Greek word · G208

ἀκυρόω

akyroō

to nullify

To make something 'without authority' (a-, 'not', plus kuros, 'validity, force'). It means to invalidate, annul or cancel, mostly of legal instruments: contracts, wills, decrees, laws. It is the opposite of kuroō, 'to ratify, confirm'.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀκυρόω, -ῶ

(κῦρος, authority), [in LXX: 1Es.6:32 Esther 6:1-34, 2Ma.6:1-31 * ;]

to revoke, invalidate (MM, VGT, see word): Matthew 15:6, Mark 7:13, Galatians 3:17 (Plut.).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 15:6

Range of meaning

To make something 'without authority' (a-, 'not', plus kuros, 'validity, force'). It means to invalidate, annul or cancel, mostly of legal instruments: contracts, wills, decrees, laws. It is the opposite of kuroō, 'to ratify, confirm'.

Against the English

'Nullify' (BSB, NIV), 'make void' (ESV, WEB), 'make of none effect' (KJV), 'set aside' (YLT) and 'cancel' (NLT) all hold the core meaning. 'Set aside' is the weakest. It can sound like ignoring something for a while, but the Greek means the command has been made legally void in practice.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in documentary papyri for declaring a document or agreement invalid. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) see 1 Esdras 6:31 (anyone who 'annuls' the king's decree) and 4 Maccabees 2:1, 2:3, 5:25, 7:14 and 17:2, where reason or devotion 'annuls' the passions or the tyrant's power. In the NT it appears only here, in the parallel Mark 7:13, and in Gal 3:17, where the later Law 'does not annul' a covenant God had already ratified.

From the study of Galatians 3:17

Range of meaning

'To make invalid, void, annul.' Literally, to strip something of its legal force (a- 'not' + kuros 'validity, authority'). It was used of cancelling contracts, wills and decrees.

Against the English

'Annul' (WEB), 'revoke' (BSB) and 'disannul' (KJV) all capture it. NIV's 'set aside' is a little weaker and less legal.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in legal papyri. It occurs in later Septuagint books (e.g., 1 Esdras, 4 Maccabees) for setting aside a decree or law. In the Gospels Jesus uses it: 'you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition' (Matthew 15:6; Mark 7:13). Galatians 3:15 has the related verb athetei, 'sets aside'.

From the study of Mark 7:13

Range of meaning

From a-, 'not', and kyros, 'validity, legal force'. It means to make something invalid or void, to annul or cancel its authority. It is used chiefly of laws, decrees, wills, contracts and agreements. It is a legal word, not a word for casual neglect.

Against the English

'Nullify' (BSB), 'make void' (WEB), 'make of none effect' (KJV) and 'invalidate' all keep the legal force. 'Setting aside' (YLT) is softer and could suggest only ignoring the command, not cancelling its standing.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Greek business documents from Egypt (the papyri) it is a standard term for cancelling contracts and other legal documents (Moulton–Milligan). The Greek Old Testament uses it in 1 Esdras 6 of anyone who would annul a royal decree, and 4 Maccabees uses it more than once. In the NT it appears only here, in the parallel Matt 15:6, and in Gal 3:17, where Paul says the Law, coming 430 years later, does not 'annul' a covenant God had already ratified.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 15:6 ἠκυρώσατε you made void

    he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

    Here: A legal word for cancelling a document or ruling, so that it no longer has force. The past tense sums up the whole practice as one finished act: 'you have cancelled' God's command.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 7:13 ἀκυροῦντες making void

    Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”

    Here: A legal word: to strip a law, will or contract of its binding force. The present participle presents the annulling as ongoing, and it explains the result of verse 12. Their ruling does not just bend God's command. In practice it cancels it.

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 3:17 ἀκυροῖ does annul

    What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.

    Here: A legal term for declaring a document void. It is the direct opposite of the 'ratify' word (kuroō) used earlier in the verse. The present tense states a general legal principle: a later arrangement does not void the earlier ratified one.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.