ἐξαποστέλλω (exapostellō)
exapostellō
to send out/away
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb exapostellō signifies a decisive act of sending someone forth or away to a specific destination. It appears thirteen times in the New Testament, with significant usage in the Gospel of Luke, the Acts of the Apostles, and Galatians. The word combines the prefixes ex- (out) and apo- (away from), emphasizing that the sender releases the agent from their current location to undertake a mission.
Lexical data highlights its use for sending people into new contexts, such as Jesus’ disciples being sent out or Paul being dispatched to Gentiles. In Acts 9:30, believers send Paul away to safety, while in Galatians 4:4, God sends forth His Son. The term also describes sending promises or the Spirit, indicating a purposeful commissioning rather than a casual departure.
Its etymology underscores authority and direction. Unlike simple verbs for sending, exapostellō often implies a formal dispatch with a clear objective. This precision helps translators render it as "sent forth" or "sent away," capturing the weight of divine or human authorization behind the action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word exapostellō describes a decisive sending forth, carrying the weight of authority and clear purpose. It is not a casual departure but a formal commissioning where the sender releases someone from their current context to undertake a specific mission. This prefix-heavy verb emphasizes that the agent is sent out into a new sphere with a defined objective, whether it be delivering a message, establishing a community, or bringing salvation.
In your life, this concept reminds you that God’s actions are intentional and purposeful. When Scripture speaks of God sending His Son or the Spirit, it highlights a deliberate movement toward relationship and redemption. Similarly, when believers are sent out, they carry the authority of the One who commissions them. This assurance can bring comfort, knowing that your steps, when aligned with God’s will, are part of a purposeful divine plan rather than random chance.
Reflect on how this word shapes our understanding of mission and identity. Whether it is the early church sending Barnabas to Antioch or God sending the Spirit into our hearts, exapostellō points to a God who actively engages with His creation. It invites us to trust in the One who sends, confident that He provides both the authority and the purpose for every journey we undertake.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sent away3×
- sent forth2×
- will send1×
- was sent out.1×
- they sent forth1×
- they sent away1×
- sent out1×
- he sent forth1×
- has sent forth1×
- He has sent away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξαπέστειλεν6×
- ἐξαπέστειλαν5×
- ἐξαποστελῶ1×
- ἐξαπεστάλη.1×
Key Verses
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Galatians 4:4
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
This verse highlights the supreme act of divine sending, where God dispatches His Son into human history to fulfill the law and redeem those under it.
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Acts 12:11
When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
Peter uses this term to acknowledge that his miraculous release from prison was a direct result of the Lord sending an angel, emphasizing divine intervention in his deliverance.
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Galatians 4:6
And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
Here the word describes God sending the Spirit into believers' hearts, indicating an intimate, internal commissioning that enables them to call God 'Father'.
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Acts 13:26
“Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.
Paul uses this term to describe how the message of salvation was formally dispatched to the people of Israel, framing the gospel as an official proclamation from God.