Greek word · G1834
ἐξηγέομαι
exēgeomai
to tell
Literally "to lead out." Then: to relate or narrate in detail (tell a story fully), to explain, to expound, and especially to interpret divine or sacred matters with authority. BDAG gives "to relate in detail, tell, report, describe" and "to set forth in great detail, expound."
Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ἐξ-ηγέομαι, -οῦμαι
[in LXX chiefly for סָפַר pi. ;]
to lead, show the way; metaphorically, to unfold, narrate, declare: with accusative of thing(s), Luke 24:35 Acts 21:19; with dative of person(s), Acts 10:8; θεόν (understood), John 1:18; before ὅσα, Acts 15:12; καθώς, Acts 15:14.†
(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
Literally "to lead out." Then: to relate or narrate in detail (tell a story fully), to explain, to expound, and especially to interpret divine or sacred matters with authority. BDAG gives "to relate in detail, tell, report, describe" and "to set forth in great detail, expound."
- Against the English
KJV, WEB and YLT have "declared". BSB has "has made Him known", and ESV the same. NLT has "has revealed God to us", NASB "has explained Him." "Made known" is accurate but plain. It loses the overtones of narrating in full and of authorised interpretation.
- How it drifted
In 1611 "declare" meant to make clear or set forth in detail. Today it tends to mean announcing or formally stating something, which is thinner than the Greek. The English word "exegesis", which comes from this verb, now suggests academic analysis of texts, a meaning the verse does not have.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In the Greek Old Testament it is used for recounting a dream (Judg 7:13) and relating events (2 Kgs 8:5). Josephus uses it for interpreting the Law: the Pharisees were reputed "to interpret the laws with precision" (War 2.162), and he describes a Jew who professed to "interpret the wisdom of the laws of Moses" (Ant. 18.81). In Greek religion official exēgētai ("interpreters") explained sacred law and oracles. Sirach 43:31 asks, "Who has seen him and can describe him?" using the related verb ekdiēgeomai. John 1:18 answers that question.
- Range of meaning
To lead out; to set forth in detail; to recount or narrate; also to explain or interpret, especially sacred or ritual matters (in classical Greek an 'exēgētēs' interpreted oracles and rites).
- Against the English
English versions give 'declaring' (KJV), 'reporting' (WEB), 'describing' (BSB), 'relating' or 'telling about' (modern versions). All are acceptable. The English word 'exegesis' comes from this root but now means interpreting a written text, which is not what happens here.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In Luke-Acts it always means narrating events: Luke 24:35 (the Emmaus disciples recount what happened); Acts 10:8 (Cornelius relates everything to his servants); 15:14 (James: 'Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles'); 21:19 (Paul 'related one by one the things God had done among the Gentiles'). John 1:18 uses it of the Son who 'made known' the Father.
- Range of meaning
Literally 'to lead out'. From that come: to set forth in detail, narrate, recount, explain. In some contexts it means to interpret sacred law or omens (an exēgētēs was an official interpreter).
- Against the English
KJV 'declared', WEB 'reported', BSB 'told us', NASB 'related', NIV 'described'. Most capture the narrative sense. 'Declared' may suggest a proclamation or ruling, but Peter was recounting events.
- How it drifted
The English word 'exegesis' comes from this verb but now means technical interpretation of a text. That is not its sense here.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Luke 24:35 (the Emmaus disciples 'related' what happened on the road); Acts 10:8 (Cornelius 'related' everything to his servants); Acts 15:12 (Barnabas and Paul 'relating' signs and wonders); Acts 21:19; John 1:18 ('he has made him known'). Josephus uses the word for interpreting the laws.
Where it appears
Luke · 1
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Luke 24:35 ἐξηγοῦντο were relating
Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
Here: 'Were recounting step by step.' The tense pictures an account in progress. It is still going on when Jesus appears in verse 36 ('while they were saying these things'). The verb means a full, ordered telling, not a passing remark.
John · 1
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John 1:18 ἐξηγήσατο. has made [Him] known.
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
Here: "Has told [him] out" or "made him known by setting him forth." The word was used for telling a story in full and for authoritatively interpreting sacred things. It has no object in the Greek, so translations supply "him". The tense sums up the whole of his mission as one completed act.
Acts · 4
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Acts 10:8 ἐξηγησάμενος having related
He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.
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Acts 15:12 ἐξηγουμένων relating
The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
Here: Present participle: they were 'setting out' or 'recounting' events step by step. It means narrating what happened. It is not interpreting a text.
-
Acts 15:14 ἐξηγήσατο has related
Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
Here: 'Has related, set out in full.' This is the same verb used two verses earlier (15:12) for Barnabas and Paul reporting their mission. Here it means telling what happened, not interpreting a text. James is pointing to Peter's eyewitness report of the Cornelius episode.
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Acts 21:19 ἐξηγεῖτο he was relating
Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Here: 'He went on telling' or 'he began to set out.' The tense pictures a long, unfolding account, not a one-line summary.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.