ὑποστολή G5289
Shrinking back, timidity, withdrawal; cowardly retreat from commitment, especially in faith
This noun describes the act of drawing back, shrinking away, or withdrawing—especially from danger or commitment. In Hebrews 10:39, the author contrasts two responses to persecution: 'shrinking back' leading to destruction versus faith that preserves the soul. To shrink back is to abandon one's confession under pressure, to retreat from costly discipleship. The term carries connotations of cowardice and timidity. Translations use 'shrinking back,' 'withdrawal,' or 'timidity.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — In Heb 10:39, after warning about apostasy, the author declares, 'We are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.' The noun denotes cowardly withdrawal (Spanish 'de retroceso,' of retreat; French 'reculer,' to retreat; German 'Zurückweichen,' shrinking back) from Christian confession under persecution. The context contrasts faithless retreat leading to ruin with persevering faith leading to salvation. Shrinking back means abandoning one's profession, betraying Christ to avoid suffering. 1×
AR["ارْتِدَاد"]·ben["পিছু-হটার"]·DE["Zurueckweichen"]·EN["of-shrinking-back"]·FR["reculer"]·heb["נְסִיגָה"]·HI["पीछे-हटने"]·ID["dari-kemunduran"]·IT["upostolēs"]·jav["mundur"]·KO["물러남의"]·PT["de-retrocesso"]·RU["отступления"]·ES["de-retroceso"]·SW["kujiondoa-nyuma"]·TR["geri-çekilmenin"]·urd["پیچھے-ہٹنے-والے"]
Related Senses
G4102 1. faith, trust, belief (239×)G4100 1. believe / have faith in (233×)H0982 1. trust in, rely on (105×)H3988a 1. reject, refuse (56×)G4103 1. faithful, trustworthy, reliable (54×)H0530 1. faithfulness, fidelity, reliability (47×)H0539 1. believe, accept as true (42×)H3985 1. refuse, be unwilling (41×)H0539 2. faithful, trustworthy, sure (39×)H8582 1. lead astray, cause to err (22×)H2623 1. faithful ones / saints (community) (21×)G0571 1. unbelieving, unbeliever (20×)G3982 1. be persuaded or convinced (19×)H8582 2. go astray, err morally (19×)G4105 1. to deceive, lead astray (18×)G3982 2. trust or have confidence in (17×)H2186a 1. reject, spurn (Qal) (16×)H3988a 2. despise, scorn (14×)G3982 3. persuade or convince someone (13×)G4103 2. believing, a believer (13×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὑποστολή, ἡ, fasting, Refs 1st c.AD+ __2 omission of a letter, τοῦ ῑ Refs 2nd c.AD+: generally, removal, Refs __II shrinking, timidity, evasion, NT+5th c.AD+holding back, Refs 1st c.BC+; μετά τινος ὑ. with a certain reserve, Refs 5th c.BC+ __III concealment, dissimulation, Refs 1st c.AD+