ἀφορ-ίζω G0873
Set apart, separate; mark off by boundaries; consecrate for divine service; exclude, ostracize
Built from apo ('away from') and horizo ('to define, set a boundary'), this verb carries the fundamental idea of drawing a line that divides. Jesus uses it for the eschatological separation of sheep from goats (Matt 25:32) and wheat from tares (Matt 13:49), while Paul claims it for his own apostolic calling: 'set apart for the gospel of God' (Rom 1:1; cf. Gal 1:15). Spanish 'apartar' and 'separar' faithfully preserve both the physical and theological dimensions. The darker side appears in Galatians 2:12, where Peter 'withdrew' from Gentile table fellowship, and in Luke 6:22, where Jesus warns that people will 'exclude' his followers. From sacred consecration to social ostracism, the word turns on who draws the boundary and why.
Senses
1. separate in eschatological judgment — To separate or sort people into groups at the eschatological judgment, with angels or the Son of Man as agent. In Matthew 25:32 the shepherd-king separates the nations as a shepherd divides sheep from goats, and in Matthew 13:49 the angels separate the wicked from among the righteous at the close of the age. Acts 19:9 extends this to Paul separating the disciples from the synagogue. Spanish 'separar' and French 'separer' capture this decisive, irreversible sorting. The future tense in Matthew underscores finality: once the boundary is drawn, there is no crossing back. 4×
AR["فَرَزَ", "يَفصِلُونَ", "يُفْرِزُ"]·ben["আলাদা-করবে", "তিনি-পৃথক-করলেন", "পৃথক-করবেন", "পৃথক-করে"]·DE["ἀφορίζει", "ἀφορίσει", "ἀφοριοῦσιν", "ἀφώρισεν"]·EN["he-separated", "he-will-separate", "separates", "will-separate"]·FR["séparer"]·heb["הִפְרִיד", "יַבְדִּיל", "יַבְדִּילוּ", "מַבְדִּיל"]·HI["अलग-करता-है", "अलग-करेगा", "अलग-करेनगे", "अलग-किया"]·ID["Dia-akan-memisahkan", "akan-memisahkan", "memisahkan"]·IT["aphoriousin", "aphorisei", "aphorizei", "separare"]·jav["badhé-misah", "badhé-misahaken", "misah", "misahaken"]·KO["구분하듯", "구분하리라", "그가-구별했다", "분리할-것이다"]·PT["separa", "separará", "separarão", "separou,"]·RU["отделил,", "отделит", "отделяет", "отделят"]·ES["separa", "separará", "separarán", "separó"]·SW["aliwatenga", "anawatenganisha", "atawatenganisha", "watawatenganisha"]·TR["ayıracak", "ayıracaklar", "ayırdı", "ayırır"]·urd["الگ-کرتا-ہے", "الگ-کریں-گے", "الگ-کرے-گا", "الگ-کیا"]
2. set apart for divine purpose — To set apart or consecrate someone for a sacred calling or divine mission, with God as the ultimate agent of selection. The Holy Spirit commands, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul' (Acts 13:2), Paul describes himself as 'set apart for the gospel' from birth (Rom 1:1; Gal 1:15, echoing Jeremiah 1:5). Spanish 'apartado' and German 'absondern' both convey the idea of being marked out from a larger group for a specific holy purpose. The passive voice in Romans and Galatians emphasizes divine initiative rather than human choice. 3×
