Original Word: ἅπτω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: haptó
Pronunciation: HAP-to
Phonetic Spelling: (hap'-to)
Definition: To touch, to take hold of, to fasten
Meaning: I kindle, light.

Word Origin: A primary verb

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with the concept of touching is נָגַע (naga, Strong's H5060), which also means to touch, reach, or strike.

Usage: The Greek verb "haptó" primarily means to touch or to take hold of something. In the New Testament, it is often used in contexts where physical contact is made, either literally or metaphorically. It can imply a gentle touch, a grasp, or even a more significant connection, such as lighting a lamp (as in kindling a fire).

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Greco-Roman world, touch was a significant aspect of daily life and religious practice. Touching could convey a range of meanings from healing, blessing, and imparting power, to defilement and contamination. In Jewish culture, touching certain things or people could render one ceremonially unclean, which is reflected in some New Testament narratives.

Word Origin
from a prim. root haph-
Definition
to fasten to, lay hold of
NASB Translation
clinging (1), handle (1), kindled (1), light (1), lighting (2), touch (13), touched (19), touching (1).

STRONGS NT 681: ἅπτω

ἅπτω; 1 aorist participle ἅψας; (cf. Latinapto, German heften); (from Homer down);

1. properly, to fasten to, make adhere to; hence, specifically to fasten fire to a thing, to kindle, set on fire, (often so in Attic): λύχνον, Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33; Luke 15:8 (Aristophanes nub. 57; Theophrastus, char. 20 (18); Josephus, Antiquities 4, 3, 4); πῦρ, Luke 22:55 (T Tr text WH περιαψάντων); πυράν, Acts 28:2 L T Tr WH.

2. Middle (present ά῾πτομαι); imperfect ἡπτομην (Mark 6:56 R G Tr marginal reading); 1 aorist ἡψάμην; in the Sept. generally for נָגַע , הִגִּיעַ ; properly, to fasten oneself to, adhere to, cling to (Homer, Iliad 8. 67);

a. to touch, followed by the object in genitive (Winers Grammar, § 30, 8 c.; Buttmann, 167 (146); cf. Donaldson, p. 483): Matthew 8:3; Mark 3:10; Mark 7:33; Mark 8:22, etc.; Luke 18:15; Luke 22:51 — very often in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In John 20:17, μή μου ἅπτου is to be explained thus: Do not handle me to see whether I am still clothed with a body; there is no need of such an examination, for not yet etc.; cf. Baumg.-Crusius and Meyer at the passage (as given by Hackett in Bib. Sacr. for 1868, p. 779f, or B. D. American edition, p. 1813f).

b. γυναικός, of carnal intercourse with a woman, or cohabitation, 1 Corinthians 7:1, like the Latintangere, Horace sat. 1, 2, 54: Terence, Heaut. 4, 4, 15, and the Hebrew נָגַע , Genesis 20:6; Proverbs 6:29 (Plato, de legg. viii. 840 a.; Plutarch, Alex. Magn c. 21).

c. with allusion to the levitical precept ἀκαθάρτου μή ἅπτεσθε, have no contact with the Gentiles, no fellowship in their heathenish practices, 2 Corinthians 6:17 (from Isaiah 52:11); and in the Jewish sense, μή ἅψῃ, Colossians 2:21 (the things not to be touched appear to be both women and certain kinds of food, so that, celibacy and abstinence from various kinds of food and drink are recommended; cf. DeWette at the passage (but also Meyer and Lightfoot; on the distinction between the stronger term ἅπτεσθαι (to handle?) and the more delicate θιγεῖν (to touch?) cf. the two commentators just named and Trench, § xvii. In classic Greek also ἅπτεσθαι is the stronger term, denoting often to lay hold of, hold fast, appropriate; in its carnal reference differing from θιγγάνειν by suggesting unlawfulness. θιγγάνειν, is used of touching by the hand as a means of knowledge, handling for a purpose; ψηλαφαν signifies to feel around with the fingers or hands, especially in searching for something, often to grope, fumble, cf. ψηλαφινδα blindman's buff. Schmidt, chapter 10.)).

d. to touch i. e. assail: τίνος, anyone, 1 John 5:18 (1 Chronicles 16:22, etc.). (Compare: ἀνάπτω, καθάπτω, περιάπτω.)

kindle, light.

A primary verb; properly, to fasten to, i.e. (specially) to set on fire -- kindle, light.

απτει ἅπτει άπυρον αψαντες ἅψαντες αψας ἅψας περιαψαντων περιαψάντων apsantes apsas aptei hapsantes hápsantes hapsas hápsas haptei háptei periapsanton periapsantōn periapsánton periapsántōnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts