Meaning:
Adverb or preposition (taking the genitive case) that expressing exclusion or lack of association between two things. Occurs 41 times in the New Testament.
John 15:5plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigJohn 15:5
Greek ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα. ὁ μένων ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ, οὗτος φέρει καρπὸν πολύν, ὅτι χωρὶς ἐμοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν. ESV I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. NIV “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.… - “Without me you can do nothing” (ωρὶς ἐμοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν)
Hebrews 9:22plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigHebrews 9:22
Greek καὶ σχεδὸν ἐν αἵματι πάντα καθαρίζεται κατὰ τὸν νόμον, καὶ χωρὶς αἱματεκχυσίας οὐ γίνεται ἄφεσις. ESV Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. NIV In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. - “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (χωρὶς αἱματεκχυσίας οὐ γίνεται ἄφεσις)
James 2:26plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigJames 2:26
Greek ὥσπερ γὰρ τὸ σῶμα χωρὶς πνεύματος νεκρόν ἐστιν, οὕτως καὶ ἡ πίστις χωρὶς ἔργων νεκρά ἐστιν. ESV For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. NIV As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. NLT Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. - “Faith without works is dead” (ἡ πίστις χωρὶς ἔργων νεκρά ἐστιν)
Matthew 13:34plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMatthew 13:34
Greek Ταῦτα πάντα ἐλάλησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐν παραβολαῖς τοῖς ὄχλοις, καὶ χωρὶς παραβολῆς οὐδὲν ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς· ESV All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. NIV Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. - “He said nothing to them without a parable” (χωρὶς παραβολῆς οὐδὲν ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς)
In Scripture, χωρίς often highlights:
It’s a small word, but carries important theological weight, showing that separation from God, from life, or from obedience leads to insufficiency.