe.3:12; τ. ἔργα τ. διαβόλου, 1Jn.3:8; τ. ὠδῖνας τ. θανάτου, Act.2:24; of laws, etc., to break, annul, cancel (MM, xvi): ἐντολήν, Mat.5:19; τ. νόμον, Jhn.7:23; τ. σάββατον, Jhn.5:18; τ. γραφήν, Jhn.10:35. (cf. ἀνα-, ἀπο-, δια-, ἐκ-, ἐπι-, κατα-, παρα-λύω.) (AS)

Bible Occurrences (39)

3:8

📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin

Release (loose, destroy, untie, unbind, break) (3089) luo

Will be destroyed (3089) (luo) means to loose, release, dissolve. This word means to set free what is bound and possibly here pictures the world being set free from the corruption that exists because of sin (Ro 8:21-note). The elements shall be loosened and broken up into their component parts, like a building being torn down. The physical structure of the present world will disintegrate. This picture is the very opposite of the consistency claimed by the mockers in (2Pe 3:5-note). Luo is the root of the word lutron, a ransom (payment which sets free). Luo - 42x in 39v in the - Matt. 5:19; 16:19; 18:18; 21:2; Mk. 1:7; 7:35; 11:2, 4f; Lk. 3:16; 13:15f; 19:30f, 33; Jn. 1:27; 2:19; 5:18; 7:23; 10:35; 11:44; Acts 2:24; 7:33; 13:25, 43; 22:30; 27:41; 1 Co. 7:27; Eph. 2:14; 2 Pet. 3:10ff; 1 Jn. 3:8; Rev. 1:5; 5:2; 9:14f; 20:3, 7 The NAS renders luo as annuls(1), break(1), breaking(1), broke down(1), broken(2), broken up(2), destroy(2),destroyed(3), loose(2), loosed(2), putting an end to(1), release(1), released(7), removed(1), take off(1), unbind(1),untie(8), untied(1), untying(4). The basic meaning is to loose that which is fastened or bound and thus to unbind or untie, but the exact meaning depends on the context (see following summary or verses below) determines the shade of meaning. Summary of luo: Literally to untie something (colt = Mt 21:2, Mk 1:7, Lk 3:16, Lk 13:16, Jn 1:27 = sandal thong, man [Lazarus] wrapped in bandages = Jn 11:44), break the seals of a scroll (Re 5:2 - secular use described "broken seals of a will", or "of the opening of a document" or "a letter"), release from prison (Ac 22:30 cp release of angels and/or the devil = Re 9:14,15, 20:3, 7). Figuratively: to destroy (temple [Jesus' body - so referring to death in this case by crucifixion], Jn 2:19), to break a "rule" (Sabbath, Jn 5:18, 7:23), to annul (commandment, Mt 5:19, Scripture, Jn 10:35), set free from a bond (by Satan = Lk 13:16), cause something to cease (put an end to, death Ac 2:24, How? By the resurrection), breaking up a group of people meeting (Ac 13:43), break up some object (ship's stern, Ac 27:41), release from marriage (1Co 7:27), break down a spiritual barrier (Ep 2:14), to destroy (the heavens and earth, 2Pe 3:10, 11, 12), destroy the works of the devil (1Jn 3:8 -Apostolic fathers write "consequently all magic and every kind of spell were dissolved [luo]" and "his destructiveness comes to an end"), release from bondage to our sins (Re 1:5). Luo can describe release by a relatively violent manner - Jn 2:19, Ep 2:14-note, Ac 27:41, 2Pe 3:10, 11, 12-note. Luo is the root word of the important word group which includes the following Lutron - price paid to redeem a captive, loosing them from their bonds and setting them free, Mt 20:28, Mk 10:45, Lxx = Lv 25:24 Lutroo - means to redeem or to free by paying the ransom price, 1Pe 1:18-note, Lk 24:21, Titus 2:14-note Lutrosis - describes the act of redemption, of freeing, of releasing or of delivering, Lk 1:68, 2:38, He 9:12-note, Lxx = Lv 25:48 Lutrotes - describes a redeemer, Ac 7:35 Analuo - Literally to undo again. Loosing the anchor of a ship in order to allow the ship to set sail, used by Paul to mean depart as if by loosing an anchor freeing him to glory (Php 1:23) Analusis - departure euphemistically of death (2Ti 4:6). Epiluo - let loose upon literally and figuratively to clarify, explain or interpret (Mark 4:34) Epilusis - act of explaining, exposition or interpretation (2Pe 1:20, 21) Kataluo - To unloose what was bound. To find lodging. To destroy, dissolve (Mk 14:58, Ac 6:14, et al) Kataluma - Lodging place, inn because when travelers arrived they "loosened" their belts. (Mk 14:14) Akatalutos - Speaks of that which is indissoluble (He 7:16 = indestructible life). Antilutron - A price of redemption (1Ti 2:6) Apolutrosis - Redemption, the gift offered as ransom money. The recalling of captives from captivity through the payment of a ransom (Christ’s death). Halusis - Literally not to loose and thus a chain, for a chain is something that cannot be loosed. Comment: This group of words was used in secular Greek to speak of freeing prisoners, opening closed doors, breaking fetters, and liberating people from habits. In a very elemental sense, then, the ransom is a payment which frees a prisoner. As a ransom is paid the prisoner is redeemed from captivity. In secular Greek literature a ransom was paid to release prisoners of war. It was also the payment given to buy a slave out of the market and free him. Even in paganism a payment was made to free someone from the supposed wrath of pagan gods. The Septuagint Greek Old Testament used the word to describe a payment made to release a hostage. It is always a person who is ransomed in the Old Testament (Ex. 21:30; 30:12; Nu 35:31-32; Prov. 6:35). When a payment is given the hostage is freed, or redeemed. The early church father Polycarp (who was martyred) uses luo writing... because your firmly rooted faith, renowned from the earliest times, still perseveres and bears fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who endured for our sins, facing even death, “whom God raised up, having loosed (luo) the pangs of Hades (Polycarp references Acts 2:24). (Holmes, M. W. The Apostolic Fathers : Greek texts and English translations. Page 207. