αφίημι: Active, Middle, and Passive
Posted: June 21st, 2011, 9:26 pm
I've been looking at the word ἀφίημι. This is one of the more rubbery words in the NT. BDAG for most verbs lists and active and passive. Many times they give a middle form meaning section. For this verb, I do not see any middle given in BDAG. The middle is also scarce in LSJ, perhaps about 5% of the entire entry:
So what I'm wondering about is the semantics of ἁφίημι. Is this a verb which has a middle force in the active forms? BDAG lists a middle imperative. But that's about all.ⓑ fig. of impers. obj. give up, abandon (Aeschyl., Prom. 317 ὀργάς; Arrian, Anab. 1, 10, 6; Jos., Ant. 9, 264 ἀ. τ. ἄρτι βίον) τὴν πρώτην ἀγάπην Rv 2:4; τ. φυσικὴν χρῆσιν Ro 1:27; leave (behind) to go on to someth. else (in orators; Plut., Mor. 793a; Epict. 4, 1, 15 al.) τὸν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ Χρ. λόγον Hb 6:1; neglect (Diod S 1, 39, 11; POxy 1067, 5) also omit (Diod S 8, 12, 11) τὰ βαρύτερα τοῦ νόμου what is more important in the law Mt 23:23; τὴν ἐντολήν Mk 7:8 (Hyperid. 5, 22 νόμον).