ἐκκαίω (ekkaiō)
ekkaiō
be enflamed
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ekkaio means to burn up or be set on fire. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Romans 1:27. Here Paul uses it metaphorically to describe same-sex relations as a result of abandoning natural order. The image is not of a gentle warmth but of an intense, consuming flame that arises from within.
Its root combines ek ("out") and kaeo ("to burn"). This suggests fire bursting forth or blazing out. The sources note it is used in the Septuagint for similar concepts of burning. In Romans, it captures a passion that has been ignited by rejecting divine truth, leading to actions that are contrary to nature.
Translators often render this as "burn with passion" or "inflamed." This choice highlights the internal drive and intensity involved. It is not merely a physical act but one fueled by a deep-seated desire that has been kindled by a shift in understanding. The word emphasizes the power of this inclination, which leads to behaviors described as shameful.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word ekkaio describes a fire that burns intensely from within. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Romans 1:27. Paul uses this strong image to describe desires that have become consuming and self-directed. The word suggests a passion that is not gentle but overwhelming, arising when people turn away from God's design.
Understanding this term helps us see the seriousness of turning our hearts toward things that do not honor God. It reminds us that our deepest desires matter. When we seek to follow Christ, we invite His peace to calm those inner flames. This passage calls all believers to examine their own hearts and align their lives with divine truth.
May you find rest in God's grace, which offers forgiveness and a new way to live. His love provides the true satisfaction that worldly passions cannot give. Trust in His guidance for your life today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- were inflamed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξεκαύθησαν1×
Key Verses
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Romans 1:27
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.
This is the only New Testament occurrence of ekkaio, where Paul uses it to describe men burning with intense lust for one another as a result of rejecting natural order.