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books) Josephus uses luo writing... (140) But some time afterward there came some persons to him, and brought an accusation against certain of the multitude, and of the priests and Levites, who had transgressed their settlement, and dissolved the laws of their country, by marrying strange wives, and had brought the family of the priests into confusion. (Ant 11.139-140) (cp uses in Mt 5:19, Jn 5:18) A Greek inscription reads "God brought the pangs of death to an end (luo)" Here are the 42 uses of luo in the NT... Matthew 5:19-note "Whoever then annuls (idea of making it void by "loosing" oneself from its requirements and standards - compare Jesus use of the stronger derivative kataluo = to abolish in Mt 5:17-note) one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (here luo may mean to declare as not a part of the individual anymore such as his sins, cp this use of luo in Re 1:5-note) Matthew 18:18 "Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 21:2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them, and bring them to Me. Mark 1:7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. Mark 7:35 And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. Mark 11:2 and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here...4 And they went away and found a colt tied at the door outside in the street; and they untied it. 5 And some of the bystanders were saying to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" Luke 3:16 John answered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Luke 13:15 But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead him away to water him? 16 "And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?" Luke 19:30 saying, "Go into the village opposite you, in which as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it, and bring it here. 31 "And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' thus shall you speak, 'The Lord has need of it.'"... 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" John 1:27 "It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." John 2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." John 5:18 For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. John 7:23 "If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? John 10:35 "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), John 11:44 He who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings; and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." Acts 2:24 "And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Acts 7:33 "But the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. Acts 13:25 "And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.' Acts 13:43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God. Acts 22:30 But on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them. Acts 27:41 But striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves. 1Co 7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. Eph 2:14-note For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 2Pe 3:10-note But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11-note Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,12-note looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 1John 3:8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Revelation 1:5-note and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, Revelation 5:2-note And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" Revelation 9:14-note one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they might kill a third of mankind. Revelation 20:3-note and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Revelation 20:7-note And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, Luo is used 32x in the Septuagint - Ge 42:27; Ex 3:5; Jos. 5:15; Job 5:20; 39:2, 5; 42:9; Ps. 102:20; 105:20; 146:7; Isa. 5:27; 14:17; 40:2; 58:6; Jer. 40:4; Dan. 3:25; 5:12. Here are some uses... Exodus 3:5 Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove (Luo = loose, untie) your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (cp similar use in Josh 5:15) Job 39:2 "Can you count the months they fulfill, Or do you know the time they give birth (luo = set free, released as from labor pains)? Psalm 105:20 The king sent and released (Heb = natar = undo, release, set free, Luo = release) him, The ruler of peoples, and set him free. Ps 146:7 Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. Isaiah 40:2 "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed (Heb = ratsah = to accept favorably, Luo = released), That she has received of the LORD's hand Double for all her sins." Isaiah 58:6 "Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen (Heb = pathach = to open; luo = loose) the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free, And break every yoke? "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_peter_310.htm#l

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