ἐξωθέω (exōtheō)
exōtheō
to expel
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb exōtheō means to thrust out or expel, carrying a sense of forceful removal from a place. It combines a prefix indicating "out" with a root meaning "to push." In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, both within the book of Acts.
In Stephen’s speech before his death, he uses it to describe how the Israelites drove Joshua out of Egypt (Acts 7:45). Here, the term highlights the active rejection and expulsion of a leader by the people. Later, during Paul’s shipwreck, the soldiers use the word to describe casting the ship off shore or driving it onto land (Acts 27:39). This usage emphasizes the physical act of propelling an object away from danger or into a new position.
The word is rare in Scripture, appearing exclusively in these narrative contexts. It does not carry abstract theological weight but rather describes concrete actions of removal or propulsion. Translators typically render it as "thrust out" or "cast off," preserving the physical force inherent in the Greek term.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word exōtheō describes a forceful pushing out or casting off. It appears in Acts when the Israelites drove Joshua from Egypt and later when soldiers cast a ship onto a beach during a storm. These moments show how God’s people sometimes resist His leaders, yet He still brings them safely to their destination.
When life feels like it is pushing you away, remember that God can use even difficult circumstances for good. The same power that guided Joshua and saved Paul on the ship works in your life today. You are never beyond the reach of His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to drive [aground]1×
- drove out1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξῶσεν1×
- ἐξῶσαι1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:45
which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations whom God drove out before the face of our fathers to the days of David,
This verse uses exōtheō to describe how the Israelites actively rejected Joshua, showing human resistance to God's appointed leader.
-
Acts 27:39
When it was day, they didn’t recognize the land, but they noticed a certain bay with a beach, and they decided to try to drive the ship onto it.
Here the word describes soldiers physically casting the ship onto land, highlighting God’s protection even in life-threatening danger.