Greek word · G1851

ἐξοχή

exochē

prominent

'Something that projects', a peak or jutting rock. By extension it means 'eminence, distinction'. The idiom kat' exochēn means 'pre-eminently, par excellence'.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐξοχή, -ῆς, ἡ

(ἐξέχω, to stand out), [in LXX for שֵׁן, Job 39:28 * ;]

1. a projection (ἐ. πέτρας, Job 39:28).

2. Metaphorical, eminence, excellence: οἱ κατ᾽ ἐ., the chief men, Acts 25:23.†

(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 25:23

Range of meaning

'Something that projects', a peak or jutting rock. By extension it means 'eminence, distinction'. The idiom kat' exochēn means 'pre-eminently, par excellence'.

Against the English

'Principal men' (KJV, WEB), 'leading men' (BSB), 'prominent men' (NIV, ESV, NASB). All are accurate.

Used elsewhere in the period

Only here in the New Testament. The idiom kat' exochēn is well attested in Hellenistic Greek for 'the foremost' (BDAG s.v.).

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 25:23 ἐξοχὴν prominence

    The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

    Here: Literally something that juts out, like a peak. 'The men of eminence' are the city's top notables: the leading citizens and councillors of Caesarea.

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