### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **ékthetos**, represented by `{{G1570}}`, means to be **put out** or **exposed to perish**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible. The term carries the severe implication of being **cast out**, an act of abandonment where the one forsaken is left to die.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its sole biblical appearance, `{{G1570}}` is used by Stephen in his historical address recounting Israel's oppression in Egypt. He describes the cruelty of Pharaoh, who "dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they **cast out** their young children, to the end they might not live" [[Acts 7:19]]. This singular usage highlights a brutal policy of forced exposure aimed at destroying a people by preventing their next generation from surviving.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in the passage illuminate the context of this severe act:
* `{{G1025}}` **bréphos** (infant): This word identifies the victims who were **cast out**. It refers to a **babe** or **young child**, emphasizing the helplessness of those abandoned to perish [[Acts 7:19]].
* `{{G2559}}` **kakoó** (entreat evil): This term establishes the malicious context for the act of casting out. It means to **injure** or **harm**, and the text states the fathers were "evil entreated" as part of the same oppression [[Acts 7:19]].
* `{{G2225}}` **zōogonéō** (live): This word reveals the ultimate intention behind being **cast out**. The children were exposed so that they would **not live**. The term itself means to **engender alive** or rescue from death, making its negation here particularly stark [[Acts 7:19]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G1570}}` is derived entirely from its specific, grim context.
* **Persecution and Vulnerability:** The use of `{{G1570}}` illustrates the extreme measures worldly powers employ to persecute God's people. The specific targeting of infants (`bréphos`, `{{G1025}}`) shows a profound level of cruelty, going beyond merely afflicting the fathers.
* **A Threat to Covenant Lineage:** The act of being **cast out** was a direct assault on the future of the Israelite "kindred" `{{G1085}}` and the promises God made to their "fathers" `{{G3962}}`. By trying to ensure the children would "not live" `{{G2225}}`, the Egyptians sought to cut off the covenant line.
* **The Futility of Oppression:** Stephen recounts this brutal act as part of a larger narrative of suffering. The enemy used subtle dealings (`katasophízomai`, `{{G2686}}`) and evil treatment (`kakoó`, `{{G2559}}`) to destroy God's people, yet this history is told to highlight God's ultimate deliverance [[Acts 7:19]].
### Summary
In summary, **ékthetos** `{{G1570}}` is a rare but potent word, appearing only once to describe a horrific act of persecution. Its meaning, to be **cast out** and exposed to perish, is vividly defined by the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt [[Acts 7:19]]. The term encapsulates themes of extreme cruelty, the targeting of the helpless, and a direct attack against the future of God's chosen people. Ultimately, `{{G1570}}` serves as a dark historical marker that underscores the severity of the bondage from which God would later rescue His kindred.
TRV