Greek word · G1826

ἔξειμι

exeimi

to go out/away

'To go out, go away, depart.' It is a compound of eimi, 'go' (not the verb 'to be').

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἔξ-ειμι

(εἶμι),

to go forth: Acts 13:42 Acts 17:15 Acts 20:7; before ἐπί, with accusative, Acts 27:43.†

(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 Acts 17:15

Range of meaning

'To go out, go away, depart.' It is a compound of eimi, 'go' (not the verb 'to be').

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have 'departed'; BSB 'returned.' Strictly, the Greek says only that they left. 'Returned' assumes where they went, which is a reasonable assumption.

Used elsewhere in the period

A literary verb. In the NT only Luke uses it (Acts 13:42; 17:15; 20:7; 27:43). In Attic Greek the imperfect form of this verb works as an ordinary narrative past.

From the study of Acts 13:42

Range of meaning

To go out, leave, depart. In the New Testament it appears almost only in Acts (13:42; 17:15; 20:7; 27:43).

Against the English

BSB 'were leaving' and NASB 'were going out' keep the sense of action in progress. KJV 'were gone out' sounds completed, and it follows a different Greek text in which 'the Jews' are the ones leaving.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in classical and Hellenistic Greek. Luke's use belongs to his slightly literary Greek style.

Where it appears

Acts · 4

  1. Acts 13:42 Ἐξιόντων When are departing

    As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.

    Here: A present participle: Paul and Barnabas were on their way out, still leaving. The request came at the door, before the formal dismissal reported in verse 43.

  2. Acts 17:15 ἐξῄεσαν.¶ they were departing.

    Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

    Here: 'They went off,' that is, the escorts left Athens, presumably heading back north. The form is technically imperfect, but with this verb that is the normal literary way of saying 'they departed.' It does not mean they were in the middle of leaving.

  3. Acts 20:7 ἐξιέναι to depart

    On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.

    Here: "To go away": to leave the city. In v. 13 Paul goes on foot to Assos while the others sail.

  4. Acts 27:43 ἐξιέναι, to go out,

    But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

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