Greek word · G4724

στέλλω

stellō

to avoid

In the active voice the basic sense is 'to set in order, get ready, equip, dispatch', for example getting a ship or an expedition ready. In the middle voice it develops two lines of meaning: (1) 'to get oneself ready, make arrangements'; (2) 'to draw back, keep oneself away from, avoid'.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

στέλλω

[in LXX (mid.): Malachi 2:5 (חָתַת ni.), Proverbs 31:24 (26), Wisdom of Solomon 7:14 14:1, 2Ma.5:1, 3Ma.1:19 3Mac 4:11 * ;]

1. prop., to set, place, arrange, fit out; hence, mid., to set oneself for, prepare (Wis, xi Mac, ll. with).

2. to bring together, gather up (in Hom. of furling sails), hence to restrain, check; mid., to restrain or withdraw oneself, hold aloof, avoid: 2 Corinthians 8:20; before ἀπό, 2 Thessalonians 3:6

(cf. ἀπο-, ἐξ-απο-, συν-απο-, δια-, ἐπι-, κατα-, συ(ν)-, ὑπο-στέλλω).†

(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 2 Corinthians 8:20

Range of meaning

In the active voice the basic sense is 'to set in order, get ready, equip, dispatch', for example getting a ship or an expedition ready. In the middle voice it develops two lines of meaning: (1) 'to get oneself ready, make arrangements'; (2) 'to draw back, keep oneself away from, avoid'. A well-known nautical use is στέλλειν τὰ ἱστία, 'to take in (furl) the sails'. Some think that idea of pulling in or drawing back lies behind the 'shrink from, avoid' sense.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have 'avoiding'. The BSB and NIV say 'we want to avoid'. The NASB says 'taking precaution'. The ESV says 'we take this course', which leans toward the 'make arrangements' sense. The NLT turns the word into an action, 'traveling together to guard against'.

Used elsewhere in the period

The only other New Testament use is 2 Thess 3:6, where the middle voice means 'keep away from' a disorderly brother. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), Wisdom of Solomon 14:1 uses the middle for someone 'preparing for' a voyage, and Malachi 2:5 uses it for shrinking back in awe before God's name. The nautical idiom of furling sails is standard in classical Greek.

From the study of 2 Thessalonians 3:6

Range of meaning

The active verb stellō means to arrange, equip or send off. In the middle form it means to draw yourself in or back: to shrink from, keep clear of, avoid. Homer uses the verb for furling sails, which gives the image of pulling in.

Against the English

KJV and WEB 'withdraw yourselves' and BSB, ESV and NIV 'keep away from' are all accurate. 'Withdraw' can sound like leaving a church or formally removing someone, which the word does not say.

How it drifted

In church use, 'withdraw fellowship' became a technical term for formal exclusion. Readers can then hear that procedure in a verb that only means keeping your distance.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses it once more, at 2 Cor 8:20: 'taking care to avoid' blame over the collection. In the Greek Old Testament, Malachi 2:5 uses it of the priest who 'shrinks back in awe before my name'. Paul uses the related hypostellō for Peter 'drawing back' from table fellowship with Gentiles (Gal 2:12).

Where it appears

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:20 στελλόμενοι avoiding

    We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.

    Here: A present participle in the middle voice, so 'keeping ourselves clear of' or 'guarding against'. It is plural ('we') and hangs back on 'we are sending' in v. 18, so it explains why Paul is sending companions along with the money. The present tense shows an ongoing policy, not a single act.

2 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 στέλλεσθαι are to withdraw

    Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.

    Here: 'To keep yourselves at a distance.' The middle form means pulling yourself back or holding yourself aloof. The present tense describes an ongoing stance rather than a single act of expulsion.

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