ἐξορκίζω

I adjure, put to oath

Definition

The verb ἐξορκίζω means to put someone under a solemn oath, often invoking a divine name or authority to compel a truthful response or action. In its primary sense, it refers to the act of adjuring or solemnly charging someone, as seen when the high priest adjures Jesus in Matthew 26:63. While the word can be used in contexts of exorcism (driving out spirits by an oath), its single New Testament occurrence does not carry that specific meaning. The core idea is binding someone by an oath, making a declaration or action mandatory under sacred sanction.

Biblical Usage

ἐξορκίζω is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 26:63. Here, the high priest Caiaphas, during Jesus' trial, adjures Jesus by the living God to tell them if he is the Christ, the Son of God. This usage is a formal, legal, and religious adjuration, not an exorcism. The context is a judicial setting where a solemn oath is administered to elicit a binding testimony.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐξ (ex, meaning 'out of') and the verb ὁρκίζω (horkizō, meaning 'to make someone swear,' from ὅρκος, horkos, 'oath'). Literally, it means 'to put someone under an oath' or 'to extract something by an oath.' The compound emphasizes the binding force of the oath being imposed.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the solemnity of oaths and truth-telling before God. In Matthew 26:63, the high priest's adjuration places Jesus in a position where he must answer truthfully under divine authority, leading directly to his confession of being the Messiah. This moment is pivotal for Christology and the trial narrative, showing Jesus accepting the charge under oath. Understanding this Greek term clarifies the gravity of the legal and religious pressure applied to Jesus, enriching our reading of the Passion account.

In the first-century Jewish and Greco-Roman world, adjuring someone by a deity was a serious legal and religious act. An oath invoked divine witness and potential judgment for falsehood. The high priest's use of 'the living God' (Matthew 26:63) carried immense weight in that setting, making a refusal to answer or a false statement a grave offense against God. This differs from a modern casual promise or even a courtroom oath, as it was deeply embedded in a worldview where divine beings directly enforced such sworn statements.

ὁρκίζω (horkizō, G3726) — The simpler root verb meaning 'to make someone swear' or 'adjure,' without the intensive prefix. ὁμνύω (omnyō, G3660) — The more common verb meaning simply 'to swear' or 'take an oath.'

Word Details

Scripture References