ἐκδύω (G1562) — Greek Lexicon

ἐκδύω

ekdýō

G1562 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To remove or take off, particularly in reference to clothing; to strip off garments from oneself or another. The word primarily denotes the act of divesting or undressing, but can be used metaphorically to suggest being deprived of something (e.g., power, protection, characteristics). In passive or figurative contexts, it can refer to being deprived, divested, or rendered vulnerable by having something taken away.

Semantic Range

to take off clothing, to strip garments, to undress, to divest (literally); to remove or take away (metaphorically); to deprive of, to render bare or exposed

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἐκ (out of, from) and δύω (to enter, to sink, to go into), forming a compound meaning 'to go out of' or 'to come out of (clothing)'. Related to the core idea of exiting or removing from a covering.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐκδύω is used for removing garments or armor, often in contexts of undressing or after combat (e.g., stripping the slain). This literal sense continues into the Hellenistic period. In the Septuagint (LXX), it commonly denotes taking off clothes or armor (e.g., Judges 6:39; 2 Samuel 20:8). In the New Testament, ἐκδύω is most notable in Mark 15:20 and Matthew 27:28, where it describes the removal of Jesus’ garments by Roman authorities. Metaphorically, some uses suggest putting off non-physical things (such as characteristics or the 'body'), but the predominant sense remains physical undressing or stripping away. English translations sometimes obscure the physical act by rendering it as 'strip' or 'unclothe,' but the core sense is bodily removal of a covering or protection.

Translation Consistency

primary "strip" 1 occurrence

Covers the typical literal sense (take off garments) and the common figurative sense (deprive or divest). "Strip" is natural English, easily inflected for all forms (strip, strips, stripped, stripping), and matches typical NT usage where something or someone is rendered bare or deprived.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):

"having stripped off" (2x) "stripped off" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐκ and the base of δύνω; to cause to sink out of, i.e. (specially as of clothing) to divest:--strip, take off from, unclothe.

Root Family

ἐκδύω (ekdyō) — to strip off, to take off clothing, to divest, to remove from covering

Root δυ- to enter, to go in, to sink, to cause to go out (in compound)

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1562-03`	ἐξέδυσαν	exedusan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they took off	they stripped off	they stripped off	2
`G1562-01`	ἐκδύσαντες	ekdusantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	stripped	having stripped off	having stripped off	2
`G1562-02`	ἐκδύσασθαι	ekdusasthai	`V AOR MID INF`	to be unclothed	to strip oneself	to strip oneself	1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1562-01`	Matthew 27:28	ἐκδύσαντες	ekdusantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	stripped	having stripped off	having stripped off
`G1562-03`	Matthew 27:31	ἐξέδυσαν	exedusan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they took off	they stripped off	they stripped off
`G1562-03`	Mark 15:20	ἐξέδυσαν	exedusan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they took off	they stripped off	they stripped off
`G1562-01`	Luke 10:30	ἐκδύσαντες	ekdusantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	stripped	having stripped off	having stripped off
`G1562-02`	2 Corinthians 5:4	ἐκδύσασθαι	ekdusasthai	`V AOR MID INF`	to be unclothed	to strip oneself	to strip oneself

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