Introduction
Understanding Greek words is essential in Biblical studies because it allows for a deeper comprehension of the original meanings and nuances present in Scripture. The Greek word ἔξω (exō), meaning “outside” or “without,” is particularly significant. It frequently appears in the New Testament and other Greek literature, often to denote a physical location or a metaphorical state of being outside or excluded. Understanding the various uses of ἔξω enhances our interpretation of Biblical texts and provides insight into ancient Greek thought and culture.
Key Information
- The Greek Word: ἔξω, transliteration: exō, pronunciation: [EK-so].
- Etymology root words: Derived from ἐξ (ex), meaning “out of” or “from.”
- The part of speech: Adverb and preposition; it is used to describe a spatial relationship, indicating “outside” or “beyond.”
- The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.
Primary Meanings
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- Outside, without.
- Beyond.
- Excluded from, not included within.
Similar Words: ἔξωθεν (exōthen) and ἔκτος (ektos). ἔξωθεν means “from outside” or “externally,” often used in more abstract contexts. ἔκτος similarly denotes “outside” but is used more restrictively to refer to a specific external boundary or exclusion. While all three words share a common root related to being “outside,” ἔξω is more versatile, functioning both as an adverb and a preposition.
Further Insights: ἔξω is used primarily as an adverb or preposition in Greek texts. It denotes a spatial or metaphorical exclusion, indicating a state of being “outside” a particular place or condition. Its use spans a range of contexts from physical locations to abstract concepts like exclusion from a community or state. As an adverb, it describes an action or state as being “outside,” while as a preposition, it takes a genitive case object to denote the location or state beyond a boundary.
Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek: Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek.
Lexicon Insights
BDAG: ἔξω is defined as “outside” or “without,” used in both literal and figurative contexts. It is frequently employed to describe being outside a particular location, community, or state.
Thayers: Emphasizes ἔξω as “outside” or “without,” particularly in contexts that denote separation or exclusion from a specific place or group.
Vines: Notes that ἔξω conveys both physical and metaphorical meanings, from being physically “outside” a city or house to being spiritually or socially “outside” a community.
LSJ: Recognizes ἔξω as an adverb meaning “outside” and a preposition used with the genitive case to indicate “out of” or “beyond.”
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Defines ἔξω as “outside” or “without,” highlighting its use in contexts of separation, exclusion, or external positioning.
Related Scripture References
- Matthew 5:13 – “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out (ἔξω) and trampled underfoot.”
- Mark 11:19 – “When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out (ἔξω) of the city.”
- Revelation 22:15 – “Outside (ἔξω) are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
Classical Usage
| Author | Name of Work | English text with Greek word in parentheses (ἔξω) next to the English word it corresponds to |
|---|---|---|
| Plato | Republic | “Justice, then, is not something outside (ἔξω) of us but within our very soul.” |
| Herodotus | Histories | “He sent the army to the city, while he remained outside (ἔξω) the gates, waiting for his envoy.” |
| Thucydides | History of the Peloponnesian War | “The Athenians set up camp outside (ἔξω) the walls of the enemy, preparing for a siege.” |
| Septuagint | Genesis 19:17 | “As soon as they had brought them out (ἔξω), one of them said, ‘Flee for your lives! Don’t look back!'” |
| Septuagint | Exodus 33:7 | “Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside (ἔξω) the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting.'” |
| Septuagint | Isaiah 9:1 | “But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land outside (ἔξω) of Zebulun.” |
Summary of ἔξω (G1854: exō)
The Greek word ἔξω (exō) is an adverb and preposition that primarily means “outside” or “without.” It is widely used in both the New Testament and classical Greek literature to denote a spatial relationship of being outside a boundary or a metaphorical state of exclusion. The word can describe physical locations (e.g., outside a city or building) and more abstract states (e.g., outside a community or fellowship). Its nuanced meanings in various contexts help readers of the New Testament and other ancient Greek texts better understand themes of inclusion, exclusion, and separation.
Did You Know?
The concept of “excommunication” in Christian practice is linguistically related to ἔξω (exō). The term signifies the act of being put “outside” of a community, much like how ἔξω indicates being outside or excluded from a certain boundary or group.
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