Greek word · G1545

ἔκβασις

ekbasis

way out

Literally 'a going out': an exit, a way out (of a place or a difficulty), getting off a ship. By extension, how something turns out: its outcome, result or end.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 22, 2026

What it means

ἔκ-βασις, -εως, ἡ

(ἐκβαίνω), [in LXX: Wisdom of Solomon 2:17 8:8 11:14 * ;]

1. a way out (Hom., Xen.): 1 Corinthians 10:13.

2. the issue (Menand.) Hebrews 13:7.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hebrews 13:7

Range of meaning: Literally 'a going out': an exit, a way out (of a place or a difficulty), getting off a ship. By extension, how something turns out: its outcome, result or end.
Against the English: 'Outcome' (BSB, NIV, ESV), 'result(s)' (NASB, WEB), 'end' (KJV), 'issue' (YLT). The NLT paraphrase ('the good that has come from their lives') turns it into the good effects their lives produced, which loses the sense of how their lives ended.
How it drifted: The English words are not wrong, but 'outcome' and 'results' can sound like achievements or measurable success. The Greek picture is an exit: the way their life came to its close, the last step out.
Used elsewhere in the period: 1 Cor 10:13: God will provide 'the way out' (τὴν ἔκβασιν) of temptation. Wisdom of Solomon 2:17: the ungodly test the righteous man to see 'what will happen at his end' (ἐν ἐκβάσει αὐτοῦ), which is about the righteous one's death. Wisdom 11:14 uses it of 'the outcome of events'. The Latin Vulgate translates it 'exitum', exit or departure.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 10:13

Range of meaning: Literally 'a going out': an exit or way out of a place, and by extension the outcome, end, or issue of something (how it turns out).
Against the English: KJV 'a way to escape', ESV/NASB/WEB 'the way of escape', BSB 'an escape', NIV/NLT 'a way out', YLT 'the outlet'. 'Escape' can suggest getting out of the situation altogether. The Greek ties this exit directly to enduring the test ('so that you can bear it'). Most versions drop the article 'the', which marks a way out matched to that specific test.
How it drifted: English 'escape' has a strong sense of evasion or rescue from a situation. The verse's own purpose clause points the other way: the way out is how one comes through.
Used elsewhere in the period: Homer, Odyssey 5.410: Odysseus, battered at sea, finds 'no way out (ἔκβασις) of the grey sea', meaning no landing place. Wisdom of Solomon 2:17 ('what will happen at the end of his life'), 8:8 ('the outcomes of seasons and times'), 11:14. Hebrews 13:7: 'consider the outcome (ἔκβασιν) of their way of life'.

Where it appears

1 Corinthians · 1

1 Corinthians 10:13 ἔκβασιν escape

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

Here: Literally 'a going-out': an exit, and by extension the outcome or end of something. Here it is the way through, given so they can bear the test.

Hebrews · 1

Hebrews 13:7 ἔκβασιν outcome

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Here: Literally a 'stepping out' or exit. Here it is the way their life came out at the end, most likely including how they died, still holding to their faith.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.