ἐξάγω (exagō)
exagō
to lead out
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb exagō means to lead someone or something out of a place. It describes the physical act of guiding people from an interior space to the outside, or from one location to another. In the New Testament, this word appears twelve times, with significant usage in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.
A clear example occurs in Mark 15:20, where Jesus is led out (exagō) from the courtyard after his trial to be crucified. Similarly, in Acts 5:19, an angel leads the apostles out of the prison. The sources note that it often takes a direct object, specifying who is being led. In Luke 24:50, Jesus leads them out toward Bethany before ascending.
This word emphasizes movement and direction. It is not just walking; it involves guidance or authority over the path taken. Translators usually render it "lead out" or "bring out," keeping the sense of external movement clear. The term appears in contexts of rescue, judgment, or commissioning, always highlighting a transition from one state or place to another under direction.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word exagō describes more than simple movement; it implies a guided transition from one place to another under authority. When Scripture speaks of being led out, it often marks a decisive shift in direction or status. This can feel unsettling when the starting point is familiar, even if that place was restrictive.
Consider how Jesus led his disciples out toward Bethany before ascending (Luke 24:50). He did not leave them behind but guided them through a change of scenery into a new phase of their mission. Similarly, the angel led the apostles out of prison (Acts 5:19), turning a place of confinement into an opportunity for witness. These moments show that being led out is rarely about abandonment; it is about purposeful relocation.
In your own life, you may find yourself in situations where boundaries are removed or paths change unexpectedly. This word reminds us that such transitions are often under divine guidance rather than random chance. Whether it involves leaving a job, a relationship, or a mindset, the act of being led out suggests that there is a destination and a guide who knows the way forward.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to lead1×
- they should bring out.1×
- they are leading out1×
- led out1×
- leads out1×
- having led out1×
- having brought out1×
- having brought [them] out1×
- had brought1×
- brought out1×
- brought1×
- He led1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξήγαγεν4×
- Ἐξήγαγεν1×
- ἐξάγουσιν1×
- ἐξάγει1×
- ἐξαγαγών1×
- ἐξαγαγὼν1×
- ἐξαγαγόντες1×
- ἐξαγαγέτωσαν.1×
- ἐξαγαγεῖν1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 15:20
When they had mocked him, they took the purple cloak off him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him.
This verse highlights the somber reality of Jesus being led out to execution, emphasizing the cost of his mission.
-
Acts 5:19
But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,
Here the word underscores divine intervention, as an angel leads the apostles from confinement to freedom for witness.
-
Luke 24:50
He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
Jesus leading the disciples out to Bethany marks a deliberate transition toward his ascension and their commissioning.
-
John 10:3
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
This occurrence illustrates personal care, as the shepherd leads his sheep out by name, ensuring they follow him willingly.