### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb `{{G1610}}` (ekrizóō) is a compound word derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning "out of" or "from," and the verb ῥιζόω (rhizoō), meaning "to root" or "to cause to take root." The root of ῥιζόω is ῥίζα (rhiza), meaning "root." Therefore, `{{G1610}}` literally translates to "to root out" or "to pluck up by the root." Its core meaning denotes a complete and forceful removal of something from its foundational place. Semantically, it extends beyond the literal uprooting of plants to encompass the metaphorical eradication or destruction of people, doctrines, or systems, implying a thorough and irreversible removal. It signifies the undoing of anything that has taken root, whether physically or conceptually.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{G1610}}` appears four times in the New Testament, each instance carrying significant contextual weight:
* **[[Matthew 13:29]]**: In the Parable of the Weeds, Jesus instructs His servants not to "uproot" (μὴ ἐκριζώσητε) the weeds along with the wheat before the harvest. This usage highlights the difficulty and potential harm of premature judgment or separation. It underscores divine patience and the wisdom of allowing both to grow until the appointed time of divine sifting.
* **[[Matthew 15:13]]**: Jesus declares, "Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted" (ἐκριζωθήσεται). This is a powerful statement of divine judgment. Here, `{{G1610}}` signifies the ultimate removal and destruction of false traditions, human doctrines, or any spiritual entity not originating from God. It speaks to the purity and sovereignty of God's kingdom.
* **[[Luke 17:6]]**: Jesus speaks of faith the size of a mustard seed, able to command a mulberry tree to "be uprooted" (ἐκριζώθητι) and planted in the sea. This is a hyperbolic illustration emphasizing the immense, even miraculous, power of genuine faith to overcome seemingly impossible natural obstacles. The act of uprooting here symbolizes a radical transformation or displacement.
* **[[Jude 1:12]]**: In describing false teachers, Jude calls them "trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted" (ἐκριζωθέντα). This vivid imagery portrays their spiritual barrenness, lack of life, and ultimate condemnation. Having no genuine root in God, they are destined for complete destruction and removal from any spiritual vitality or connection.
Across these contexts, `{{G1610}}` consistently conveys the idea of complete and decisive removal, whether as a cautionary measure, a divine judgment, an act of faith, or a description of spiritual demise.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is `{{G4492}}` (rhizoō), the base verb meaning "to root" or "to cause to take root," and its noun form `{{G4491}}` (rhiza), meaning "root." While `{{G4492}}` speaks of establishment and firm foundation, `{{G1610}}` represents the antithesis: dislodgment and destruction.
Concepts closely associated with `{{G1610}}` include:
* **Judgment and Eradication**: Particularly evident in [[Matthew 15:13]] and [[Jude 1:12]], signifying divine judgment against falsehood, unrighteousness, and spiritual barrenness.
* **Separation**: As seen in [[Matthew 13:29]], the act of uprooting implies a separation of what is deemed undesirable.
* **Divine Sovereignty**: God's ultimate authority to establish or remove, to plant or to uproot, is implicit in its usage.
* **Power of Faith**: The extraordinary capacity of faith to effect change, even over natural laws ([[Luke 17:6]]).
* **Spiritual Barrenness**: The state of those who are spiritually dead and without fruit, leading to their being "uprooted" ([[Jude 1:12]]).
Antonyms or contrasting concepts would involve words related to planting, building, establishing, nurturing, and growth.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G1610}}` is profound, primarily revolving around God's sovereign authority, judgment, and the nature of genuine faith.
Firstly, `{{G1610}}` underscores **divine judgment and purity**. The declaration in [[Matthew 15:13]]—that every plant not planted by the Father will be uprooted—is a cornerstone. It reveals God's absolute commitment to the purity of His kingdom and His ultimate intention to eradicate all that is false, corrupt, or not of divine origin. This applies to false doctrines, human traditions that usurp divine commands, and ultimately, individuals who do not bear spiritual fruit in accordance with God's will. It speaks to the eschatological reality of a final separation and cleansing.
Secondly, the use in [[Jude 1:12]] highlights the **consequences of spiritual apostasy and barrenness**. False teachers are described as "uprooted," signifying their complete severance from the source of life and truth. They are not merely unproductive; they are fundamentally without roots, destined for complete spiritual death and destruction. This serves as a stark warning against spiritual deception and ungodliness.
Thirdly, the usage in [[Luke 17:6]] demonstrates the **supernatural power available through genuine faith**. While metaphorical, the ability to "uproot" a tree by command illustrates that faith, even in its smallest measure, can tap into divine power to accomplish what is naturally impossible. It points to God's ability to intervene radically in the natural order through His people's faith.
Finally, the context of [[Matthew 13:29]] introduces a nuance of **divine patience and wisdom in judgment**. God, in His wisdom, allows the "weeds" to remain alongside the "wheat" for a season, preventing premature harm and ensuring a more complete harvest. This teaches about God's timing and His patient management of good and evil in the present age, with the assurance that ultimate uprooting will occur at the appointed time.
### Summary
The Greek verb `{{G1610}}` (ekrizóō) means "to uproot" or "to pluck up by the root," signifying a complete and decisive removal. Its biblical occurrences reveal significant theological truths: it depicts God's sovereign judgment and the ultimate eradication of all that is not of Him, including false doctrines and unrighteousness ([[Matthew 15:13]]). It vividly portrays the spiritual barrenness and final condemnation of those who are devoid of true spiritual life ([[Jude 1:12]]). Conversely, it illustrates the extraordinary, even miraculous, power that genuine faith can wield over seemingly insurmountable obstacles ([[Luke 17:6]]). While signifying ultimate destruction, the concept is also tempered by divine patience, as seen in the parable of the weeds, where premature uprooting is cautioned against ([[Matthew 13:29]]). Thus, `{{G1610}}` powerfully communicates themes of divine authority, purity, judgment, and the transformative power of faith.
TRV