Word Study for G1807 (ἐξαιρέω)

exairéō /ex-ahee-reh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐκ and αἱρέομαι

Meaningactively, to tear out; middle voice, to select; figuratively, to release

KJV usagedeliver, pluck out, rescue.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of exairéō — 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 exairéō, represented by G1807, conveys a strong sense of action, defined as actively, to tear out; figuratively, to release. Its core meanings include to deliver, pluck out, and rescue. According to the scriptures, it appears 10 times across 8 unique verses, highlighting its use in contexts of both physical and spiritual extraction from peril.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The use of G1807 spans from graphic, personal commands to descriptions of divine intervention. In a stark metaphor for dealing with sin, Jesus commands his followers that if an eye offends them, they are to pluck it out and cast it away (Matthew 5:29, Matthew 18:9). The word also describes God's direct action in history, such as when He delivered Joseph from his afflictions in Egypt Acts 7:10 and promised to deliver the Israelites from their bondage after hearing their groaning Acts 7:34. In a more militant context, a Roman commander rescued Paul from a mob that was about to kill him Acts 23:27.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to frame the context in which G1807 is used:

G1325 dídōmi (to give): This word is directly linked to the act of deliverance in Galatians 1:4, where Christ gave himself in order to deliver us from the present evil world.
G906 bállō (to throw, cast out): This action immediately follows the use of G1807 in Matthew 5:29 and Matthew 18:9. After one is commanded to pluck out the offending eye, they are to cast it from them.
G1821 exapostéllō (to send away forth): This word shows the mechanism of deliverance. In Acts 12:11, the Lord sent forth his angel and delivered Peter from the hand of Herod.
G2597 katabaínō (to descend): In Acts 7:34, God declares that He has seen the affliction of His people and has come down specifically to deliver them, showing divine initiative in the rescue.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1807 is significant, emphasizing God's power to save and the believer's required response.

Soteriological Deliverance: Its most profound use is in describing Christ's work. He gave himself for our sins specifically so that He might deliver us from this present evil world, a core tenet of salvation Galatians 1:4.
Divine Rescue: The word repeatedly illustrates God's active intervention in human affairs to rescue his chosen people. He delivered Joseph in Egypt Acts 7:10, He came down to deliver Israel Acts 7:34, and He delivered Peter from prison Acts 12:11.
Radical Separation: The command to pluck out an eye serves as a powerful illustration of the need for decisive and even painful separation from sources of sin Matthew 5:29.

Summary

In summary, G1807 is a dynamic verb that signifies a forceful removal from a state of danger, bondage, or sin. Whether it is the violent act of tearing out an eye, the rescue of an individual from a mob, or the spiritual deliverance of humanity through Christ, exairéō points to a decisive and powerful act of extraction. It underscores a fundamental biblical theme: God is a rescuer who intervenes to save His people.

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 8 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

2nd Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Singular 2×
2nd Aorist Middle Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
2nd Aorist Middle Indicative 1st Singular 1×
2nd Aorist Middle Infinitive 1×
2nd Aorist Middle Subjunctive 3rd Singular 1×
Present Middle Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
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.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
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 8 verses across 3 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (5 verses); never once in the other 24.

Matthew

Acts

Galatians

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.