ἀπολογ-έομαι G0626
Make a defense, speak in self-defense — to offer a verbal defense against accusations, especially in legal settings
The verb ἀπολογέομαι (apologeomai) means 'to make a defense' or 'to speak in one's own defense,' typically in a judicial or quasi-judicial context. Jesus instructs his disciples not to worry about how they will defend themselves before authorities (Luke 12:11; 21:14). The term dominates Paul's trial narratives: he defends himself before Felix (Acts 24:10), Festus (Acts 25:8; 26:1-2, 24), and implicitly before the Roman tribunal (2 Tim 4:16). Romans 2:15 extends the imagery to the inner moral dialogue where thoughts 'accuse or defend.' Spanish 'defenderse,' Arabic 'يَحْتَجُّ/يُدَافِعُ,' Hindi 'प्रत्युत्तर देना,' Korean '변명하다.'
Senses
1. make a defense, defend oneself — To offer a verbal defense or apology against accusations, primarily in forensic settings before magistrates, governors, or tribunals. Jesus prepares his disciples for this scenario (Luke 12:11; 21:14). Paul's apologetic speeches in Acts exemplify the term: before the Jerusalem crowd (Acts 22:1, implied), Felix (Acts 24:10), and Festus and Agrippa (Acts 25:8; 26:1-2, 24). Paul also laments that no one stood with him at his first defense (2 Tim 4:16). Romans 2:15 internalizes the courtroom metaphor, describing conscience as either accusing or defending. The cognate noun ἀπολογία shares the same forensic register. 10×
AR["أَدْفَعُ", "أَنْ-أُدَافِعَ", "أَنْ-يَحْتَجَّ", "المُدافِعَةِ", "تَحتَجّوا", "تَحْتَجُّونَ", "دَافَعَ", "لَمَّا-دَافَعَ", "مُدَافِعًا", "نَحْتَجُّ"]·ben["আত্মপক্ষ-সমর্থন-করতে", "আত্মপক্ষ-সমর্থনকারী,", "কৈফিয়ত-দিতে", "কৈফিয়ত-দিতেছি", "কৈফিয়ত-দিতেছিল", "জবাব-দিতে", "জবাব-দেবে", "ব্যাখ্যা-করছি"]·DE["sich-verteidigen", "verteidigt-sich"]·EN["I-defend", "defending", "defending-himself", "to-make-a-defense", "was-making-a-defense", "we-are-defending-ourselves", "you-should-defend-yourselves"]·FR["défense", "se-défendre"]·heb["הִתְנַצֵּל", "לְהִצְטַדֵּק", "לְהִתְאַמֵּץ", "לְהֵגֵן", "מְגִנִּים", "מִתְנַצְּלִים", "מֵגֵן", "תֵּעָנוּ"]·HI["प्रतिवादकरताहूँ।", "प्रतिवादकरतेहुए", "प्रतिवादकरने।", "प्रतिवादकिया:", "बचाव-करते", "बचाव-करना", "बचाव-करो", "हम-सफ़ाई-देते-हैं"]·ID["kami-membela-diri", "kamu-akan-membela-diri", "membela", "membela,", "membela-diri", "membela.", "membela:", "pembelaan"]·IT["difendersi", "difesa"]·jav["kita-bela-dhiri", "kula-mbela-diri.", "mbela", "mbéla,", "mbélani-dhiri", "mbélani-dhiri,", "mbélani-dhiri.", "mbélani-dhiri:", "panjenengan-badhé-mangsuli", "supados-mbela-dhiri;"]·KO["변론할지", "변명하기를", "변명한다고", "변호하기를", "변호하는", "변호하니", "변호하였다", "변호합니다"]·PT["defendendo", "defendendo-se", "defendendo-se,", "defender-me.", "defender-vos", "defendia-se:", "fazer-defesa", "nos-defendemos"]·RU["защищаемся", "защищался", "защищаться", "защищаюсь", "защищающегося", "защищающемуся", "защищающих", "отвечать"]·ES["de-defenderme", "defenderse", "defendiendo", "defendiéndose", "me-defiendo", "nos-defendemos", "os-defendáis", "se-defendía"]·SW["akijibu", "alijitetea", "alipokuwa-akijitetea", "kujibu", "kujitetea", "mtakavyojibu", "ninajibu", "tunajitetea?", "yakitetea"]·TR["savunacaksınız", "savunan,", "savunma-yapmak", "savunmak", "savunmayı", "savunurken", "savunuyordu", "savunuyorum", "savunuyoruz"]·urd["جواب-دو", "جواب-دینے-کو", "دفاع-کرتے-ہوئے", "دفاع-کرنا", "دفاع-کرنے-لگا", "صفائی-دیتے-ہوئے", "صفائی-دیتے-ہیں", "صفائی-دینا", "میں-صفائی-دیتا-ہوں"]
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
ἀπολογ-έομαι, aorist ἀπελογησάμηνRefs 5th c.BC+; also aorist passive ἀπελογήθηνRefs 5th c.BC+: perfect ἀπολελόγημαιRefs 5th c.BC+:—speak in defence, defend oneself, opposed to κατηγορεῖν, περί τινος about a thing, Refs 5th c.BC+; πρὸς τὴν μαρτυρίαν in reference or answer to the evidence, Refs 5th c.BC+before.., Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀ. ὑπέρ τινος speak in another's behalf, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀ. ὑπέρ τινος…