ἀποτομ-ία G0663
severity, sternness, harshness in treatment
A noun denoting severity or harshness. Paul uses it twice in Romans 11:22 in a chiastic structure contrasting God's kindness and severity - severity toward those who fell, kindness toward those who continue in his kindness. The term carries connotations of cutting decisiveness, derived from the root for sharp cutting. Classical usage included harsh treatment, strict laws, or even torture. Paul's usage emphasizes God's uncompromising judgment alongside his mercy.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Appears exclusively in Romans 11:22 where Paul contrasts divine kindness (χρηστότης) with divine severity. The context involves God cutting off unfaithful Israel from the olive tree - making the severity both metaphorical (judgment) and connected to literal cutting. The domain assignment to Plants/Agriculture is puzzling but may reflect the horticultural metaphor of the chapter (pruning branches). All four language witnesses use severity/sternness vocabulary, confirming the judicial rather than agricultural core meaning. 2×
AR["صَرَامَةٌ", "صَرَامَةَ"]·ben["কঠোরতা", "কঠোরতা;"]·DE["Strenge"]·EN["severity"]·FR["sévérité"]·heb["חֻמְרַת", "חֻמְרָה"]·HI["कठोरता"]·ID["kekerasan"]·IT["severita"]·jav["katatos", "katatos;"]·KO["엄함을", "엄함이요"]·PT["severidade", "severidade;"]·RU["-суровость", "-тебя"]·ES["severidad"]·SW["ukali", "ukali;"]·TR["sertlik", "sertliği"]·urd["سختی"]
Related Senses
H3754 1. vineyard, cultivated grape plot (92×)H0730 1. cedar tree or wood (73×)H1612 1. vine, grapevine (55×)H3293a 1. forest, wood, thicket (55×)H5560 1. fine flour (53×)H5193 1. plant vegetation (48×)H2232 1. sow seed, plant crops (41×)H1715 1. grain, cereal crop (40×)H7114b 1. reap, harvest grain (36×)H2132 1. olive tree (34×)H8184 1. barley (34×)H2406 1. wheat (grain crop) (30×)H7070 1. reed, cane (plant) (30×)H7848 1. acacia (28×)H8328 1. root of a plant (28×)H8384 1. fig tree (25×)H5488 1. reeds, rushes (in 'Sea of Reeds') (24×)G0290 1. a vineyard (23×)G2325 1. reap, harvest a crop (21×)G4687 1. sow seed, plant (21×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀποτομ-ία, ἡ, severity, νόμωνRefs 1st c.BC+; ἐπιτιμημάτωνRefs 4th c.BC+; of tortures, Refs 1st c.AD+ __II cutting off, Refs 1st c.AD+ __III sheer madness, Refs 3rd c.AD+