Greek word · G853

ἀφανίζω

aphanizō

to destroy

Aphanizō is literally 'to make unseen' (a- 'not' + phan- 'appear'). It means to make something disappear, obliterate, destroy, ruin, or disfigure (used of rust and moth 'destroying' treasure in 6:19–20). Phainō means to shine, appear, be seen.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀφανίζω

(ἀφανής), [in LXX for שָׁמֵם ni., שָׁמַד hi., etc. ;]

1. to make unseen, hide from sight (Xen., a1.).

2. Later (MM, see word)

(a) to destroy: Matthew 6:19-20;

(b) to disfigure: Matthew 6:16. Pass., to vanish: James 4:14; to perish: Acts 13:41(LXX).†

(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 6:16

Range of meaning

Aphanizō is literally 'to make unseen' (a- 'not' + phan- 'appear'). It means to make something disappear, obliterate, destroy, ruin, or disfigure (used of rust and moth 'destroying' treasure in 6:19–20). Phainō means to shine, appear, be seen.

Against the English

'Disfigure' (KJV, BSB, NIV) captures the result but loses the wordplay. NASB's 'neglect their appearance' is closer to the actual practice but flattens the verb's force.

Used elsewhere in the period

Both words are common in Koine and the Septuagint. Fasting customs that would make a face 'unseen' are well documented: ashes and dust on the head (2 Sam 13:19; Esther 4:1–3; Dan 9:3), sackcloth, and abstaining from washing and anointing with oil (Mishnah Yoma 8:1 lists washing and anointing among things forbidden on the Day of Atonement; compare 2 Sam 12:20, where David washes and anoints himself when his fast ends).

From the study of James 4:14

Range of meaning

Literally "make unseen" (from ἀ- "not" + φαν- "show"). It means to cause to disappear, remove from sight, obliterate or destroy. In the passive it means to vanish or perish.

Against the English

"Vanishes" (BSB, NIV, ESV) and "vanisheth away" (KJV) are accurate. But they lose the sound-play with φαινομένη. Greek hearers heard phainomenē … aphanizomenē, "appearing … disappearing." "Appears … disappears" keeps it, and "vanishes" does not.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matt 6:19–20: moth and rust "destroy" (ἀφανίζει). Matt 6:16: hypocrites "disfigure" (ἀφανίζουσιν) their faces so that they may "appear" (φανῶσιν) to be fasting. That is the same play on the root. Acts 13:41: "perish." In the Septuagint it is frequent for destroying or wiping out peoples and places.

From the study of Matthew 6:19

Range of meaning

From a- ('not') + phainō ('to appear'): to make unseen or invisible. From there it means to remove from sight, to destroy, or to spoil the appearance of something (to disfigure). In the passive it means to vanish (Jas 4:14, life is a mist that 'vanishes').

Against the English

'Destroy' (BSB, ESV, NIV), 'corrupt' (KJV), 'consume' (WEB), 'disfigure' (YLT). Most versions keep the general sense. Only YLT keeps the link to 6:16.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint often uses it for wiping out or destroying (e.g. Deut 4:26 of a people). In Matthew it occurs only in 6:16 and 6:19–20.

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 6:16 ἀφανίζουσιν they disfigure

    When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

    Here: Literally 'they make (their faces) disappear': they leave them unwashed, smeared or covered with ash and dust, unkempt, unrecognisable. It sets up a pun with 'appear' later in the sentence.

  2. Matthew 6:19 ἀφανίζει destroy

    Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

    Here: Literally 'makes disappear'. The treasure is eaten until it is gone. The singular verb treats moth and eating as one process. The same verb in 6:16 describes hypocrites 'disfiguring' their faces.

  3. Matthew 6:20 ἀφανίζει destroy

    But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

    Here: Literally 'make unseen': the goods are spoiled until they are gone. The same verb is used in v.16 of hypocrites who 'disfigure' their faces to be seen fasting.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 13:41 ἀφανίσθητε, do perish

    ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”

    Here: Literally "be made to vanish" or "be wiped out." The passive form implies the ruin will come on them from outside. In Habakkuk it pictured a people overrun and blotted out.

James · 1

  1. James 4:14 ἀφανιζομένη· vanishing;

    You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

    Here: "Disappearing," or "being made to disappear." It is built on the same root as φαινομένη with a negating prefix: appearing, then un-appearing. The form can be read as passive, which hints that the vanishing is something that happens to you.

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