### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **exaírō**, represented by `{{G1808}}`, means **to remove** or **put (take) away**. It is a compound word derived from ἐκ and αἴρω. It appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, both within the same chapter of the Bible, indicating a specific and focused application.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{G1808}}` is used to command the removal of a person from the community of believers. In the context of church discipline, Paul instructs that a certain individual should be **taken away** from among the Corinthian believers due to a specific deed [[1 Corinthians 5:2]]. This directive is repeated with the explicit command to **put away** from among themselves "that wicked person" [[1 Corinthians 5:13]], establishing the word’s role in maintaining the purity of the church.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide crucial context for the use of `{{G1808}}`:
* `{{G5448}}` **physióō** (puff up): This word means "to inflate, i.e. (figuratively) make proud (haughty)". The Corinthian church was **puffed up** with pride instead of dealing with the sin in their midst [[1 Corinthians 5:2]].
* `{{G3996}}` **penthéō** (mourn): Defined as "to grieve (the feeling or the act)", this is the response the church should have had. They failed to **mourn** the situation, which would have led to the sinner being taken away [[1 Corinthians 5:2]].
* `{{G4190}}` **ponērós** (evil, wicked): This term means "hurtful, i.e. evil" and describes the person who was to be removed from the church as a **wicked person** [[1 Corinthians 5:13]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G1808}}` is focused on the practical outworking of church life and purity.
* **A Command for Church Purity:** The use of `{{G1808}}` is not a suggestion but a direct command for active purification. It underscores the responsibility of the believing community to **put away** influences that corrupt it [[1 Corinthians 5:13]].
* **The Proper Response to Sin:** The context of `{{G1808}}` contrasts the church’s prideful inaction with the correct response of mourning. Instead of being **puffed up** `{{G5448}}`, they should have **mourned** `{{G3996}}`, an act which would have naturally led to the sinner being **taken away** [[1 Corinthians 5:2]].
* **Separation from Wickedness:** The act of removal is specifically directed at "that wicked person" `{{G4190}}`. This highlights a theological principle of separation from unrepentant, damaging sin to preserve the integrity of the church body [[1 Corinthians 5:13]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G1808}}` carries significant weight despite its limited use. It is not a general term for removal but a specific command for church discipline. The context in which it appears emphasizes that this act of **putting away** a wicked person should stem from a place of sober grief, not prideful judgment. It serves as a critical term for understanding the church's responsibility to maintain its own spiritual health by separating itself from overt, unrepentant sin.
TRV