αἴρω

From the study of John 15:2

Range of meaning

Its basic meaning is 'to lift, raise'. From there it spreads to 'take up and carry', and very often to 'take away, remove, do away with' (BDAG sense 3). Context decides which sense is meant: lifting a stone, carrying a mat, taking someone away, killing someone ('Away with him!').

Against the English

KJV, WEB, ESV and NASB say 'takes away'. BSB, NIV and NLT say 'cuts off'. 'Takes away' keeps the Greek's open wording. 'Cuts off' adds the vinedresser's knife, which the verb does not say outright but which the image implies.

How it drifted

The English is not the problem here. The drift comes from a popular reading that goes back to the verb's root sense ('lift up') and takes the verse to mean the Father raises drooping branches off the ground so they can recover. See popular_drift.

Used elsewhere in the period

John uses αἴρω repeatedly for removal: 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world' (1:29); 'Take away the stone' (11:39); the Romans 'will take away our place and nation' (11:48); 'not that you take them out of the world' (17:15); 'Away with him!' (19:15); the bodies 'taken away' (19:31, 38); 'they have taken the Lord out of the tomb' (20:2, 13, 15). In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) and in ordinary Greek it can mean either lifting or removing.

From the study of John 1:29

Range of meaning

To lift up or raise; to carry or bear; to take away or remove; sometimes to destroy (to do away with). In BDAG the sense 'take away, remove' is the natural one when the object is sin.

Against the English

'Takes away' is accurate. It loses the physical picture of lifting a load and carrying it off. The KJV and modern 'takes away' (simple present) can sound like a general truth. YLT's 'is taking away' better reflects the ongoing, defining action of the participle.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX, airō translates Hebrew nasa' ('lift, carry, forgive') in requests for forgiveness: 1 Samuel 15:25, 'take away (aron) my sin'; 1 Samuel 25:28, 'take away the transgression'. The Day of Atonement goat 'carries' Israel's iniquities away into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:22, using a different Greek verb). Isaiah 53 says the servant 'bears' sins (Greek pherō, anapherō). 1 John 3:5 uses airō in the same way: 'he was revealed to take away (arē) sins.'

From the study of John 2:16

Range of meaning

Lift up, pick up, carry. Take away, remove, do away with.

Against the English

KJV 'take… hence', ESV 'take… away', BSB/NLT/WEB 'get… out', NIV 'get… out of here'. All are fine. 'Get these out' is more forceful, 'take these away' more literal.

Used elsewhere in the period

It is common in the Gospels for carrying (a bed, a cross) and for removing. John uses it at 1:29 ('who takes away the sin of the world') and 11:48 ('the Romans will come and take away our place').