ἐκχέω
ekchéō
G1632 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to pour out or pour forth; primarily refers to causing a liquid to flow out from a container or source. In extended usage, it can indicate the deliberate or abundant bestowal or distribution of something, either concrete (as in blood, water, or anointing oil) or abstract (such as spirit, love, or emotion). Figuratively used for lavish impartation, spreading, or outpouring; also used for violent actions such as the shedding of blood.
Semantic Range
to pour out (liquid or other substances), to shed (blood), to bestow or impart abundantly, to lavish, to make fall in large amounts, to spill, to distribute (especially of intangible things like spirit or emotion), to unleash (wrath, calamity).
Root / Etymology
Compound of ἐκ ('out of') and χέω ('to pour'); thus, 'to pour out.' Inherits the basic sense of movement from within outward via liquids. Cognate with related compounds; root χε-/χεϝ- is inherited from the Indo-European root *gheu- ('to pour, to flow').
Historical & Contextual Notes
In earlier Greek (Homeric, classical), the term is rarely attested in this exact compound; its components, especially χέω, are widely used. In Koine Greek (especially the Septuagint and New Testament), ἐκχέω becomes a common verb for acts of pouring or causing to flow out, whether literally (e.g., pouring water, blood, oil) or figuratively (God 'pouring out' spirit, wrath, or love). The word often implies intentionality and abundance. In Jewish Greek sources, especially in LXX and New Testament, it frequently refers to sacrificial rituals (pouring blood or libations) or moments of transformative outpouring (prophecy, spirit). Standard English translations (e.g., 'shed,' 'pour out,' 'bestow') often obscure the rich metaphorical usage, particularly in references to the 'pouring out' of Spirit or emotion. Compared to similar verbs like χέω itself or ἀναχέω ('to pour up'), ἐκχέω always emphasizes movement out from a source. The underlying physicality (liquid motion) often shapes theological or emotional metaphors in Hellenistic Jewish texts.
Translation Consistency
ἐκχέω primarily means to cause a liquid or thing to flow out and is commonly rendered ‘poured’/‘pour.’ ‘Pour’ naturally covers literal pouring, shedding (blood) in context, and the figurative sense of outpouring or lavish bestowal (spirit, wrath, emotion), while remaining simple and easily inflected for all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐκ and (to pour); to pour forth; figuratively, to bestow:--gush (pour) out, run greedily (out), shed (abroad, forth), spill.
Root Family
ἐκχέω (ekcheō) — to pour, to cause to flow out, to pour forth
Word Forms
12 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1632-09 |
ἐξέχεεν | execheen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
poured out | poured out | he poured out | 10 |
G1632-05 |
ἐκχυννόμενον | ekchunnomenon | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG |
poured out | being poured out | being poured out | 5 |
G1632-04 |
ἐκχεῶ | ekcheo | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will pour out | I will pour out | I will pour out | 2 |
G1632-07 |
ἐκκέχυται | ekkechutai | V PRF PASS IND 3P SG |
had been poured out | has been poured out | has been poured out | 2 |
G1632-01 |
ἐκχέαι | ekcheai | V AOR ACT INF |
to shed | to pour out | to pour out | 1 |
G1632-08 |
ἐξέχεαν | exechean | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
they have shed | they poured out | they have poured out | 1 |
G1632-02 |
ἐκχέετε | ekcheete | V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL |
pour out | pour out | pour out | 1 |
G1632-10 |
ἐξεχύννετο | exechunneto | V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG |
was being shed | was being poured out | was being shed | 1 |
G1632-11 |
ἐξεχύθη | exechuthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
gushed out | was poured out | was poured out | 1 |
G1632-12 |
ἐξεχύθησαν | exechuthesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
rushed headlong | they were poured out | they rushed headlong | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
27 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1632-03 |
Matthew 9:17 | ἐκχεῖται | ekcheitai | V PRS PASS IND 3P SG |
is spilled | is being poured out | is being poured out |
G1632-05 |
Matthew 23:35 | ἐκχυννόμενον | ekchunnomenon | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG |
shed | being poured out | being poured out |
G1632-05 |
Matthew 26:28 | ἐκχυννόμενον | ekchunnomenon | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG |
poured out | being poured out | being poured out |
G1632-05 |
Mark 14:24 | ἐκχυννόμενον | ekchunnomenon | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG |
which is poured out | being poured out | being poured out |
G1632-06 |
Luke 5:37 | ἐκχυθήσεται | ekchuthesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
will be spilled | will be poured out | will be spilled |
G1632-05 |
Luke 11:50 | ἐκχυννόμενον | ekchunnomenon | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG |
being shed | being poured out | being poured out |
G1632-05 |
Luke 22:20 | ἐκχυννόμενον | ekchunnomenon | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM N SG |
poured out | being poured out | being poured out |
G1632-09 |
John 2:15 | ἐξέχεεν | execheen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
He poured out | poured out | he poured out |
G1632-11 |
Acts 1:18 | ἐξεχύθη | exechuthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
gushed out | was poured out | was poured out |
G1632-04 |
Acts 2:17 | ἐκχεῶ | ekcheo | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will pour out | I will pour out | I will pour out |