### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἀπόκειμαι (apókeimai, `{{G606}}`) is a compound word derived from the preposition ἀπό (apó, `{{G575}}`), meaning "from" or "away from," and the verb κεῖμαι (keimai, `{{G2749}}`), meaning "to lie" or "to be laid." Literally, therefore, ἀπόκειμαι signifies "to be laid away" or "to be put aside." This core meaning carries an inherent sense of reservation, storage, or setting something apart for a future purpose.
Semantically, its range extends from the concrete act of physically storing an object to the abstract concept of something being appointed, reserved, or awaiting a predetermined outcome. The passive voice, in which it almost exclusively appears, emphasizes that the subject is the recipient of this action, being "laid up" or "appointed" by an external agent, often implicitly divine. The nuance of certainty and inevitability is strong in its figurative uses, suggesting that which is "laid up" is secure and that which is "appointed" is unalterable.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἀπόκειμαι appears four times in the New Testament, each instance illuminating its semantic breadth:
1. **[[Luke 19:20]]**: "Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I have kept laid away in a handkerchief.'" In this parable of the minas, the servant literally "laid away" (ἀποκεῖται) the master's money. This is the most concrete and literal usage, referring to the physical act of storing something securely. It highlights the idea of preservation and safekeeping, albeit in this context, it leads to a negative outcome due to lack of productivity.
2. **[[Colossians 1:5]]**: "...because of the hope laid up for you in heaven..." Here, ἀποκειμένην (a participle of ἀπόκειμαι) is used figuratively to describe the "hope" that is "laid up" in heaven. This is not a physical storage but a spiritual reality. The phrase implies that this hope is secure, guaranteed, and reserved for believers in the eschatological future. It speaks to the certainty of future blessings and the divine provision for those who are in Christ.
3. **[[2 Timothy 4:8]]**: "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." Similar to Colossians, ἀπόκειται describes a future reward—the "crown of righteousness"—that is "laid up" for Paul. This signifies a guaranteed recompense, reserved by God's righteous judgment for faithful service. The certainty of this future reward is a source of steadfast hope and motivation.
4. **[[Hebrews 9:27]]**: "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment..." This is perhaps the most profound usage. Here, ἀπόκειται is translated as "it is appointed," signifying an unalterable divine decree. Death and subsequent judgment are presented as fixed, certain, and universal realities for humanity. The passive voice underscores that this appointment is not of human making but is divinely ordained, an inescapable part of the human condition and God's sovereign plan.
Across these contexts, a clear progression is observed: from physical storage to spiritual reservation, culminating in the declaration of a divinely ordained, unchangeable destiny or event.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary root of ἀπόκειμαι is κεῖμαι (keimai, `{{G2749}}`), meaning "to lie," "to be laid," or "to be placed." This root emphasizes the state of being positioned or set. The prefix ἀπό (apó, `{{G575}}`) adds the nuance of separation or removal, hence "laid *away*."
Related concepts include:
* **Reservation/Storage**: The idea of something being held in reserve, not immediately accessible but designated for a future use or recipient.
* **Certainty/Guarantee**: Particularly in its figurative uses, ἀπόκειμαι conveys the absolute certainty of an outcome or a future reality, whether it be hope, reward, or judgment.
* **Divine Decree/Appointment**: In [[Hebrews 9:27]], the word strongly implies an unalterable divine ordination, a fixed element of God's plan for humanity.
* **Eschatology**: The word frequently points to future events, rewards, and judgments, thus connecting it directly to the study of last things.
* **Providence**: The concept that God has prepared and arranged certain realities and events in advance.
Contrastingly, ἀπόκειμαι stands apart from words that imply human choice, contingency, or uncertainty. It speaks to that which is fixed and determined, often by a higher power.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἀπόκειμαι is profound, primarily revolving around the themes of divine sovereignty, eschatological certainty, and the nature of divine justice.
Firstly, the word powerfully underscores **God's sovereignty and meticulous providence**. When hope, crowns, or even death and judgment are "laid up" or "appointed," it signifies that these are not random occurrences but are part of a divinely orchestrated plan. God is the ultimate agent who sets these things apart or decrees their arrival.
Secondly, for believers, ἀπόκειμαι speaks to **eschatological hope and the certainty of future blessings**. The "hope laid up in heaven" ([[Colossians 1:5]]) and the "crown of righteousness laid up" ([[2 Timothy 4:8]]) are not mere possibilities but guaranteed realities. This provides immense comfort, assurance, and motivation for perseverance in faith. It assures believers that their labor in the Lord is not in vain and that their ultimate reward is secure, reserved by God Himself. This certainty strengthens faith against present trials and directs the believer's gaze towards the eternal.
Thirdly, in [[Hebrews 9:27]], the word highlights the **inescapable reality of death and divine judgment**. This "appointment" is universal and unalterable, underscoring God's justice and the accountability of every individual. It serves as a solemn reminder of the seriousness of human life and the ultimate reckoning that awaits. This theological truth serves as a foundational premise for the necessity of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice, which is the immediate context of the verse.
In essence, ἀπόκειμαι moves beyond simple storage to convey a sense of divine intentionality and the fixed nature of spiritual realities, whether they be blessings for the faithful or the universal destiny of humanity.
### Summary
The Greek word ἀπόκειμαι (apókeimai, `{{G606}}`) fundamentally means "to be laid away" or "to be reserved." While it can denote the literal act of physical storage as seen in [[Luke 19:20]], its more significant and frequent use in the New Testament is figurative. In this figurative sense, it conveys the idea of something being divinely appointed, certain, and awaiting a predetermined outcome.
Theological implications are rich: it speaks to the **absolute certainty of future realities**, whether it be the **guaranteed hope and rewards for believers** ([[Colossians 1:5]], [[2 Timothy 4:8]]) or the **universal and inescapable appointment of death and judgment for all humanity** ([[Hebrews 9:27]]). The consistent use of the passive voice emphasizes that these outcomes are not contingent on human will but are established by an external, sovereign power, implicitly God. Thus, ἀπόκειμαι serves as a powerful descriptor of divine providence, the security of eschatological blessings, and the solemn reality of ultimate accountability.
TRV