AR["أَفرِزوا", "الَّذي-أفرَزَني", "مُفرَزٌ"]·ben["পৃথক-করা", "পৃথক-করেছিলেন", "পৃথক-করো"]·DE["absondern", "Ἀφορίσατε"]·EN["having-been-set-apart", "having-set-apart", "set-apart"]·FR["séparer"]·heb["הַ-מַּבְדִּיל", "הַפְרִישׁוּ", "מֻבְדָּל"]·HI["अलग-करो", "अलग-किया-हुआ", "जिस्ने-अलग-किय"]·ID["Pisahkanlah", "yang-dipisahkan", "yang-memisahkan"]·IT["aphorisas", "separare"]·jav["Pisahna", "kang-kapisahaken", "sampun-misahaken"]·KO["구별-된", "구별하라", "구별하신-분"]·PT["Separai", "que-me-separou", "separado"]·RU["Отделите", "отделивший", "отделённый"]·ES["Apartad", "apartado", "habiendo-apartado"]·SW["Nitengeni", "aliniteuwa", "aliyetengwa"]·TR["ayrılmış", "ayıran", "ayırın"]·urd["الگ-کرو", "الگ-کیا", "جو-الگ-کیا-گیا"]
3. separate socially or withdraw — To separate oneself socially, to withdraw from association with a group. Paul quotes Isaiah, 'Come out from among them and be separate' (2 Cor 6:17), urging believers to maintain holiness by distancing themselves from unclean partnerships. In Galatians 2:12, Peter 'was separating himself' from Gentile believers when men from James arrived, a social withdrawal driven by fear. Spanish 'apartarse' and German 'absondern' in the reflexive capture this self-imposed distancing, whether motivated by holiness or by social pressure. 2×
AR["انفَصِلوا", "يَعتَزِلُ"]·ben["পৃথক-করতেন", "পৃথক-হও,"]·DE["absondern"]·EN["be-separated", "separating"]·FR["séparer"]·heb["הִבְדִּיל", "הִבָּדְלוּ"]·HI["अलग-करत-थ", "अलग-रहो"]·ID["memisahkan", "pisahkanlah"]·IT["aphōrizen", "separare"]·jav["kapisah-a,", "piyambakipun-misahaken"]·KO["구별했노라", "분리되라"]·PT["apartai-vos", "separava"]·RU["отделитесь", "отделял"]·ES["apartaos", "se-apartaba"]·SW["alijitenga", "jitengeni,"]·TR["ayırıyordu", "diyor"]·urd["الگ-ہو", "علیحدہ-کرتا-تھا"]
4. exclude or ostracize — To exclude or ostracize from a community, functioning as a form of social punishment or persecution. In Luke 6:22 Jesus pronounces a blessing on those whom others 'exclude' and revile and cast out on account of the Son of Man. Spanish 'apartar' and the German rendering highlight the communal dimension: being formally expelled from synagogue fellowship or social circles. This sense carries the strongest negative connotation of the word, transforming boundary-setting into an instrument of rejection. 1×
AR["يُفرِزونَ"]·ben["আলাদা-করে"]·DE["ἀφορίσωσιν"]·EN["they-exclude"]·FR["séparer"]·heb["יַפְרִידוּ"]·HI["अलग-करें"]·ID["mereka-mengucilkan"]·IT["aphorisosin"]·jav["misahaken"]·KO["분리하면"]·RU["отлучат"]·ES["os-aparten"]·SW["watawatenga"]·TR["ayırsalar"]·urd["تمہیں"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G3956 1. all (collective plural) (616×)H3967 1. cardinal numeral hundred (550×)H1419a 1. great, large (general quality) (486×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)G1520 1. cardinal number one (339×)H6240 1. ten (cardinal number) (334×)H6242 1. twenty (cardinal number) (315×)H2568 1. cardinal number five (309×)H0702 1. four (cardinal number) (277×)G3956 2. every, each (distributive) (227×)H8337 1. six (cardinal number) (215×)G3956 3. all things, everything (substantive) (211×)G3956 4. (187×)H6235 1. ten (177×)G3173 1. great in size or extent (176×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀφορ-ίζω, mark off by boundaries, ἐξελόντας [τὸ ὄρος] τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἀφορίσανταςRefs 4th c.BC+; οὐσία ἀφωρισμένη property marked out by boundary-pillars, Refs 4th c.BC+:—middle, mark off for oneself, appropriate to oneself, χώραν ὅτι πλείστηνRefs 5th c.BC+: —passive, ἡ ὑπό τινος ἀφορισθεῖσα χώραRefs 5th c.BC+ __b border on, τοὺς ὅρους -ίζοντας τὸν ἈσωπόνRefs 5th c.BC+ __2 determine, define,…