ἀπολλύω
apolluō
to destroy
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ἀπολλύω (apolluō) is a verb that means "to destroy." It is used 94 times in the Bible, detainees its significance in various contexts. The word conveys a sense of complete annihilation or loss, often implying a permanent and irreversible outcome. In its range of usage, ἀπολλύω is applied to physical destruction, such as the destruction of cities or buildings (e.g., Matthew 24:2, Luke 19:44), as well as spiritual destruction, like the loss of one's soul (e.g., Matthew 10:28, Mark 8:35). It is also used in a more figurative sense, describing the ruin of relationships or the breakdown of social structures (e.g., Matthew 5:22, 1 Corinthians 3:17). The frequency and versatility of ἀπολλύω in the Bible underscore its importance in conveying the consequences of human actions and the power of divine judgment. Its repeated use serves as a reminder of the gravity of sin and the importance of making choices that lead to life, rather than destruction.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
94 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
Matthew 5:29If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
Matthew 5:30If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
Matthew 8:25They came to him, and woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We are dying!”
Matthew 9:17Neither do people put new wine into old wine skins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 10:6Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Matthew 10:39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:42Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward.”
Matthew 12:14But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.
Matthew 15:24But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 16:25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 18:11For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.
Matthew 18:14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 21:41They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season.”
Matthew 22:7When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Matthew 26:52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.
Matthew 27:20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Mark 1:24saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!”
Mark 2:22No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins.”
Mark 2:22No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins.”
Mark 3:6The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Mark 4:38He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”
Mark 8:35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.
Mark 8:35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.
Mark 9:22Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.”
Mark 9:41For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
Mark 11:18The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
Mark 12:9What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.
Luke 4:34saying, “Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
Luke 5:37No one puts new wine into old wine skins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.
Luke 6:9Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?”
Luke 8:24They came to him, and awoke him, saying, “Master, master, we are dying!” He awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and it was calm.
Luke 9:24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, will save it.
Luke 9:24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, will save it.
Luke 9:25For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?
Luke 9:56For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” They went to another village.
Luke 11:51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.
Luke 13:3I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.
Luke 13:5I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”
Luke 13:33Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.’
Luke 15:4“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
Luke 15:4“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
Luke 15:6When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
Luke 15:8Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?
Luke 15:9When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.’
Luke 15:17But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!
Luke 15:24for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.