Greek word · G1581

ἐκκόπτω

ekkoptō

to cut off

To cut out, cut off, cut down. It is used of felling trees and cutting off limbs (BDAG s.v. ἐκκόπτω).

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐκ-κόπτω,

[in LXX for כָּרַת, etc. ;]

to cut out, cut off, cut down: of a hand, foot, Matthew 5:30 18:8; a tree, Matthew 3:10 7:19 Luke 3:9 13:7, 9; figuratively, of a branch, Romans 11:22; before ἐκ, Romans 11:24; metaphorically, τ. ἀφορμήν (cf. Job 19:10 ἐλπίδα), 2 Corinthians 11:12.†

(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 Matthew 7:19

Range of meaning

To cut out, cut off, cut down. It is used of felling trees and cutting off limbs (BDAG s.v. ἐκκόπτω).

Against the English

"Cut down" (BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV, NASB) and "hewn down" (KJV) both give the right idea of felling. The present tense is a general, proverbial present: "this is what happens to such trees". It is not a report of something happening right now.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deuteronomy 20:19–20 is a close Torah background: during a siege Israel must not cut down fruit trees, but trees "not for food" may be cut down (the Greek Old Testament uses ekkoptō there). A tree is protected because of its fruit. Without fruit it can be felled. Compare Jesus' fig-tree parable: "Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?" (Luke 13:7, also ekkoptō). In Matt 5:30 the same verb is used for cutting off the hand that causes sin.

From the study of Romans 11:22

Range of meaning

To cut out, cut off, cut down: used of trees, limbs, and figuratively of removing someone or something.

Against the English

'Cut off' in all major versions. This is accurate.

Used elsewhere in the period

John the Baptist's 'every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down' (Matt 3:10; Luke 3:9), and the barren fig tree, 'cut it down' (Luke 13:7, 9). Jesus' 'if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off' (Matt 5:30). The image of cutting off unfaithful members comes out of Israel's prophets (Jer 11:16, where the LORD had called Israel 'a green olive tree' and then set fire to its branches).

From the study of Luke 3:9

Range of meaning

To cut out, cut off, or cut down (a tree, a hand, Matt 5:30). Figuratively, to remove or get rid of (2 Cor 11:12).

Against the English

'Cut down' or 'hewn down' (KJV) is right. The ek- ('out') prefix adds the idea of removal: the tree is cut out of the orchard, not just trimmed. BSB and many modern versions render the present tense as a future ('will be cut down'). That is accurate in meaning, but it loses the vivid 'is being cut down' that makes the outcome feel already under way.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 13:7, 9: the owner says of the barren fig tree, 'cut it down' (ekkopson) and 'if not, you shall cut it down'. Romans 11:22, 24: branches 'cut off' from the olive tree, an image of Israel. Deuteronomy 20:19–20 (Septuagint) uses ekkoptō for cutting down trees in war, and it permits felling only trees that do not bear food.

Where it appears

Matthew · 4

  1. Matthew 3:10 ἐκκόπτεται is cut down

    The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

    Here: Present passive, 'is cut down': felled completely. The present tense states what happens as a fixed rule and also presents it as certain and about to happen. The unnamed one doing the cutting is God.

  2. Matthew 5:30 ἔκκοψον do cut off

    And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.

    Here: A sharp command for a decisive, once-and-done act. Matthew uses the same verb for chopping down a fruitless tree (3:10; 7:19), so it carries the feel of severe, final removal.

  3. Matthew 7:19 ἐκκόπτεται is cut down

    Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

    Here: "Is cut out/down". The tree is felled, not trimmed. The present tense states a fixed rule of the orchard, and the passive leaves God unnamed as the one who acts.

  4. Matthew 18:8 ἔκκοψον do cut off

    If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.

    Here: Aorist command: one decisive act, done at once. The same verb is used for cutting down an unfruitful tree (Matt 3:10; 7:19).

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 3:9 ἐκκόπτεται is cut down

    The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

    Here: 'Is cut out' or 'cut down': chopped down and removed from the orchard. It is in the present tense, describing the sure outcome as if it were already happening. The passive leaves God as the unnamed one doing it.

  2. Luke 13:7 ἔκκοψον do cut down

    So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

    Here: A direct, one-off command: 'Cut it out!' Fell it at the base and remove it. It is the same verb John the Baptist used for barren trees under the axe (Luke 3:9).

  3. Luke 13:9 ἐκκόψεις you will cut down

    If it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, you can cut it down.’”

Romans · 2

  1. Romans 11:22 ἐκκοπήσῃ. will be cut off.

    Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

    Here: Future passive: 'you will be cut out.' A pruner's word, and the passive leaves God as the unnamed one holding the knife. It picks up the 'cutting' already inside apotomia.

  2. Romans 11:24 ἐξεκόπης were cut off

    For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 11:12 ἐκκόψω I may cut off

    But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.

    Here: 'That I may cut away'. The word is used of chopping down a tree or cutting off a branch. Paul means to remove his opponents' footing completely, not merely to weaken it.

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