apoluō (to release)

Meaning

Usually translated “release”, “may release” and “send away”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated

to release 6
i may release 5
to send away 4
do dismiss 4
released 3
to divorce 3
he released 3
may divorce 2

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most

Matthew 18
Acts 15
Luke 14
Mark 12
John 3
Hebrews 1

6 books in all.

Related words

Explore in Scripture

Matthew 5:31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
Matthew 5:32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Matthew 14:15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
Matthew 14:22And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
Matthew 14:23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
Matthew 15:23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

All 63 verses, by book

Matthew 18: 1:19 5:31 5:32 14:15 14:22 14:23 15:23 15:32 15:39 18:27 19:3 19:7 19:8 19:9 27:15 27:17 27:21 27:26
Mark 12: 6:36 6:45 8:3 8:9 10:2 10:4 10:11 10:12 15:6 15:9 15:11 15:15
Luke 14: 2:29 6:37 8:38 9:12 13:12 14:4 16:18 22:68 23:16 23:17 23:18 23:20 23:22 23:25
John 3: 18:39 19:10 19:12
Acts 15: 3:13 4:21 4:23 5:40 13:3 15:30 15:33 16:35 16:36 17:9 19:41 23:22 26:32 28:18 28:25
Hebrews 1: 13:23

Greek dictionary

ἀπολύω apoluō · to release

ἀπο-λύω [in LXX for שׁוּב, etc., frequently in 1-4 Mac ;] 1. to set free, release: Luk.13:12, Jhn.19:10, al.; a debtor, Mat.18:27; metaphorically, of forgiveness, Luk.6:37. 2. to let go, dismiss (Field, Notes, 9 f.): Mat.15:23, Luk.2:29 9:12, Act.19:41, al.; of divorce, τ. γυναῖκα: Mat.1:19 5:31-32 19:3, 8 19:10 Mrk.10:2, 4 10:11, Luk.16:18; with ref. to Gk. and Rom. (net Jewish) custom, τ. ἄνδρα: Mrk.10:12. Mid., to depart: Act.28:25 (MM, see word) (AS)

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “release” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

RELE'ASE, verb transitive

To set free from restraint of any kind, either physical or moral; to liberate from prison, confinement or servitude.
To free from pain, care, trouble, grief, etc.
To free from obligation or penalty; as, to release one from debt, from a promise or covenant.
To quit; to let go, as a legal claim; as, to release a debt or forfeiture. Deuteronomy 15:1

All definitions and other forms of “release”

To discharge or relinquish a right to lands or tenements, by conveying it to another that has some right or estate in possession, as when the person in remainder releases his right to the tenant in possession; when one co-parcener releases his right to the other; or the mortgagee releases his claim to the mortgager.
To relax. [Not in use.]

RELE'ASE, noun

Liberation or discharge from restraint of any kind, as from confinement or bondage.
Liberation from care, pain or any burden.
Discharge from obligation or responsibility, as from debt, penalty or claim of any kind; acquittance.
In law, a release or deed of release is a conveyance of a man's right in lands or tenements to another who has some estate in possession; a quitclaim.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.