The Greek verb apoballo (G577) means to throw away, to cast off, or to lose. It is a compound of apo (away) and ballo (to throw). The word appears twice in the New Testament: in Mark 10:50 where Bartimaeus throws off his cloak, and in Hebrews 10:35 warning believers not to throw away their confidence.
The two New Testament uses of apoballo present a striking contrast. In Mark 10:50, Bartimaeus throws away his cloak — the garment that was his only protection and likely his only possession — to run to Jesus. This is a picture of faith that abandons everything in response to Christ's call. In Hebrews 10:35, the same verb appears as a warning: 'Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.' The contrast is instructive: there are things worth throwing away (possessions, obstacles, hindrances to Christ) and things never to be discarded (confidence in God, faith, hope). The discernment of what to keep and what to cast off is the wisdom of the kingdom.