### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb `{{G1621}}` *ektinássō* is a compound word formed from the preposition *ek* (ἐκ), meaning "out of" or "from," and the verb *tinássō* (τινάσσω), meaning "to shake" or "to swing." The prefix *ek* intensifies the action, conveying a sense of shaking *off* completely, thoroughly, or violently. Thus, the core meaning of *ektinássō* is "to shake out," "to shake off," or "to shake violently." It implies a decisive and thorough removal or expulsion. In its biblical usage, it consistently refers to the act of shaking dust or garments, symbolizing a complete severance or rejection.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{G1621}}` appears five times in the New Testament, always in contexts related to the rejection of the Gospel message and its messengers.
1. **[[Matthew 10:14]], [[Mark 6:11]], [[Luke 9:5]]**: In these synoptic accounts, Jesus instructs His disciples that if any town or house does not receive them or listen to their words, they are to "shake off the dust from their feet" as they leave. This act is explicitly stated to be "a testimony against them." The dust, being a part of the land, symbolically represents any defilement or shared responsibility with those who reject the message. Shaking it off signifies a complete disassociation, declaring that the disciples are free from any accountability for the unbelief of the inhabitants and that the responsibility for their rejection rests solely upon them. It serves as a prophetic warning of impending judgment.
2. **[[Acts 13:51]]**: After being expelled from Antioch of Pisidia by the Jews who stirred up persecution against them, Paul and Barnabas "shook off the dust from their feet against them" and went to Iconium. This is a direct application of Jesus' instruction. It underscores the apostles' adherence to the Lord's command and their resolute declaration of the Jews' rejection of the Gospel, signifying a break from further responsibility for their spiritual state.
3. **[[Acts 18:6]]**: In Corinth, when the Jews opposed and reviled Paul, he "shook out his garments" (τὰ ἱμάτια, *ta himatia*) and declared, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." While not explicitly "dust from feet," the shaking of garments carries the identical symbolic weight of a complete and public disassociation and a declaration of blamelessness. It marks a decisive turning point in Paul's ministry, shifting his focus from the unrepentant Jews to the receptive Gentiles, and serves as a solemn pronouncement of their self-inflicted spiritual peril.
In all these instances, *ektinássō* denotes a powerful, public, and symbolic act of protest and separation, marking the end of a mission to a particular group and signaling the consequences of their unbelief.
### Related Words & Concepts
The act of shaking off dust or garments is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, signifying disassociation from defilement or a rejection of an oath. Related Greek terms that convey aspects of shaking or separation include:
* `{{G4531}}` *saleuō*: To shake, agitate, cause to totter (e.g., a foundation or a kingdom). While *ektinássō* implies a specific action of shaking *off*, *saleuō* denotes a more general disturbance or instability.
* `{{G659}}` *apotássō*: To set apart, separate, take leave of, renounce. This word captures the concept of separation inherent in *ektinássō*, though *apotássō* is more about a formal departure or renunciation, whereas *ektinássō* describes the physical act that symbolizes such a separation.
* The concept of *testimony* (μαρτύριον, `{{G3142}}`) is intrinsically linked to the act of *ektinássō*. The shaking off of dust *is* the testimony, a visible declaration of the truth concerning the hearers' spiritual state.
* The broader biblical theme of **separation from evil** or **uncleanliness** (e.g., [[2 Corinthians 6:17]], [[Isaiah 52:11]]) resonates with the symbolic cleansing implied by shaking off dust.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *ektinássō* is profound, touching upon divine judgment, human responsibility, and the nature of Gospel proclamation.
1. **Prophetic Warning and Judgment**: The act of shaking off dust is a pre-enactment of divine judgment. It serves as a stark warning that those who reject God's messengers and His word are rejecting God Himself, incurring severe consequences. The dust, which will rise again on the Day of Judgment, will bear witness against them.
2. **Messenger's Blamelessness**: By shaking off the dust, the disciples declare their innocence concerning the fate of those who reject them. Their responsibility is to proclaim the message; the hearers' responsibility is to respond. The act ensures that the messengers are not defiled by the unbelief and are cleared of any culpability for the spiritual death of the resistors.
3. **Decisiveness of the Gospel Call**: The command to *ektinássō* underscores the urgent and decisive nature of the Gospel. It is not a suggestion but a divine imperative that demands a response. Rejection is not neutral; it carries eternal implications.
4. **Divine Sovereignty and Human Free Will**: While God is sovereign, the act acknowledges human free will to accept or reject the message. The shaking off signifies that the consequences of rejection are self-imposed, a result of their own choice.
5. **Purity of Mission**: The act emphasizes the need for the Gospel messenger to maintain spiritual purity and focus on the mission. Lingering in places of rejection, or allowing the defilement of unbelief to cling, would hinder further ministry.
### Summary
The Greek verb `{{G1621}}` *ektinássō* signifies a forceful and complete shaking off, primarily of dust or garments. In the New Testament, it is a powerful, symbolic act commanded by Jesus and performed by the apostles when their proclamation of the Gospel is decisively rejected. This act serves as a solemn prophetic warning of impending divine judgment upon those who refuse the message, while simultaneously declaring the blamelessness and disassociation of the messengers from such unbelief. It underscores the gravity of the Gospel, the responsibility of the hearer, and the purity required of those who proclaim God's truth.
TRV