Brief Overview of διέξοδος (G1327: diéxodos)

Word Details

• Transliteration: διέξοδος (diéxodos) [dee-EX-o-dos]
• Etymology: The word διέξοδος is a compound of δύο (dyo), meaning “two,” and ἔξοδος (exodos), meaning “exit” or “way out.” The preposition διά (dia) is also integrated, meaning “through” or “across,” leading to the overall meaning of a thoroughfare or passage.
• Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings

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• Passage or Exit: διέξοδος generally refers to a way out, an exit, or a passage that allows movement from one place to another.
• Thoroughfare or Road: It can also denote a thoroughfare or a path, particularly one that connects different areas or locations.
• Metaphorical Exit: In a figurative sense, διέξοδος can signify a means of escape or resolution from a difficult situation, providing a metaphorical “way out.”

Further Insights

• Gender: Feminine
• Number: Singular
• Case: Nominative
• Declension: Second Declension

Further Insights Explained:

• The word διέξοδος is a feminine noun in the nominative singular form, and it belongs to the second declension in Greek. The root meanings embedded in its components provide a strong visual of a path or exit, emphasizing movement and transition. In various contexts, this word would be used to describe not just literal exits but also metaphorical pathways or solutions.

Disclaimer: The morphological details provided are specific to the form of the word as it appears in various contexts. However, its appearance in different cases or plural forms would change the morphology accordingly.

Lexicon Descriptions

BDAG (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich):

• διέξοδος is described as a “passage” or “way out,” often referring to roads leading out of a city or paths that provide access to different regions. It is used metaphorically in some texts to indicate an escape or a solution.
• Scripture References: Luke 14:21

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

• Thayer’s lexicon emphasizes διέξοδος as a term for roads and thoroughfares that connect cities or regions. It also highlights its metaphorical usage, where the word can signify a means of escape or deliverance from danger.
• Scripture References: Luke 14:21

Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

• Vine’s notes that διέξοδος is primarily used to denote an exit or a thoroughfare, stressing its literal meaning as a path or road. The word can also extend metaphorically to signify an escape or a resolution.
• Scripture References: Luke 14:21

LSJ (Liddell, Scott, Jones):

• LSJ records διέξοδος as referring to a thoroughfare or passage, particularly in classical literature where it denotes roads or exits that allow movement between different areas.
• Scripture References: Luke 14:21

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:

• Strong’s defines διέξοδος as an exit or a passage, emphasizing its role in the physical movement from one place to another, and occasionally highlighting its metaphorical use as an escape route.
• Scripture References: Luke 14:21

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

• Herodotus, Histories: In his historical accounts, Herodotus uses διέξοδος to describe the passages and roads that armies or travelers would take to move between cities, emphasizing the practical aspect of the term as a means of transit.
• Plato, Republic: Plato employs διέξοδος metaphorically to discuss the philosophical “way out” of ignorance or confusion, referring to intellectual paths that lead to enlightenment and understanding.
• Euripides, The Bacchae: In this tragedy, διέξοδος is used to describe the paths or roads taken by characters as they move from one place to another, illustrating the literal sense of the word as a thoroughfare.

Summary

διέξοδος (G1327: diéxodos) is a Greek feminine noun that fundamentally means “exit,” “way out,” or “passage.” It combines the preposition διά (dia) with ἔξοδος (exodos), carrying the idea of a thoroughfare or pathway leading from one place to another. The term is used both literally, such as in describing roads or exits, and metaphorically, as in providing a means of escape or resolution. In the New Testament, the word appears in contexts such as Luke 14:21, where it refers to streets or passages leading out of a city. Its usage in classical Greek literature extends from practical descriptions of roads to more abstract philosophical and metaphorical uses, demonstrating its versatility and depth as a term that encompasses both physical and intellectual movement.