ἐξέλκω (exelkō)
exelkō
to drag out/away
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb exelkō describes a physical act of dragging something out or away, but in Scripture it carries a vivid metaphorical weight. It paints a picture of being pulled from a place of safety into danger. The imagery likely draws from hunting or fishing, where prey is lured from its hiding spot by bait. In this sense, the word suggests a forceful removal from one’s own self-restraint.
This specific usage appears only once in the New Testament, in James 1:14. Here, it describes how desire entices a person. The text portrays sin not as a sudden leap, but as a gradual dragging away from moral stability. Just as an animal might be pulled out of its den by food, a person is drawn away from righteousness by their own cravings. The word emphasizes the external pull of temptation against internal resistance.
Its root combines a prefix meaning "out" with a verb for "drawing." This structure reinforces the idea of extraction or removal. Translators often render it as "entices" or "deceives," but these terms can feel too gentle. The Greek implies a stronger, more visceral movement. It reminds readers that temptation actively pulls the soul away from its proper place.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
James uses a striking image to describe how temptation works. The word exelkō paints a picture of being dragged out, like prey pulled from its hiding place by bait. This isn't a gentle suggestion; it is a forceful movement away from safety and moral stability. Your own desires can act as that lure, pulling you further from the path of righteousness with each small compromise.
Understanding this helps us see sin not just as a bad choice, but as a gradual loss of ground. When we feel pulled away, it is often because we have engaged with the bait rather than resisting it. Recognizing this violent tug allows us to stop and reorient our hearts toward God before we are completely drawn away from Him.
Grace meets us in this struggle. You do not have to fight this dragging force alone. By staying close to Scripture and community, you can find the strength to resist the lure. May you find peace in knowing that God provides a way out when the pull becomes too strong.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- being drawn away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξελκόμενος1×
Key Verses
-
James 1:14
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.
This is the only New Testament occurrence, using the word to describe lust drawing a person away from moral stability like prey from a den.