The Greek verb apallassō means to set free, to release, to depart from, or to be rid of. Appearing 3 times in the New Testament (Luke 12:58; Acts 19:12; Hebrews 2:15), it is used for settling disputes, healing disease, and most powerfully, Christ freeing humanity from the bondage of the fear of death.
Apallassō in Hebrews 2:15 is the climax of the incarnation argument: Christ shared in flesh and blood 'so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.' The word is legal and physical simultaneously — to set free, to liberate from a constraining force. The 'fear of death' is described as a form of lifelong slavery (douleia): the terror of annihilation that distorts every human decision and motivation. Christ's death and resurrection destroys this slavery from within — He died, defeated death, and rose, demonstrating that death has lost its ultimate power over those who trust Him. Luke 12:58 uses the word practically — settle with your accuser quickly to be rid of the case. Acts 19:12 describes diseases departing (apallassesthai) when handkerchiefs from Paul were brought to the sick. In each use, the word signals release from what was binding, threatening, or oppressing.