ἐκδιηγέομαι

I narrate at length, declare

Definition

ἐκδιηγέομαι means to narrate or declare something fully and in detail, often with the sense of recounting events from beginning to end. It implies a thorough, expansive telling that brings out the complete story or significance of what happened. In Acts 13:41, it is used in a quotation from the Old Testament (Habakkuk 1:5) to warn of God's astounding works that will be fully declared, carrying a tone of awe and warning. In Acts 15:3, it describes how Paul and Barnabas detailed the conversion of the Gentiles to the church in Jerusalem, emphasizing a complete and encouraging report of God's actions.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only twice in the New Testament, both in the Book of Acts. In both instances, it describes the detailed narration of God's mighty works. In Acts 13:41, it appears in a prophetic warning about God's deeds being fully declared. In Acts 15:3, it is used in a positive, communal context where missionaries share a comprehensive account of their ministry to encourage other believers. The pattern shows it is reserved for significant, divine narratives that require full explanation.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning 'out of' or 'thoroughly,' combined with the verb διηγέομαι (diēgeomai), meaning 'to narrate' or 'to describe.' The compound intensifies the root meaning, emphasizing a narration that is drawn out completely or recounted from its origin. Cognates like διηγέομαι (G1334) share the core idea of detailed narration, but ἐκδιηγέομαι adds a sense of exhaustive or public declaration.

Semantic Range

This word highlights the importance of bearing complete witness to God's works in salvation history. It underscores that the gospel message is not a summary but a full account of divine action, particularly in the inclusion of the Gentiles (Acts 15:3). Understanding this Greek term enriches Bible reading by emphasizing the thoroughness and intentionality with which early Christians proclaimed God's deeds, encouraging believers today to share their testimonies and God's narratives with similar detail and faithfulness.

In the Greco-Roman world, detailed storytelling was a valued means of preserving history and teaching moral lessons. ἐκδιηγέομαι would have conveyed a formal, public recounting, akin to an official report or a historian's narrative. This cultural expectation of thorough narration aligns with how Luke in Acts presents the spread of the gospel as a reliable historical account, demanding careful and complete testimony to validate the Christian message.

διηγέομαι (diēgeomai, G1334) — a general term for narrating or describing, without the intensive 'thoroughly' sense. ἀπαγγέλλω (apangellō, G518) — to report or announce, often more focused on the message than the detailed process. μαρτυρέω (martyreō, G3140) — to bear witness or testify, with a stronger legal or confirmatory connotation.

Word Details

Scripture References