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Introduction
Understanding Greek words is essential for deepening our comprehension of the New Testament and ancient Greek culture. The Greek word ἐξαστράπτω (exastraptō) is particularly significant due to its vivid imagery of flashing or shining brightly, often like lightning. This term provides a rich metaphorical foundation in biblical texts, helping readers grasp the power, brilliance, and awe-inspiring presence of divine or heavenly manifestations.
Key Information
- The Greek Word: ἐξαστράπτω, transliterated as exastraptō [eks-as-TRAP-toh]
- Etymology: Derived from the prefix ἐξ (ex, “out of”) and the verb ἀστράπτω (astraptō, “to flash or gleam like lightning”), emphasizing a sudden and bright shining or flashing.
- Part of Speech: Verb.
- The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.
Primary Meanings
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- To flash like lightning or shine brightly.
- To gleam or radiate with intense light.
Similar Words: ἀστράπτω (astraptō) [as-TRAP-toh] – While both verbs involve shining or flashing, ἐξαστράπτω has a stronger connotation of an outward or sudden flash, enhancing the intensity or drama of the shining compared to the more general use of ἀστράπτω for any form of shining or flashing.
Further Insights: The verb ἐξαστράπτω combines the prefix ἐξ- (out, from) with the verb ἀστράπτω (to flash or shine), suggesting a sudden, outward flash of light or brightness, akin to lightning. This imagery often symbolizes divine revelation, power, or presence in biblical and classical contexts. Understanding its declension and morphological features helps in recognizing its varied forms and uses in ancient texts.
| Tense | Voice | Mood | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Active | Indicative | ἐξαστράπτω |
| Future | Active | Indicative | ἐξαστράψω |
| Aorist | Active | Indicative | ἐξήστραψα |
| Perfect | Active | Indicative | ἐξαστράφακα |
| Imperfect | Active | Indicative | ἐξήστραπτον |
Click here for a beginner’s guide to reading Greek.
Lexicon Insights
BDAG: ἐξαστράπτω is defined as “to shine or flash out brilliantly,” especially in contexts referring to a sudden and overwhelming display of brightness, often likened to lightning. It is used metaphorically in biblical texts to describe the appearance of divine beings or revelations.
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Thayers: This lexicon notes that ἐξαστράπτω means “to flash out like lightning” or “to gleam brightly,” often implying a momentary yet intense illumination. Thayer emphasizes its use in describing divine radiance or an overpowering presence that draws attention.
Vines: Highlights that ἐξαστράπτω conveys the idea of flashing forth or shining with sudden intensity, frequently linked to divine or heavenly phenomena in scriptural contexts. It underscores the overwhelming nature of divine appearances.
LSJ: In classical Greek usage, ἐξαστράπτω is associated with “flashing forth” or “gleaming,” commonly used to describe sudden, bright flashes of light, often metaphorically representing clarity, revelation, or divine insight.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Lists ἐξαστράπτω as “to flash out,” indicating a burst of light or brilliance similar to lightning, reflecting a sudden and powerful manifestation.
Related Scripture References
- Luke 17:24: “For as the lightning flashes [ἐξαστραπτῇ] and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.”
- Luke 9:29: “And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling [ἐξαστραπτοῦντα] white.”
Classical Usage
| Author | Name of Work | English Text |
|---|---|---|
| Homer | Iliad | “The armor flashed (ἐξαστράπτω) in the sunlight as they charged into battle.” |
| Euripides | Bacchae | “The sudden light flashed (ἐξαστράπτω) in the midst of the storm.” |
| Plutarch | Lives | “His eyes flashed (ἐξαστράπτω) with a brightness that unnerved his enemies.” |
Summary of ἐξαστράπτω (G1823: exastraptō)
The Greek word ἐξαστράπτω is a vivid verb that denotes the action of flashing or shining brightly, like lightning. In the New Testament, it is used to convey moments of divine revelation or the overwhelming presence of God or heavenly beings. In classical literature, it serves a similar role, often describing intense, sudden flashes of light that signify power, clarity, or divine intervention. Understanding this term provides valuable insight into the intensity and immediacy of divine encounters and revelations in biblical texts.
Did You Know?
The word ἐξαστράπτω is used to describe the dazzling white appearance of Jesus’ clothes during the Transfiguration in Luke 9:29. This moment emphasizes the divine glory and the heavenly nature of Jesus’ revelation to his disciples, marking it as a key moment of divine intervention and manifestation in the New Testament.
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