ἐξώτερος
exōteros
outer
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ἐξώτερος (exōteros) translates to "outer." Its short definition provides a clear sense of its meaning, suggesting a spatial orientation rather than a metaphorical one. The limited number of occurrences in the Bible, at three, indicates that this word is not central to the overall narrative or themes of the text. Analysis of its usage is constrained by the absence of specific context. However, the presence of ἐξώτερος alongside other words in a sentence may clarify its semantic range. For example, when paired with an interior or inner concept, it implies a distinction between the outside and the inside, reinforcing its literal interpretation. Given its limited frequency, ἐξώτερος is likely a term used in specific contexts within the Bible to convey spatial relationships. Its significance, if any, may lie in the subtle nuances it adds to sentences where understanding the precise location or boundary is crucial.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences across the text
but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 22:13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’
Matthew 25:30Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’