from ἐκ and αἱρέομαι; actively, to tear out; middle voice, to select; figuratively, to release:--deliver, pluck out, rescue.
Transliteration:exairéō
Pronunciation:ex-ahee-reh'-o
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἐξαιρέω (exairéō, `{{G1807}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition ἐκ (ek, "out of" or "from") and the verb αἱρέομαι (hairéomai, "to take," "to choose," "to seize"). This etymology immediately suggests a core meaning of "taking out" or "removing from."
In its active voice, the literal sense is "to tear out" or "to pluck out," implying a forceful extraction. In the middle voice, it conveys "to choose for oneself" or "to select," indicating a deliberate act of taking something out for one's own purpose. Figuratively, and most prominently in the New Testament, exairéō signifies "to deliver," "to rescue," or "to set free." This semantic range encompasses not only physical removal but also liberation from danger, oppression, or spiritual bondage. The emphasis is always on a decisive action of removal *from* a particular state or situation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of exairéō in the New Testament consistently highlight its meaning of deliverance and rescue, often with a divine agent:
* In the Book of Acts, the term frequently describes God's powerful intervention to save His servants or people:
* God "delivered" Joseph from all his afflictions in Egypt ([[Acts 7:10]]).
* God heard the groaning of Israel and came down to "deliver" them from Egyptian bondage ([[Acts 7:34]]).
* Peter, after his miraculous escape from prison, realized that the Lord had "rescued" him from Herod's hand and the expectation of the Jewish people ([[Acts 12:11]]).
* Even human agents can be instruments of this rescue, as when the Roman tribune Lysias "rescued" Paul from the violent crowd of Jews ([[Acts 23:27]]).
* Christ Himself promises Paul that He will "deliver" him from the Jewish people and the Gentiles to whom he is sent ([[Acts 26:17]]), underscoring divine protection in ministry.
* Perhaps the most profound theological use appears in Paul's letter to the Galatians:
* Christ "delivered us from the present evil age" ([[Galatians 1:4]]). Here, exairéō describes the cosmic scope of Christ's redemptive work, a radical liberation of believers from the dominion and influence of the fallen world system.
Across these contexts, exairéō always denotes a powerful, decisive act of removal from a perilous, oppressive, or undesirable situation, leading to freedom or safety. While the base meaning includes "to pluck out" literally, the New Testament usage overwhelmingly leans into the figurative sense of rescue and deliverance.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of exairéō is enriched by its relationship to other Greek terms and theological concepts:
* **Prepositional Component:** The prefix ἐκ (ek, `{{G1537}}`) is crucial, emphasizing the "out of" aspect inherent in all uses of exairéō. This highlights the idea of separation and removal from a prior state or location.
* **Root Verb:** The base verb αἱρέομαι (hairéomai, `{{G138}}`), meaning "to take" or "to choose," contributes the sense of a deliberate, active selection or seizure.
* **Synonyms for Deliverance:**
* ῥύομαι (rhyomai, `{{G4506}}`): "to rescue, deliver," often from danger or evil. This word is very close in meaning to exairéō in its deliverance sense.
* σῴζω (sōzō, `{{G4982}}`): "to save, deliver," a broader term encompassing spiritual salvation, healing, and preservation.
* λυτρόω (lytroō, `{{G3084}}`): "to redeem, ransom," emphasizing deliverance through a payment or price.
* **Contrasting Concepts:** The word exairéō stands in contrast to states of bondage, oppression, danger, and the pervasive influence of evil. It signifies a movement from such states to freedom, safety, and a new alignment.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of exairéō is profound, particularly in its application to divine action:
* **God as the Great Deliverer:** The frequent use of exairéō to describe God's intervention (e.g., in the life of Joseph, the Exodus, Peter's release) underscores His sovereign power, faithfulness, and providential care for His people. He is not a distant deity but one who actively "plucks out" His chosen ones from harm and affliction. This reinforces the biblical narrative of a God who hears the cries of His people and acts decisively on their behalf.
* **Christ's Redemptive Work:** The declaration in [[Galatians 1:4]] that Christ "delivered us from the present evil age" is a cornerstone of New Testament theology. This use of exairéō highlights the comprehensive nature of Christ's salvation. It is not merely a forgiveness of sins but a radical rescue from the entire system and dominion of the fallen world. Believers are "taken out" of a realm ruled by sin and death and transferred into the kingdom of light. This deliverance is not just from the penalty of sin but from its pervasive power and influence in the present age.
* **The Nature of Deliverance:** The active and often forceful connotation of exairéō implies that divine deliverance is not a passive process but a powerful, decisive act. It involves a separation, a setting apart, and a relocation from one sphere of influence to another. This underscores the transformative power of God's grace.
### Summary
The Greek verb ἐξαιρέω (exairéō, `{{G1807}}`) fundamentally means "to take out" or "to pluck out." While its literal sense suggests forceful removal, its predominant use in the New Testament is figurative, signifying "to deliver," "to rescue," or "to set free." This word consistently portrays a decisive act of intervention, often divine, by which an individual or group is powerfully removed from a dangerous, oppressive, or undesirable situation. Its theological significance is immense, highlighting God's faithfulness as the ultimate Deliverer and, crucially, describing Christ's redemptive work in delivering believers from the pervasive power and dominion of the present evil age. It speaks to a profound separation and transfer from one realm to another, underscoring the active, liberating nature of salvation.
TRV