Greek word · G547

ἀπειλή

apeilē

threat

A threat; menacing language that warns of harm in order to force someone to comply.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 21, 2026

What it means

ἀπειλή, -ῆ, ἡ

[in LXX for גְּעָרָה, etc. ;]

threatening, threat: Acts 4:29 9:1, Ephesians 6:9.†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: A threat; menacing language that warns of harm in order to force someone to comply.
Against the English: 'Threatening' is accurate. What modern readers miss is what an owner's threat actually involved: flogging, chains, being sold away from spouse and children, being sent to the mill or the mines, or worse.
Used elsewhere in the period: Acts 4:29 (the apostles pray about the council's threats), Acts 9:1 (Saul 'breathing threats and murder'). Ancient writers on running estates assume fear is a basic tool. Seneca (Epistle 47) is one Roman exception, advising masters to be respected rather than feared.

Range of meaning: A threat or menace, usually spoken: a statement that harm will follow unless someone complies. It can also mean boasting or blustering talk. In the plural it means 'threats' generally.
Against the English: English 'threats' is accurate. Brenton and WEB keep the plural 'with threats'. The Greek singular works like an adverb ('threateningly'). The difference is small.
Used elsewhere in the period: Common in classical and Hellenistic Greek, from Homer on. In the Septuagint it renders words for rebuke and anger (e.g. Prov 13:8; 19:12). The New Testament uses it for the authorities threatening the apostles (Acts 4:29) and for Saul 'breathing threats and murder' (Acts 9:1). That is the same picture of official power trying to intimidate the faithful.

Range of meaning: Threat, menace: a stated intention to harm someone if they do not comply.
Against the English: 'Threats' (most versions) or 'threatenings' (KJV, YLT). Accurate.
Used elsewhere in the period: Acts 4:17 and 21 use the related verb for the council's warning to Peter and John. Acts 9:1 has Saul 'breathing threats and murder'. Ephesians 6:9 tells masters to give up 'threatening'.

Acts · 2

Acts 4:29 ἀπειλὰς threats

And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,

Here: The warnings of punishment the Jerusalem council gave Peter and John when it ordered them not to speak in Jesus' name (4:17, 21).
Acts 9:1 ἀπειλῆς threats

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest

Here: Menacing, intimidating speech. The same word appears in 4:29, where the Jerusalem believers pray, 'Lord, look on their threats.' Saul now carries on that intimidation.

Ephesians · 1

Ephesians 6:9 ἀπειλήν, threatening,

And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

Here: Intimidation backed by power to harm. Coming from an owner, this meant beating, chains, sale, or separation from family.

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