ἐκριζόω
ekrizoō
to uproot
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ἐκριζόω (ekrizoō) means "to uproot," according to its definition. This verb is used four times in the Bible, indicating a limited but specific range of usage. The meaning of uprooting is clear: to pull or tear something out by its roots, leaving it severed from its foundation or source of nourishment. In biblical contexts, the use of ἐκριζόω suggests a connection to destruction, removal, or overthrow. The verb may convey a sense of swift and decisive action, cutting off something that stands in the way or poses a threat. This interpretation is supported by the verb's association with the idea of removal or separation. The significance of ἐκριζόω lies in its ability to describe a fundamental disruption or elimination. In the context of the four biblical occurrences, the verb likely conveys a sense of decisive action, whether that be against people, institutions, or systems. This linguistic feature makes ἐκριζόω an effective tool for describing change, transformation, or resolution through drastic removal or uprooting.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences across the text
“But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them.
Matthew 15:13But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.
Luke 17:6The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Jude 1:12These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;