Strong's Greek: 683. ἀπωθέομαι (apótheó) -- To reject, to thrust away, to push aside

The verb rendered "reject," "push aside," or "thrust away" portrays an active, deliberate dismissal of a person, truth, or divine purpose. Each New Testament occurrence centers on the tension between God’s gracious initiative and human response. Whenever the word appears, someone is either refusing a divinely appointed messenger or, conversely, Scripture affirms that the Lord Himself will never repudiate His covenant people.

Occurrences in Scripture

Acts 7:27 – An Israelite wrongdoer "pushed Moses aside," prefiguring Israel’s later resistance to the Messiah.

Acts 7:39 – The wilderness generation "rejected" Moses and "in their hearts turned back to Egypt," showing that unbelief is more than external disobedience; it is inward revolt.

Acts 13:46 – Paul and Barnabas declare to the synagogue audience, "Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles," highlighting personal accountability for gospel refusal.

Romans 11:1–2 – Paul asks, "Did God reject His people? Certainly not! ... God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew," affirming the irrevocable nature of God’s calling despite widespread Jewish unbelief.

1 Timothy 1:19 – Some have "rejected" faith and a good conscience, wrecking their spiritual lives. The verb exposes apostasy as a decisive act, not an inevitable drift.

Patterns of Rejection

1. Rejection of God-sent leaders (Moses, Acts 7).
2. Rejection of God’s Word (Paul’s preaching, Acts 13).
3. Rejection of personal faith and conscience (1 Timothy 1).

The pattern is consistent: human refusal springs from a hardened heart, not from any insufficiency in the message or the messenger.

Theological Significance

Human rejection never nullifies divine faithfulness. Romans 11 balances Israel’s resistance with God’s covenant resolve: "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29). The same verb that describes Israel’s spurning of Moses and Christ is used negatively—"God did not reject His people." Thus, Scripture sets two certainties side by side: man can and often does push away God’s provision, yet God Himself never forsakes what He has promised.

Consequences of Rejection

• Spiritual Blindness – Acts 13:46 warns that rejecting the gospel forfeits "eternal life."
• Loss of Privilege – The synagogue’s refusal opened the door of missionary focus to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46).
• Shipwrecked Faith – 1 Timothy 1:19 pictures moral compromise leading to theological ruin, a cautionary tale for church life.
• Generational Fallout – The wilderness generation’s rejection delayed entrance into the Land and shaped national history (Acts 7:39).

Promise of Restoration

Even when rejection appears final, divine mercy invites return. Paul’s assurance in Romans 11 implies future national restoration: "All Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26). God’s non-rejection forms the backdrop for the prophetic hope that unbelief will one day give way to repentance and faith.

Application in Ministry

• Herald the Word boldly, knowing some will resist, but others are appointed to life (Acts 13:48).
• Guard personal faith and conscience; doctrinal fidelity is tethered to moral integrity (1 Timothy 1:19).
• Intercede for those presently rejecting the gospel, confident that God has not rejected them irreversibly (Romans 11:23).
• Expect opposition; the missionary pattern in Acts shows that rejection often precedes gospel expansion.

Historical Context

In the first-century synagogue, rejecting apostolic preaching often involved communal expulsion. For Jewish believers, the cost of acceptance was ostracism; for Gentiles, it was abandonment of idols. The verb captures the social and spiritual clash that accompanied early gospel proclamation.

Summary

Across its six New Testament uses, the word paints a sober picture: people can indeed thrust away God’s truth, yet God’s covenant fidelity stands firm. The recurring call is to listen, believe, and persevere, lest the tragic history of rejection repeat itself in the present generation.