Quick Definition
ἀφορμή, ῆς, ἡ n.f. an occasion, opportunity
Strong's Definition
from a compound of 575 and 3729; a starting-point, i.e. (figuratively) an opportunity
KJV Usage: occasion
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ῆς | ὁρμάω
22.46 · Trouble, Hardship, Relief, Favorable Circumstances · Favorable Circumstances or State
favorable circumstances, opportunity, occasion a set of circumstances favorable for a particular activity or endeavor In a number of languages it may be necessary to translate ἀφορμή opportunity in different ways depending upon the context. For example, in ROM 7:8 ἀφορμή may be rendered as ‘a good chance to ...’ In GAL 5:13 ἀφορμή may be rendered as ‘a good way for ...,’ and in 1TI 5:14 ἀφορμή may be rendered ‘as a good reason for ...’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀφορμή, -ῆς, ἡ, (ἀπό and ὁρμή q. v.); 1. prop. a place from which a movement or attack is made, a base of operations: Thue. 1, 90 (τὴν Πελοπόννησον πᾶσιν avaχώρησίν τε καὶ ἀφορμὴν ἱκανὴν εἶναι); Polyb. 1,41,6. 2. metaph. that by which endeavor is excited and from which it goes forth ; that which gives occasion and supplies matter for an undertaking, the incentive ; the resources we avail ourselves of in attempting or performing anything: Xen. mem. 3, 12, 4 (τοῖς ἑαυτῶν παισὶ καλλίους ἀφορμὰς eis τὸν βίον καταλείπουσι), and often in Grk. writ. ; λαμβάνειν, to take oceasion, find an incentive, Ro. vii. 8, 11 ; διδόναι, 2 Co. v. 12; 1 Tim. v. 14, (3 Mace. iii. 2; both phrases often also in Grk. writ.) ; 2 Co. xi. 12; Gal. v.13. On the meanings of this word see Viger. ed. Herm. p. 81 sq.; Phryn. ed. Lob. p. 223 sq.; (Rutherford, New Phryn. p. 304].
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀφορμή aphormē 7x
pr. a starting point; means to accomplish an object; occasion, opportunity, Rom. 7:8, 11
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἀφ-ορμή, -ῆς, ἡ,
[in LXX: Ez 5:7 (הָמַן), Pr 9:9, III Mac 3:2*;]
prop., a starting point; in war, a base of operations; metaph., an occasion, incentive, opportunity (MM, s.v.): II Co 11:12, Ga 5:13; ἀφ. λαμβάνειν, Lk 11:24, WH, mg., Ro 7:8, 11; ἀφ. διδόναι, II Co 5:12, I Ti 5:14.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀφορμή (τετάρτην) μερίδα ἀμπελῶ(νος) συνφύτου, the meaning seems to be that Sennesis *‘renounces” all claim to a piece of land she had sold to Petearsemtheus (but see the introduction to P Lips I. 1, and Wilcken in Archiv iv. p. 456). For a similar use of the middle cf. OGZS 7634 (ii/B.c.) πειράσομαι καὶ νῦν τῆς τοιαύτης προθέσεως μὴ ἀφίστασθαι, and 7717: 53° οὐθενὸς ἀποστήσεται τῶν ἀνηκόντων τῆι πόλει, αἰ For various uses of the intrans. active, cf. P Grenf II. γγ9 (ili/iv A.D.) ἀλόγως ἀπέστητε μὴ ἄραντες [τὸ σ]ῶμα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ὑμῶν, ‘you unfeelingly went off without taking your brother's body,”” but only (as appears later) his effects, P Lond 1209’ (8.0. 89) (= ΠΙ. p. 20) ὦτα ἀφεστηκότα, “Sears standing out (from the head), P Giss I. 9% τοῦ ἀνδρός μου... ἀποστάντ[ο]ς εἰς ᾿Οᾶσιν ἐνπορίας χάριν, BGU I. 159% (A.D. 216) ἀπέστ[η]ν τῆς κώμης, ΟΟ15 6542 (/B.c.) τὴν Θηβαΐδα [a]rooracay . . . νικήσας, BGU IIT. 920% (A.D, 180) οὐκ ἐξόντος μοι ἀποστῆναι τῆς μισ[θ]ώσεως (cf. τ Tim 41), P Rein γ18 (B.c. 141?) ἐμπλεκείς τέ μοι οὐκ [ἀ]πέστηι εἰ μὴ ἠνάγκασε KTA., ‘only left me after he had forced me to sign,” etc. This last use, with which may be compared Lk 1337, etc., is seen in an incantation of the great Paris magical papyrus, 57424 (iii/a.p.) (= Selections, p. 114) ἔξελθε δαῖμον, . . καὶ ἀπόστηθι ἀπὸ τοῦ δῖ(να), ἄρτι ἄρτι ἤδη.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἀφορμή (aphormē) — opportunity. ἀφορμ-ή, ἡ, starting-point, especially in war, base of operations, ἀναχώρησίς τε καὶ ἀ.[Refs 5th c.BC+]; place of safety, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. generally, starting-point, origin, occasion or pretext, ἀφορμαὶ λόγων[NT+5th c.BC+]; ἵνα ἀ. γένοιτο τιμῆς[Refs 1st c.BC+]; ἀ. καὶ πρόφασις[Refs 2nd c.BC+]; occasion, origin of an illness, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰδέ τις οἴεται μικρὰν ἀ. εἶναι σιτηρέσιον τοῖς στρατευομένοις ὑπάρχειν a small inducement, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; instigation, incitement, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
3. means with which one begins a thing, resources, ἀ. τοῦ βίου[Refs 5th c.BC+]; πίστις ἀ. μεγίστη πρὸς χρηματισμόν good faith is the best asset for business, [Refs]; ἀ. ἐπί.. [Refs]; especially means of war, [Refs 5th c.BC+]means for levying [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. ἔργων means for undertaking.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]
4. capital of a banker, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀφορμῆς δίκη suit for restitution of capital, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
5. Rhet., food for argument, material, subject, ὑποθέσεις καὶ ἀφορμαὶ λόγων[Refs 2nd c.AD+]
6. aptitude, inclination, εἰς φιλανθρωπίαν[Refs 1st c.BC+]
II. Stoic term for repulsion (opposed to ὁρμή), [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
III. release of water from sluice, [Refs 4th c.AD+]