Word studies · Greek · Strong's G859
ἄφεσις · áphesis · appears 17 times in the New Testament
In one line: Full pardon — sin's debt released and no longer held against you.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
Ephesians 1:7
Forgiveness is release and pardon — the sending away of sin's guilt and its claim against a person.
Aphesis pictures a debt or offense being released or dismissed entirely, no longer held against the offender. Applied to sin, it describes God's gracious pardon secured through Christ's atoning death, and the freedom that follows for those who receive it.
Aphesis comes from aphiēmi, “to send away” or “let go,” a verb used broadly in Greek for releasing a debtor or dismissing a crowd. The New Testament narrows this everyday word for “release” into its most significant use: the release of sin's debt.
The underlying picture of “sending away” is vivid and legal — like a debt canceled rather than merely overlooked — which is why forgiveness in Scripture is tied so closely to redemption “through his blood,” a real transaction that clears the record rather than pretending it never happened.
Aphesis (G859) is also the word used in Luke 4:18 for setting captives “free” when Jesus reads from Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue.
Forgiveness of sins through Christ's death is a central New Testament promise — “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” — and becomes the pattern believers are called to extend to others.
Having received full forgiveness, practice extending it to those who've wronged you rather than keeping an account of debts. Identify one grudge you're holding, and take a concrete step toward releasing it this week.
freedom; (figuratively) pardon
This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 1:4to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
Luke 1:77Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:14Press and hold forgiveness in any chapter and this study opens on the verse you are reading, with the lexicons, every occurrence and the commentaries beside it. The Bible is free to read.
Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Strong's definitions are public domain. Counts come from The Pillar's own tagged text.