What Does Hebrews 13:23 Mean?
Know that Timothy, our kin, has been released, and with him, if he comes soon, I will see you.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.THE KEY
The verb behind Timothy being “set at liberty” is also the verb Luke uses for “forgive”: in both places, something held is released.
THE MEANING
Timothy is released, while the meeting remains conditional on his coming soon. The verse holds freedom and reunion as distinct moments: the restraint is gone, and shared presence is still on its way. His name means “honoring God,” and the sentence calls him “our brother,” locating the hoped-for meeting within shared belonging.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Release does not mean every separation has already closed; Timothy is free, while reunion still depends on his arrival.
THE ROOT
ἀπολελυμένον
apolelymenon from apolýō
GROWS FROM
λυ- / λύω (lyō)
To loosen, untie, or release.
“released” in this verse is apolelymenon from apolýō. The word translated “set at liberty” is a form of ἀπολύω (apolýō, release), built on λύω (lyō, loosen). Luke uses this same verb for “forgive” in Luke 6:37, so one word can describe release from restraint and release from accusation.
ALSO GROWS
lyō: To loosen or untie.
λύω
It reveals the underlying image in Timothy’s release: what held him is loosened.
apólysis: Release or dismissal.
ἀπόλυσις
This noun carries the same release into the language of letting someone go.
ἀδελφὸν
adelphon from adelphós
GROWS FROM
δελφύς
delphýs
Womb; ἀδελφός (adelphós) carries the image of one from the same womb.
“kin” in this verse is adelphon from adelphós. The word for brother holds an image of life shared at its source. Timothy is named as “our brother” before the hoped-for meeting, so the relationship is already present even while reunion is still conditional.
ALSO GROWS
adelphḗ: Sister, one from the same womb.
ἀδελφή
The feminine sibling word shares the same image of kinship from a common source.
adelphótēs: Brotherhood or sibling bond.
ἀδελφότης
The shared-root word extends that kinship into a bond held among siblings.
Τιμόθεον
Timótheon from Timótheos
GROWS FROM
τιμή (timḗ) + θεός (theós)
Honor + God: “honoring God.”
“Timothy” in this verse is Timótheon from Timótheos. The name joins τιμή (timḗ, honor) with θεός (theós, God), carrying the nature “honoring God.” In this sentence, the named brother is released and may soon be present with the writer and readers.
ALSO GROWS
timáō: To honor or esteem.
τιμάω
This verb carries the name’s honor element into an act of valuing.
theóphilos: A friend or lover of God.
θεόφιλος
This compound shares the name’s God-directed element and makes that relationship explicit.
THE PATTERN
Release loosens a restraint or claim so that movement and encounter can resume.
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told the Great House, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may dance a feast to me in the wilderness.Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Release, and you will be released.They, having examined me, wished to let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.THE THREAD
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Release, and you will be released.The Greek verb ἀπολύω (apolýō, release) behind “set at liberty” appears here as “forgive.” Hebrews uses release for Timothy; Luke uses the same word for letting go of accusation, so the verse’s language of freedom reaches both bodily restraint and relational burden.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us