### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ekdýō (`{{G1562}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition ek (`{{G1537}}`), meaning "out of" or "from," and the base of dýnō (related to dýō), which signifies "to sink," "to enter," or "to put on" (especially clothing). Thus, the core meaning of ekdýō is "to cause to sink out of" or "to take off from." Primarily, it denotes the act of divesting, particularly of clothing. Its semantic range is quite focused, referring almost exclusively to the removal of garments, whether literally or metaphorically. It implies a state of being uncovered, exposed, or dispossessed of an outer covering.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Ekdýō appears four times in the New Testament, consistently carrying the sense of removing clothing, with profound contextual implications:
1. **[[Matthew 27:28]]**: "And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him." Here, Roman soldiers strip Jesus of His own garments before mockingly clothing Him in a scarlet robe to ridicule His claim to kingship. This act of stripping is a prelude to His crucifixion, emphasizing His humiliation, vulnerability, and the complete abasement He endured for humanity.
2. **[[Mark 15:20]]**: "And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple cloak off Him and put His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him." Similar to Matthew's account, this verse describes the soldiers removing the mock kingly attire from Jesus and restoring His own clothes before leading Him to Golgotha. The act of stripping and re-clothing underscores the brutal reality of His suffering and the transition from mockery to execution.
3. **[[Luke 10:30]]**: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead." In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, ekdýō describes the violent act of robbers who not only beat their victim but also strip him of his clothing. This act of divestment leaves the man utterly vulnerable, exposed, and deprived of any means of protection or dignity, highlighting the severity of the assault and his desperate need for help.
4. **[[2 Corinthians 5:4]]**: "For indeed, we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." In this profound theological passage, Paul uses ekdýō metaphorically. "To be unclothed" (ekdýō) refers to the state of being disembodied through death, of shedding the earthly tent (our mortal body). Paul clarifies that believers do not desire to be "unclothed" in the sense of existing as a naked spirit without a body; rather, they long to be "further clothed" (ependýomai, `{{G1902}}`) with the resurrection body, where mortality is swallowed up by life. This usage is unique in its metaphorical application to the ultimate human experience of death and resurrection.
In all contexts, ekdýō signifies a removal that results in a state of exposure, vulnerability, or transition, whether physical or existential.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct antonym and a crucial related word to ekdýō is endýō (`{{G1746}}`), meaning "to put on" or "to clothe." This pair forms a significant semantic field related to clothing, identity, and transformation in the New Testament. For instance, believers are exhorted to "put off" (apotíthēmi, `{{G659}}`) the old self and "put on" (endýō) the new self (e.g., [[Ephesians 4:22-24]], [[Colossians 3:9-10]]), a concept that resonates with the stripping and clothing imagery.
Other related concepts include:
* **Nakedness:** gymnós (`{{G1131}}`), which describes the state resulting from being ekdýō.
* **Suffering and Humiliation:** The stripping of Jesus and the man in the parable are acts of profound humiliation and exposure to suffering.
* **Mortality and Immortality:** In [[2 Corinthians 5:4]], ekdýō is directly linked to the mortal body and the anticipation of an immortal, glorified body.
* **Vulnerability:** The act of being stripped renders one defenseless and exposed.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ekdýō is multifaceted:
1. **Christ's Humiliation and Atonement:** The stripping of Jesus' garments (in Matthew and Mark) is a powerful visual of His utter humiliation and vulnerability. It symbolizes His complete self-emptying (kenōsis, `{{G2758}}`) and His willingness to endure ultimate shame and suffering on behalf of humanity. This act highlights the depth of His identification with the lowly and His sacrificial love. He was stripped bare so that humanity might be clothed in His righteousness.
2. **Human Vulnerability and Deprivation:** The man stripped by robbers in Luke's parable underscores the harsh reality of human vulnerability to evil and violence. It portrays a state of complete deprivation, both physical and of dignity, emphasizing the need for compassionate intervention. This imagery serves to evoke empathy and call for active love towards those in desperate need.
3. **Eschatological Hope and the Resurrection Body:** Paul's use of ekdýō in [[2 Corinthians 5:4]] is profoundly significant for Christian eschatology. It clarifies that the Christian hope is not for a disembodied existence after death (to be "unclothed" permanently), but for a glorified, spiritual body that will "further clothe" the believer, swallowing up mortality in life. This passage assures believers of a future physical resurrection and transformation, not merely a disembodied spiritual immortality. It speaks to the Christian's longing for the fullness of redemption, which includes the body.
4. **Spiritual Transformation (Implicit):** While not directly using ekdýō for the "putting off" of the old self, the concept of divestment is foundational to Christian spiritual growth. To "put on" Christ or the new self necessitates a prior "taking off" of sinful habits and the old nature. The physical act of stripping serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual process of shedding what is corrupt to embrace what is righteous.
### Summary
Ekdýō (`{{G1562}}`) is a Greek verb meaning "to strip," "to take off from," or "to unclothe." Its primary literal usage in the New Testament depicts acts of physical divestment, particularly the stripping of Jesus' garments during His passion, symbolizing His profound humiliation and vulnerability in His atoning work. It also illustrates the extreme vulnerability of the man in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Metaphorically, in [[2 Corinthians 5:4]], ekdýō refers to the state of being disembodied by death, which Paul contrasts with the Christian hope of being "further clothed" with a resurrection body. The word thus encapsulates themes of suffering, abasement, human vulnerability, and the ultimate eschatological hope for bodily transformation, underscoring significant aspects of Christ's sacrifice and the believer's destiny.
TRV