ἐκβαίνω (ekbainō)
ekbainō
to go out
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek verb ekbainō simply means to go out or exit a place. It is formed from the prefix ek, indicating movement from within, and bainō, meaning to walk or go. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Hebrews 11:15, where it describes the desire of the faithful patriarchs to leave their current surroundings.
The context here is specific: Abraham and his descendants longed for a "better country," that is, a heavenly one. The text notes they could have returned to their homeland but chose not to because they were looking toward a greater destination. This usage highlights that going out is not merely physical movement but a deliberate rejection of the familiar in favor of a promised future.
Interestingly, this Greek term often serves as the translation for the Hebrew verb alah in the Septuagint, which carries meanings like going up or ascending. While the English translation in Hebrews 11:15 uses "go out," the underlying sense connects to the idea of leaving behind one’s origin to journey toward something higher. This single occurrence underscores a key theme in Hebrews: faith involves moving forward, away from the old life, toward God’s eternal promise.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ekbainō means simply to go out or exit a place. In Hebrews 11:15, it describes the patriarchs who could have returned to their homeland but chose not to. They looked toward a better country, a heavenly one. This shows that faith often requires leaving behind what is familiar and comfortable.
For your life, this might mean letting go of old habits or past regrets. You do not need to stay in places that no longer serve God’s purpose for you. Instead, look forward to the promise He has prepared. Your journey is not about where you came from, but where God is leading you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they came out,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξέβησαν,1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 11:15
If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
This verse uses ekbainō to show that the patriarchs deliberately chose not to return to their past, highlighting faith as a forward-looking trust in God's promise.