ὑπερεκτείνω (huperekteinō)
huperekteinō
to overextend
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb huperekteinō literally means to stretch out beyond proper limits or to overextend oneself. It combines a prefix indicating "beyond" with a root meaning "to stretch," creating a vivid image of something being pulled past its intended boundary. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in 2 Corinthians 10:13.
Paul uses it metaphorically when describing how far his ministry reaches. He states that he does not boast beyond measure but aligns his claims with the "measure of the sphere" God assigned to him. The contrast is clear: while others might overreach or claim authority they do not possess, Paul defines his work by the specific boundaries set for him. This usage highlights a theme of humility and faithful obedience within defined limits rather than ambitious expansion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word huperekteinō paints a picture of stretching something until it snaps or goes beyond its natural limit. In 2 Corinthians 10:14, Paul uses this image to explain his ministry boundaries. He says he does not overextend himself as if he had not reached the Corinthians. Instead, he works within the specific sphere God assigned to him.
This offers a gentle reminder for our own lives. We often feel pressure to do more, cover more ground, or take on more responsibility than we were designed for. Paul’s example invites us to find peace in our own assigned tasks. Faithfulness is not about how far you can stretch, but about staying true to the place God has put you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- we are overextending1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὑπερεκτείνομεν1×
Key Verses
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II Corinthians 10:14
For we don’t stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn’t reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,
Paul uses this rare verb to clarify that he is not claiming authority over churches he did not found, but rather staying within the ministry scope God gave him.