Lexical Definition

‎ἀποκρίνομαι‎ apokrínomai (ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee) to answer ^G:V
from ‎ἀπό‎ and

answer.

• to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond
• by Hebraism (compare ‎עָנָה‎) to begin to speak (where an address is expected)

Abbott-Smith

ἀπο-κρίνω, [in LXX chiefly for ענה;] in cl.,
1. to separate, distinguish.
2. to choose. Mid., to answer: Mt 27:12, Mk 14:61, Lk 3:16 23:9, Jo 5:17, 19, Ac 3:12. In late Gk. the pass, also is used in this sense, and pass. forms are the more freq. in NT (M, Pr., 39, 161; MM, s.v.);
(a) in general sense: absol., Mk 12:34; c. acc. rei, Mt 22:46; c. dat. pers., Mt 12:38; seq. πρός, Ac 25:16;
(b) Hebraistically
(i) like ענה, to begin to speak, take up the conversation (Kennedy, Sources, 124 f.): Mt 11:25, al.,
(ii) redundant, as in the Heb. phrase וַיַּעַן וַיּאֹמֶר (Dalman, Words, 24 f., 38; M, Pr., 14; Bl., § 58, 4; 74, 2; Cremer, 374): ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπε, Mt 4:4; ἔφη, 8:8; λέγει, Mk 3:33; in Jo most freq. (ἀπεκ. κ. εἶπε, 1:49.

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἀποκρίνω [ῑ],

future -κρῐνῶ, set apart, probably in [Refs 7th c.BC+]:—passive, to be parted or separated, ἀποκρινθέντε parted from the throng (of two πρόμαχοι), [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of the elements in cosmogony, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀποκεκρίσθαι εἰς ἓν ὄνομα to be separated and brought under one name, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐ βεβαίως ἀπεκρίθησαν, of combatants, separated without decisive result, [Refs]

__2 in Medicine texts in passive, to be distinctly formed, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the embryo, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὰ ἐν τῷ σώματι -όμενα bodily secretions, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but ἐς τοῦτο πάντα ἀπεκρίθη all illnesses determined or ended in this alone, [Refs 5th c.BC+]are voided, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__3 mark by a distinctive form, distinguish, πρύμνην[Refs 5th c.BC+]specific, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II choose, ἕνα ὑμῶν ἀ. ἐξαίρετον[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. τοῦ πεζοῦ, τοῦ στρατοῦ, choose from.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δυοῖν ἀποκρίνας κακοῖν having set apart, i.e. decreed, one of two, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 exclude, πλήθει τῶν ψήφων[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III reject on examination, κρίνειν καὶ ἀ. [Refs]; ἀ. τινὰ τῆς νίκης decide that one has lost the victory, decide it against one, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—middle, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__IV middle, ἀποκρίνομαι, future -κρῐνοῦμαι, etc.: [Refs 5th c.BC+] uses perfect and pluperfect passive in middle sense, [Refs], etc., but also in passive sense (see. below):—give answer to, reply to question,[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. πρός τινα, πρὸς τὸ ἐρωτώμενον, to a questioner or question, [Refs 5th c.BC+] to answer the question, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, τοῦτό μοι ἀποκεκρίσθω let this be my answer, [Refs]; καλῶς ἄν σοι ἀπεκέκριτο your answer would have been sufficient, [Refs]
__IV.2 answer charges, defend oneself, [Refs 5th c.BC+]the defendant, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀπεκρινάμην frequently in legal documents, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__IV.3 aorist passive ἀπεκρίθη, ={ἀπεκρίνατο}, he answered, condemned by [Refs 2nd c.AD+], is unknown in earlier Attic dialect, except in [LXX+5th c.BC+] in solemn language, as [Refs] and prevails in “NT” especially in the phrase ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν[NT+5th c.BC+]future ἀποκριθήσομαι in same sense, [LXX+NT+2nd c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Matt.3.15 ☩ Mark.8.20 ☩ LXX.Isa.14.32 ☩ Matt.25.45}