ἀπειλ-ή G0547
threat, threatening; menacing words or actions intended to intimidate
This noun signifies threats or menacing declarations. Acts records the early church praying in the face of opponents' 'threats' (4:29). Saul is described as 'breathing threats and murder' against disciples before his conversion (9:1). Paul instructs masters to give up 'threatening' toward slaves, knowing they share the same Master in heaven (Eph 6:9). The plural form often appears, suggesting repeated or multiple threatening words. The context always involves hostile intent to intimidate or harm.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Denotes menacing words meant to intimidate or harm. Acts 4:29 records believers praying amid opponents' 'threats' (ἀπειλῶν). Acts 9:1 vividly describes Saul 'breathing threat' (ἀπειλῆς) and murder—an expression showing his hostility saturated his very breath. Ephesians 6:9 commands masters to abandon 'threatening' (ἀπειλῆς) because God shows no partiality. The German and French forms, along with Spanish 'amenazas,' consistently render this as hostile threatening language designed to create fear. 3×
AR["التَّهديدَ", "تَهْدِيدًا", "تَهْدِيدَاتِهِمْ"]·ben["ভয়-কে", "হুমকি", "হুমকির"]·DE["ἀπειλήν", "ἀπειλὰς", "ἀπειλῆς"]·EN["threat", "threatening", "threats"]·FR["menace", "ἀπειλήν"]·heb["אִיּוּם", "אִיּוּם,", "אִיּוּמִים"]·HI["धमकि", "धमकी", "सेवकों-को"]·ID["ancaman", "ancaman,"]·IT["apeilēn", "minaccia"]·jav["ancaman", "ancaman,"]·KO["위협-과", "위협-을", "위협들-을"]·PT["ameaça,", "ameaças"]·RU["угрозой", "угрозы", "угрозы,"]·ES["amenaza", "amenazas"]·SW["vitisho"]·TR["bilerek", "tehdit", "tehditlerine"]·urd["دھمکی", "دھمکیوں"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀπειλ-ή, ἡ, mostly in plural, boastful promises, boasts, ποῦ τοι ἀπειλαὶ ἃς.. ὑπίσχεο οἰνοποτάζων;Refs 8th c.BC+ __II commonly in plural, threats, ποῦ τοι ἀπειλαὶ οἴχονται τὰς Τρωσὶν ἀπείλεον υἷες Ἀχαιῶ;Refs 8th c.BC+ __II.2 of threatening conditions, ἀ. πνιγμοῦRefs 3rd c.AD+; τὰ ἐν ἀπειλῇ ἀποστήματα Heras cited in Refs 2nd c.AD+; of storms, Refs 1st c.AD+