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μετοικεσία (metoikesia)

metoikesia

deportation

G3350 · Greek · New Testament · 3 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
3 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The noun metoikesia refers to a change of residence, specifically one that is forced or involuntary. In the New Testament, it denotes the Babylonian exile, capturing the reality of people being uprooted from their homeland and relocated to a foreign land. The term appears only three times, all within the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:11-12 and 17.

Its root combines words for "change" and "dwelling," emphasizing the disruption of settled life. In the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew terms for exile or deportation, linking the concept to Israel’s history of displacement. By using this word in Matthew’s genealogy, the text highlights a period of judgment and separation from the land, framing Jesus’ lineage within a narrative of loss and return.

Translators typically render metoikesia as "exile" or "deportation," reflecting its heavy historical weight. The term does not imply voluntary migration but rather a compelled movement, underscoring the severity of the Babylonian captivity. Its appearance in Matthew’s account serves to remind readers that Jesus’ ancestry includes a time when God’s people were scattered, setting the stage for themes of restoration and hope.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word metoikesia describes a forced removal from home, a reality that feels heavy when we read it in Matthew’s genealogy. It points to the Babylonian exile, a time when God’s people were uprooted and scattered. This was not a voluntary move but a painful displacement that marked a period of judgment and loss for Israel.

Yet this history is woven into the lineage of Jesus. By including these generations marked by deportation, the Gospel reminds us that Christ came for those who feel far from home or disconnected from their roots. His ancestry includes the brokenness of exile, showing that God’s plan works even through our deepest seasons of displacement and sorrow.

We find hope in this truth: no matter how far we have been pushed away, Jesus stands as the anchor of restoration. He connects us to a story that moves from scattering to gathering, offering peace to anyone who feels like a stranger in their own land.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • carrying away4×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • μετοικεσίας3×
  • μετοικεσίαν1×

Key Verses

  • Matthew 1:11
    Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

    This verse marks the specific historical turning point where the nation was removed from its land, establishing the exile as a defining era in the Messiah's ancestry.

  • Matthew 1:12
    After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.

    Here the term highlights the continuity of life and lineage despite the disruption, showing that God preserved His people through the forced migration.

  • Matthew 1:17
    So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.

    The author uses this word to structure history into clear periods, framing the exile as a crucial bridge between David’s kingdom and the coming of Christ.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does metoikesia mean in the Bible?

It is a Greek noun that refers to forced deportation or exile. In the New Testament, it specifically describes the Babylonian exile when Israel was uprooted from their homeland.

Why is this word only in Matthew’s genealogy?

Matthew uses it three times to mark the period of exile as a distinct era in Jesus’ ancestry. It highlights the historical reality of judgment and displacement that preceded Christ’s arrival.

How is metoikesia different from regular migration?

Unlike voluntary moving, this term implies compulsion and loss. It describes a forced removal where people were taken against their will to live in a foreign land.

Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)

Matthew 3 verses
Matthew 1:11

Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

Matthew 1:12

After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel.

Matthew 1:17

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen…