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ἐκ (ek)

ek

out from

G1537 · Greek · New Testament · 770 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
770 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The preposition ek denotes origin, marking the point from which action or motion proceeds. It translates as "out of," "from," or "by," indicating separation from a source in place, time, or cause. As a primary preposition, it functions literally and figuratively to show where something comes, whether physically exiting a space or deriving from an abstract origin.

In Scripture, ek frequently appears with verbs of motion to describe physical departure, such as Jesus rising from the tomb in John 20:1 or the demon leaving a person in Mark 1:25. It also establishes partitive relationships, distinguishing individuals within a group, as seen when one fish is caught among many in Matthew 13:47. The phrase "out of the hand" appears often to signify deliverance from control, such as being held in safety by God in John 10:29.

Translators render ek with various English prepositions depending on context, including "from," "by," and "of." Its usage spans literal movement out of a location to metaphorical separation from a condition. This versatility allows it to describe both physical exit and the source of spiritual or moral qualities throughout the New Testament.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word ek marks the starting point of something, whether it is a physical exit or an origin story. In Scripture, it often describes where we come from and who holds us. When Jesus speaks of being held in the Father’s hand, this preposition emphasizes that safety comes from a source outside ourselves. It reminds us that our security does not depend on our own strength but on the One who sustains us.

This concept also touches on identity and character. The Bible teaches that what we speak often flows out of what fills our hearts. If our inner life is rooted in goodness, our words will reflect that truth. This word invites us to look inward, asking God to shape our motives so that our actions naturally flow from a place of integrity and love.

Ultimately, ek points to dependence. We are not self-made; we are created and sustained by God. Recognizing this origin helps us rest in His care rather than striving for control. It is a gentle reminder that every good thing in our lives begins with Him, offering peace to those who trust in His provision.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 770 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • of241×
  • from225×
  • out of194×
  • out from61×
  • by49×
  • Out of16×
  • with14×
  • at14×
  • From11×
  • on10×
  • for9×
  • among7×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • ἐκ696×
  • ἐξ236×
  • ἐκπερισσῶς1×

Key Verses

  • Matthew 10:29
    “Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

    This verse uses the preposition to emphasize that even small events occur under the Father’s sovereign care, highlighting divine providence over human anxiety.

  • Matthew 12:34
    You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

    Here the word explains the source of speech, showing that words are not random but flow directly from the inner condition of the heart.

  • Matthew 12:35
    The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.

    It contrasts two sources of action, illustrating that good deeds come from a good internal treasure while evil acts stem from a corrupt one.

  • Matthew 13:41
    The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity,

    The term describes the removal of wrongdoing from the Kingdom, indicating a decisive separation between justice and sin at the end of the age.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Greek word ek mean?

It is a preposition meaning 'out of' or 'from.' It indicates the source, origin, or point of departure for an action or person. In the New Testament, it frequently appears to show where something comes from physically or spiritually.

How is ek different from apo?

While both can mean 'from,' apo often emphasizes separation or distance, whereas ek focuses on origin or emergence from within. For example, coming out of a crowd uses ek because the person emerges from inside the group.

Where does ek appear in the Bible?

It is very common, appearing in over 700 verses. Notable examples include Matthew 12:34, where it describes speech flowing from the heart, and John 10:29, where it speaks of being held in the Father’s hand.

Every Occurrence (770 verses across 26 books)

Matthew 70 verses
Matthew 1:3

Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.

Matthew 1:5

Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.

Matthew 1:6

Jesse became the father of King David. David the king became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife.

Matthew 1:16

Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Matthew 1:18

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together,…

Matthew 1:20

But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son…

Matthew 2:6

‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who…

Matthew 2:15

and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet,…

Matthew 3:9

Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to…

Matthew 3:17

Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 5:37

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

Matthew 6:27

“Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?

Matthew 7:4

Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye?

Matthew 7:5

You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your…

Matthew 7:9

Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

Matthew 8:28

When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there,…

Matthew 10:29

“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.

Matthew 12:11

He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day,…

Matthew 12:33

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by…

Matthew 12:34

You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth…

Matthew 12:35

The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil…

Matthew 12:37

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:42

The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for she came from the…

Matthew 13:41

The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and…

Matthew 13:47

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind,

Matthew 13:49

So it will be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous,

Matthew 13:52

He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a…

Matthew 15:5

But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a…

Matthew 15:11

That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the…

Matthew 15:18

But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.

Matthew 15:19

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.

Matthew 16:1

The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

Matthew 17:5

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying,…

Matthew 17:9

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the…

Matthew 18:12

“What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go…

Matthew 18:19

Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be…

Matthew 19:12

For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by…

Matthew 19:20

The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”

Matthew 20:2

When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:21

He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand…

Matthew 20:23

He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on…

Matthew 21:16

and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the mouth…

Matthew 21:19

Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit…

Matthew 21:25

The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say,…

Matthew 21:26

But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”

Matthew 21:31

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell…

Matthew 22:35

One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him.

Matthew 22:44

‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’?

Matthew 23:25

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within…

Matthew 23:34

Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of…

Matthew 24:17

Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house.

Matthew 24:31

He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the…

Matthew 25:2

Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

Matthew 25:8

The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

Matthew 25:33

He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Matthew 25:34

Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from…

Matthew 25:41

Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared…

Matthew 26:21

As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”

Matthew 26:27

He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it,

Matthew 26:29

But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with…

Matthew 26:42

Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink…

Matthew 26:44

He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

Matthew 26:64

Jesus said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the…

Matthew 26:73

After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes…

Matthew 27:7

They took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them to bury strangers in.

Matthew 27:29

They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him…

Matthew 27:38

Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.

Matthew 27:48

Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.

Matthew 27:53

and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 28:2

Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the…

Mark 59 verses
Luke 77 verses
John 135 verses
Acts 82 verses
Romans 50 verses
I Corinthians 27 verses
II Corinthians 23 verses
Galatians 26 verses
Ephesians 9 verses
Philippians 6 verses
Colossians 11 verses
I Thessalonians 3 verses
II Thessalonians 1 verse
I Timothy 2 verses
II Timothy 7 verses
Titus 4 verses
Hebrews 20 verses
James 11 verses
I Peter 8 verses
II Peter 5 verses
I John 23 verses
II John 1 verse
III John 2 verses
Jude 2 verses
Revelation of John 106 verses