ἐκτρέφω

I nourish, nurture, bring up

Definition

The verb ἐκτρέφω means to nourish, nurture, or bring up to maturity. It carries the sense of providing for and caring for someone's complete development, encompassing both physical sustenance and moral or spiritual training. In Ephesians 5:29, it describes the comprehensive care a husband should provide for his own body, which is metaphorically applied to his care for his wife. In Ephesians 6:4, the focus shifts to the parental duty of raising children, specifically instructing fathers to bring them up in the 'training and instruction of the Lord,' highlighting the spiritual dimension of this nurture.

Biblical Usage

ἐκτρέφω is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in the Epistle to the Ephesians. Its usage is entirely within the context of relational responsibilities in the Christian household. In Ephesians 5:29, it illustrates the depth of a husband's love and care for his wife. In Ephesians 6:4, it directly commands fathers regarding their duty in child-rearing, explicitly connecting the act of 'bringing up' with Christian discipleship and education.

Etymology

The word is a compound verb formed from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning 'out of' or 'from,' and the root verb τρέφω (trephō, G5142), which means 'to nourish,' 'feed,' or 'rear.' The ἐκ prefix can intensify the meaning, suggesting nourishment that brings something 'out' to its full potential or completion. Thus, ἐκτρέφω implies a thorough, formative nurturing that leads to maturity.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it frames key domestic relationships within the metaphor of Christ's care for the church. In Ephesians 5:29, the husband's duty to 'nourish' his wife is directly compared to how Christ nourishes the church, elevating marital love to a sacred act of spiritual stewardship. In Ephesians 6:4, it anchors the Christian family's primary discipleship context, showing that parental responsibility is not merely physical provision but intentional spiritual formation, countering harsh, provoking parenting styles.

In the Greco-Roman world, the father (paterfamilias) had absolute authority over the household, including the power to discipline harshly. The New Testament's command in Ephesians 6:4 to 'bring up' (ἐκτρέφω) children in the Lord's instruction presented a radical, nurturing alternative to the authoritarian cultural norm. It redefined fatherhood around patient teaching and spiritual guidance, not just control and provision.

τρέφω (trephō, G5142) — The root verb, focusing more on the basic act of feeding or nourishing physically. παιδεύω (paideuō, G3811) — Emphasizes training, instruction, and correction, often used alongside ἐκτρέφω (as in Ephesians 6:4). ἀνατρέφω (anatrephō, G397) — Also means to bring up or nourish, used in Acts 7:20-21 for Moses; the prefix ἀνα suggests 'up' or 'back,' with a similar sense of rearing.

Word Details

Scripture References