ἐκριζόω

I root out, root up

Definition

The verb ἐκριζόω means to completely remove something by tearing it out from its roots, signifying total destruction or eradication. In its literal sense, it describes the agricultural practice of uprooting plants, as seen in the parable of the wheat and tares where the servants ask if they should 'root up' the weeds (Matthew 13:29). Figuratively, it denotes God's judgment in removing what He has not planted, such as false teachings or people (Matthew 15:13), and expresses the power of faith to accomplish the seemingly impossible, like uprooting a mulberry tree (Luke 17:6). Jude 12 uses it metaphorically for false teachers who are 'twice dead, plucked up by the roots,' emphasizing their complete spiritual barrenness and removal.

Biblical Usage

This word is used four times in the New Testament across Gospels and one epistle, always in a figurative or proverbial context rather than a simple agricultural report. In Matthew, it appears in Jesus's teachings: once in a parable about judgment (13:29) and once in a declaration about God removing false plants (15:13). Luke 17:6 employs it in a hyperbolic saying about the potent power of faith. Jude 12 uses it as a stark metaphor for the ultimate fate of corrupt individuals. The usage consistently conveys an action of decisive, complete removal, often with divine or supernatural agency.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning 'out of' or 'from,' combined with the verb ῥιζόω (rhizoō), which means 'to cause to take root' or 'to root.' Thus, ἐκριζόω literally means 'to root out.' It is a compound word that intensifies the action of removal, emphasizing extraction from the very foundation or source. This construction highlights the thoroughness of the action, moving beyond mere cutting down to complete eradication from the ground up.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it vividly illustrates God's sovereign judgment and the transformative power of faith. In Matthew 15:13, it underscores God's authority to remove doctrines or movements not ordained by Him. In Luke 17:6, it hyperbolically describes the potent, mountain-moving quality of genuine faith. The metaphor in Jude 12 starkly portrays the finality of divine judgment against apostasy. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by emphasizing the completeness of God's actions—whether in judgment or in empowering believers—and the total eradication implied, far beyond a superficial change.

In an agrarian society, uprooting a plant was a definitive act, as it ensured the plant could not regrow. Unlike simply cutting a plant down, rooting it out required more effort but guaranteed its permanent removal. This cultural understanding informs the biblical usage, where ἐκριζόω conveys not a temporary setback but an irreversible elimination. The image of uprooting a tree, as in Luke 17:6, would have been seen as a humanly impossible task, heightening the proverb's impact about faith's power.

κατασκάπτω (kataskaptō, G2679) — to dig down, demolish (more about razing structures to the ground); ἐξαίρω (exairō, G1808) — to remove, take away (a more general term for removal without the root imagery); ἀπολλύω (apollyō, G622) — to destroy, perish (focuses on the state of ruin rather than the method of removal).

Word Details

Scripture References