ἐκφύω

I put forth, cause to sprout

Definition

The verb ἐκφύω means to cause something to sprout, grow out, or put forth shoots. It specifically describes the process of a plant sending out new branches or leaves from its main stem. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively in a botanical sense to describe the fig tree putting forth its tender branches as a sign of summer's approach (Matthew 24:32, Mark 13:28). The word emphasizes the visible, outward emergence of new growth from an existing source.

Biblical Usage

ἐκφύω is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in the Synoptic Gospels' Olivet Discourse. In both Matthew 24:32 and Mark 13:28, Jesus uses the word in the same illustrative parable. The context is the fig tree 'putting forth' its leaves, which serves as a natural, observable sign that summer is near. Jesus applies this to the recognition of eschatological signs. The usage is purely metaphorical, drawing on a common agricultural observation.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning 'out of' or 'from,' and the verb φύω (phyō), meaning 'to bring forth,' 'produce,' or 'spring up.' The compound verb thus literally means 'to grow out from.' Its root is connected to the concept of natural growth and generation, seen in other words like φύσις (physis, 'nature') and φυτόν (phyton, 'plant').

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a common botanical term, its theological significance lies entirely in its use within Jesus' eschatological teaching. Understanding ἐκφύω enriches the reading of Matthew 24:32 and Mark 13:28 by highlighting the specific, observable stage of growth—the tender shoot emerging—as the definitive sign. This precise imagery reinforces the lesson that certain events are meant to be clear, discernible indicators of a coming reality (the kingdom of God), just as the sprouting fig leaves are an unmistakable herald of summer.

For Jesus' original audience, the fig tree's cycle was a familiar agricultural calendar. The 'putting forth' of tender branches (not just leaves) was a specific and reliable sign that winter was over and the warm, fruitful season was imminent. This metaphor relied on shared cultural knowledge of seasonal changes and plant behavior, making the spiritual analogy immediately understandable. The modern reader might miss this specificity, thinking simply of 'leaves appearing,' whereas the Greek term points to the active process of new growth emerging from the tree itself.

βλαστάνω (blastanō, G985) — a more general term for sprouting or budding; often used for the initial germination or growth of a plant. φύω (phyō, G5453) — the root verb meaning to bring forth or spring up, without the prefix emphasizing the 'outward' direction.

Word Details

Scripture References