ἐκφύω (ekphuō)
ekphuō
to put out
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ekphuō describes the natural process of putting forth or sprouting, specifically referring to leaves or branches emerging from a tree. It appears only twice in the New Testament, located in the parallel accounts of Matthew 24:32 and Mark 13:28. In these passages, Jesus uses the image of a fig tree’s tender branch pushing out new growth as a clear sign that summer is near.
Etymologically, the word combines ek ("out") and phuo ("to grow or produce"), emphasizing the outward manifestation of life from within. The sources highlight its agricultural context, where the emergence of leaves serves as an undeniable indicator of seasonal change. This concrete imagery allows listeners to recognize a reality that is already present but not yet fully visible.
Translators typically render this term as "put forth" or "sprout," capturing the active, organic nature of the action. The word does not imply forced effort but rather the inevitable result of life unfolding in its proper time. By anchoring his teaching in this familiar botanical observation, Jesus provides a tangible metaphor for recognizing spiritual signs.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jesus spoke about the future, He used a simple image from everyday life: the fig tree pushing out new leaves. This word describes that natural process of growth, where tender branches emerge as a clear sign that summer is near. It reminds us that some realities are already at work, even if they are not yet fully visible to our eyes.
In your own life, you may find yourself waiting for signs of change or hope. This passage encourages you to look for the small, natural movements of God’s presence around you. Just as the leaves signal the coming season, these gentle shifts can point to God’s faithfulness and the approaching time of fulfillment.
There is comfort in knowing that growth follows its own rhythm. You do not need to force it or worry about the timing. Instead, you can learn to recognize the signs of life unfolding, trusting that what is happening now is leading toward a good and certain future.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- may it put forth,1×
- may it put forth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐκφύῃ,1×
- ἐκφύῃ1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 24:32
“Now from the fig tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near.
This verse uses the word to describe the fig tree's branch becoming tender and producing leaves, serving as a tangible sign that summer is near.
-
Mark 13:28
“Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near;
Here the same imagery appears in Mark’s account, emphasizing the observable natural process as a lesson for recognizing spiritual realities.