ἐκπορεύω (ekporeuō)
ekporeuō
to depart
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 34 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ekporeuō describes the act of going forth, departing, or issuing from a source. In the New Testament, it covers both physical movement and metaphorical emergence. People are said to go out to meet Jesus in Matthew 3:5, while demons depart from those they possess in Acts 19:12. The word also appears in unusual contexts, such as Mark 7:19 describing bodily waste leaving the body, or Revelation 22:1 where a river flows from the throne.
Its theological weight often lies in origin. Jesus uses it to explain that evil does not come from outside but proceeds from within the human heart (Mark 7:21). Similarly, lightning issues from the east in Matthew 24:27, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father in John 15:26. This usage highlights that what emerges reveals the nature of its source.
The word combines ek ("out of") and poreuomai ("to go"). It emphasizes the exit point rather than the journey itself. Translators render it variously as "go out," "proceed," or "issue" depending on whether the subject is a person, a force of nature, or an abstract quality like speech or rumor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ekporeuō reminds us that what comes out of us reveals who we are inside. Jesus taught that true defilement does not come from outside, but from within the heart (Mark 7:21). This means our actions and words are not random; they flow from the condition of our inner life. When we seek to change our behavior, God invites us to first look at the source.
This truth brings both warning and hope. If evil thoughts proceed from within, then healing must also begin there. We can ask God to purify our hearts so that what flows out is clean and kind. It is a gentle invitation to examine our motives and let His grace work in the hidden places of our soul.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 34 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- go forth3×
- coming out3×
- when is going forth2×
- were going out2×
- going forth2×
- goes out2×
- will come forth —1×
- when were going out1×
- when was going out1×
- was spreading1×
- to set out;1×
- they were going1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐκπορεύεται7×
- ἐκπορευομένου4×
- ἐξεπορεύετο3×
- ἐκπορεύονται2×
- ἐκπορευόμενον2×
- ἐκπορευομένοις2×
- ἐξεπορεύοντο1×
- ἐκπορεύσονται,1×
- ἐκπορεύεται,1×
- ἐκπορεύεσθαι·1×
- ἐκπορεύεσθαι1×
- ἐκπορευόμενά1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 7:21
For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
Jesus uses this verb to list specific sins that originate from within the human heart, defining the source of moral defilement.
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Matthew 4:4
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’”
The word describes God's words proceeding out of His mouth, emphasizing their divine origin and life-giving power.
-
Mark 7:15
There is nothing from outside of the man that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.
Jesus contrasts external things entering a person with internal things proceeding out, shifting the focus of purity from ritual to character.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ekporeuō mean in the New Testament?
How is this word different from other Greek words for 'go'?
Why is this word important for understanding sin?
Every Occurrence (34 verses across 7 books)
Matthew 6 verses
Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
Matthew 4:4But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s…
Matthew 15:11That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the…
Matthew 15:18But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.
Matthew 17:21But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Matthew 20:29As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.