The Greek word ékdotos, represented by G1560, means to be given out or over, or surrendered. Its base definition is "delivered." This specific term is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible. Its singular appearance, however, is in a passage of profound theological importance, describing the nature of Christ's death.
The sole use of G1560 is found in Acts 2:23, which states that Jesus was "delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." In this context, the word establishes that the crucifixion was not a random act of violence or a political failure, but a purposeful and sovereign surrender. It signifies that God was the ultimate authority who "gave over" Christ as part of a pre-ordained plan, which was then carried out by human hands.
Several related words in the same passage illuminate the divine plan surrounding this act of delivery:
- G3724 horízō (determinate): This word means to appoint, decree, or specify. It emphasizes that God's plan was not vague but precisely marked out, as when He "ordained" a man to judge the world Acts 17:31.
- G1012 boulḗ (counsel): This term refers to volition or purpose. It is used to describe God working all things according to the "counsel of his own will" Ephesians 1:11, reinforcing the idea of a deliberate divine strategy.
- G4268 prógnōsis (foreknowledge): Meaning "forethought," this word connects God's plan to his omniscience. Believers are described as being elect according to the "foreknowledge of God" 1 Peter 1:2.
- G2983 lambánō (ye have taken): Meaning "to take," this word describes the human action in response to God's divine delivery. While God delivered Christ, it was by "wicked hands" that people did "take" and crucify Him Acts 2:23.
The theological weight of G1560 is centered on the interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the crucifixion.
- Sovereign Ordination: The use of ékdotos in conjunction with "determinate counsel" (G3724, G1012) and "foreknowledge" G4268 firmly establishes that Christ's death was part of the unchanging and sovereign plan of God G2316.
- Purposeful Surrender: The term itself signifies a deliberate "giving over." It was not that Christ was simply captured against God's will; rather, he was "delivered" by God's will for a specific purpose.
- Human Responsibility: Despite this divine ordination, the verse explicitly attributes the act of crucifying and slaying to men who acted with "wicked" G459 hands G5495, demonstrating that God's sovereign plan does not remove human culpability.
In summary, while G1560 appears only once, its singular use in Acts 2:23 is foundational to Christian theology. The word ékdotos encapsulates the profound truth that the crucifixion was a sovereign act of God, who purposefully "delivered" His Son. At the same time, it does not absolve the human agents who, through their own "wicked hands," carried out the act. It is a powerful example of how a single word can define the relationship between God's will and human actions in the plan of salvation.
TRV