ἐκδύω

I put off, take off, strip off

Definition

The verb ἐκδύω means 'to take off,' 'strip off,' or 'put off,' and is used both literally and metaphorically in the New Testament. Literally, it describes the physical removal of clothing, as when the soldiers stripped Jesus of his garments before the crucifixion (Matthew 27:28, 31). In a more figurative and profound sense, it is used by Paul to describe the believer's future hope of 'putting off' the mortal body to be clothed with immortality (2 Corinthians 5:4). In the parable of the Good Samaritan, it describes the robbers stripping the wounded man (Luke 10:30), emphasizing a violent, forcible removal.

Biblical Usage

ἐκδύω appears five times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels' passion narratives (Matthew 27:28, 31; Mark 15:20) to describe the soldiers stripping Jesus, highlighting his humiliation. It appears once in a parable (Luke 10:30) describing a violent robbery. Its sole non-narrative use is in 2 Corinthians 5:4, where Paul uses it metaphorically to express the Christian hope of shedding mortality. The usage thus splits between literal, often violent, physical stripping and a hopeful theological metaphor.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning 'out of' or 'from,' and the root verb δύω (dyō), meaning 'to enter' or, in the middle voice, 'to put on.' Thus, ἐκδύω literally means 'to put off from' or 'to take out of' clothing. This compound formation clearly conveys the sense of removal or stripping away.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant, particularly in 2 Corinthians 5:4, where it contrasts with being 'clothed' (ἐπενδύω). It captures the essential Christian hope of mortality being 'swallowed up by life.' Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading of the crucifixion accounts by underscoring the depth of Christ's humiliation and connects that physical stripping to the believer's future spiritual victory over death itself.

In the cultural context, forcibly stripping someone's clothing was a profound act of shaming, degradation, and dehumanization, especially for a public figure. In the Roman practice of crucifixion, stripping the victim was standard procedure, amplifying the torture and public disgrace. This makes the soldiers' actions toward Jesus (Matthew 27:28) and the robbery in Luke 10:30 acts of extreme violation, which would have been immediately understood by the original audience.

ἀποτίθημι (apotithēmi, G659) — Often means 'to put away' in a moral or metaphorical sense (e.g., putting off old self), less focused on physical stripping. ἀφαιρέω (aphairēō, G851) — Means 'to take away' or 'remove,' often by force, but is more general and not specific to clothing.

Word Details

Scripture References