Greek word · G1806
ἐξάγω
exagō
to lead out
To lead out or bring out of a place. In the Greek Old Testament it is the standard verb for God bringing Israel out of Egypt.
Appears 12 times in 12 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ἐξ-άγω
[in LXX chiefly for יָצָא hi. ;]
to lead out: with accusative, Mark 15:20, John 10:3, Acts 5:19 7:36 16:37-39; before ἔξω, Luke 24:50; ἐκ, Acts 7:40 12:17 13:17, Hebrews 8:9; εἰς, Acts 21:38.†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
To lead out or bring out of a place. In the Greek Old Testament it is the standard verb for God bringing Israel out of Egypt.
- Against the English
'Brought him out' is accurate. English readers will not hear the Exodus echo unless they know the Greek Old Testament.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Greek Old Testament Exodus 20:2 ('I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt'), Exod 13:3, 9, 14, 16 and many others. In Acts it is used of the Exodus at 7:36, 7:40 and 13:17, and of an earlier angelic prison release at 5:19.
- Range of meaning
To lead or bring out, often from confinement or a place of danger. In the Greek Old Testament it is the signature verb of the exodus, used with God as subject ('who brought you out') and also with Moses as God's agent.
- Against the English
'Led out' (BSB, ESV, WEB) keeps the picture of a guide at the front; KJV's 'brought out' stresses the result. Both are fine.
- Used elsewhere in the period
LXX Exod 20:2; Deut 5:6; Exod 3:10–12 (Moses is told 'bring out my people'); Acts 13:17 (Paul: God 'led them out' of Egypt 'with an uplifted arm').
- Range of meaning
To lead or bring out, for example out of a city, a prison or a country.
- Against the English
'Brought out' (KJV, YLT) and 'led out' (BSB, ESV, NASB, WEB) are both accurate. NLT adds 'of their slavery', which explains rather than translates.
- Used elsewhere in the period
This is the Septuagint's standard Exodus verb. Exod 20:2 / Deut 5:6: 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out (ho exagagōn se) of the land of Egypt'. It is repeated throughout Deuteronomy and the Psalms. Stephen uses it in Acts 7:36, 40.
Where it appears
Mark · 1
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Mark 15:20 ἐξάγουσιν they are leading out
After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.
Luke · 1
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Luke 24:50 Ἐξήγαγεν He led
When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
Here: Jesus takes the lead and walks the disciples out of Jerusalem. The aorist tense tells the walk as one completed act. In the Greek Old Testament this is the regular verb for God 'bringing Israel out' of Egypt, so the word could carry that overtone, though Luke does not press it.
John · 1
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John 10:3 ἐξάγει leads out
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Here: He leads the flock out of the enclosure to pasture. In the Greek Old Testament this is the standard verb for God bringing Israel out of Egypt, and for the leader who "leads them out and brings them in" so they are not "like sheep without a shepherd" (Num 27:17).
Acts · 8
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Acts 5:19 ἐξαγαγών having brought out
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,
Here: 'Having led out.' The angel personally leads them out. In the Greek Old Testament this is the standard verb for God bringing Israel out of Egypt and bringing captives out of prison, so it carries a quiet echo of rescue.
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Acts 7:36 ἐξήγαγεν led out
He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.
Here: The standard exodus verb of the Greek Old Testament ('I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt', Exod 20:2). It is set up against v. 40, where the people say of 'this Moses who led us out of Egypt': 'we do not know what has happened to him'.
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Acts 7:40 ἐξήγαγεν brought out
They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’
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Acts 12:17 ἐξήγαγεν had brought
Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.
Here: The verb the Greek Old Testament uses again and again for God 'bringing Israel out' of Egypt. Peter is set free at Passover (vv.3–4), so the word carries an echo of the Exodus.
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Acts 13:17 ἐξήγαγεν brought
The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.
Here: This is the key Exodus verb, the one in God's self-introduction 'I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt' (Exod 20:2 Greek).
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Acts 16:37 ἐξαγαγέτωσαν. they should bring out.
But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
Here: A command in the third person: 'let them lead us out'. 'Lead out' is the respectful verb, the opposite of 'throw out'. Verse 39 reports that they did exactly this.
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Acts 16:39 ἐξαγαγόντες having brought [them] out
They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.
Here: They personally escort the prisoners out of the jail. Paul had used this same verb in v.37 ('let them lead us out themselves'), so Luke shows his demand being met to the letter.
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Acts 21:38 ἐξαγαγὼν having led out
“Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the Assassins into the wilderness?”
Hebrews · 1
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Hebrews 8:9 ἐξαγαγεῖν to lead
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide by My covenant, and I disregarded them, declares the Lord.
Here: 'To lead out'. This is the Greek Old Testament's standard Exodus verb, as in 'I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt' (Exod 20:2).
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.