Word Study for G1614 (ἐκτείνω)

ekteínō /ek-ti'-no/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐκ and teino (to stretch)

Meaningto extend

KJV usagecast, put forth, stretch forth (out).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ekteínō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word ekteínō, represented by G1614, is a verb that means to extend or to stretch forth (out). Its base definition comes from combining ἐκ and teino (to stretch). It appears 16 times across 14 unique verses in the Bible, often describing a decisive physical gesture that precedes a significant action.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, G1614 is frequently used to describe an action taken by Jesus. He is shown to put forth his hand to touch and cleanse a man with leprosy (Matthew 8:3, Luke 5:13, Mark 1:41). The term also describes the very moment of rescue when Jesus stretched forth his hand to save a doubting Peter from the water Matthew 14:31. The word can also carry a sense of hostility or aggression, as when one of Jesus's companions stretched out his hand to draw a sword Matthew 26:51, or when Jesus noted that his enemies in the temple stretched forth no hands against him Luke 22:53. In other contexts, it is a simple gesture, as when Paul stretched forth his hand to begin his defense Acts 26:1.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and impact of G1614:

G5495 cheír (the hand): This word is almost always used in conjunction with G1614, as the hand is the instrument being extended. It is through the hand that power is conveyed, whether for healing, rescue, or aggression Matthew 14:31.
G600 apokathístēmi (to reconstitute... restore): This word describes the result of Jesus's command to stretch forth a withered hand. Upon being extended, the hand was restored whole (Mark 3:5, Matthew 12:13).
G3960 patássō (to knock... smite, strike): This action is the direct result of someone stretching forth their hand with violent intent. In Matthew 26:51, a disciple stretched out his hand, drew a sword, and struck a servant of the high priest.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1614 is demonstrated in its use to signify divine or human will put into action.

Initiating Divine Power: The act of Jesus stretching forth His hand is consistently a prelude to a miraculous event. It is the physical motion that initiates healing for the leper Matthew 8:3, restoration for the man with the withered hand Matthew 12:13, and salvation for a sinking disciple Matthew 14:31.
A Channel for Healing: In the book of Acts, believers pray that God would grant healing by stretching forth His hand, directly associating the action with supernatural cures, signs, and wonders done in Jesus' name Acts 4:30.
Expression of Human Volition: The term is also used for human actions, indicating a point of decision. It is used to describe an act of violence Matthew 26:51, a gesture of public speaking Acts 26:1, and even a state of future submission, as prophesied for Peter John 21:18.

Summary

In summary, G1614 is more than a simple description of movement. It is a powerful verb signifying the extension of one's reach to effect change. Whether it is God stretching forth his hand to perform signs and wonders or a person extending their hand in an act of will, the word ekteínō marks a moment of deliberate and consequential action, bridging the gap between intention and impact.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 16 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 7×
Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Singular 3×
Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Present Active Infinitive 2×
Aorist Active Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
Future Active Indicative 2nd Singular 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 14 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (5 verses); never once in the other 22.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.