ἐξωθέω

I drive out, expel, propel

Definition

The verb ἐξωθέω means to drive out, expel, or thrust out with force. In Acts 7:45, it describes the Israelites driving out or dispossessing the nations as they entered the Promised Land, carrying a sense of forceful removal. In Acts 27:39, the term is used in a nautical context, where sailors attempted to drive or run the ship ashore, implying a deliberate, forceful propulsion onto land. Thus, the word consistently conveys an action of expulsion or propulsion executed with significant energy or compulsion.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, both in the book of Acts, but in distinct contexts. In Acts 7:45, it is used theologically and historically to describe the driving out of nations during the conquest. In Acts 27:39, it is used in a vivid narrative of a shipwreck, describing the practical attempt to beach the ship. Both usages emphasize a forceful, decisive action, but one is spiritual-historical and the other is physical-survival.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐξ (ex), meaning 'out of' or 'from,' combined with the verb ὠθέω (ōtheō), meaning 'to push' or 'to thrust.' The compound form intensifies the sense of pushing or thrusting something out from a place. It shares a root with words like ἀπωθέω (apōtheō, G683), meaning 'to push away' or 'reject.'

Semantic Range

In Acts 7:45, the word is part of Stephen's speech recounting God's faithfulness in giving Israel the land, highlighting the theme of divine judgment and fulfillment of promise through the expulsion of pagan nations. Understanding this forceful term enriches the reading by emphasizing the active, sometimes confrontational, nature of God's work in establishing His people, contrasting with mere passive acquisition.

In the ancient world, 'driving out' nations, as in Acts 7:45, was a common concept in conquest narratives, reflecting the harsh realities of warfare and territorial displacement. The nautical usage in Acts 27:39 reflects the perilous nature of sea travel, where beaching a ship was a desperate, forceful maneuver to save lives, understood by a culture familiar with Mediterranean shipping dangers.

ἐκβάλλω (ekballō, G1544) — often 'to cast out,' used more frequently for exorcisms or expulsions; ἀπωθέω (apōtheō, G683) — to push away or reject, often in a moral or relational sense.

Word Details

Scripture References