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ἐκκεντέω

ekkentéō

G1574 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To pierce or thrust through (especially with a sharp object); to transfix. In biblical usage, particularly refers to the act of wounding or causing a penetrating injury, often in a literal sense of piercing through flesh, or in reference to mortal violence.

Semantic Range

to pierce, to transfix, to thrust through with a sharp object, to mortally wound

Root / Etymology

Formed from the preposition ἐκ ('out of, from') and the verb κεντέω ('to prick, to stab, to pierce').

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἐκκεντέω appears rarely in Greek literature, with attestation mainly in the Septuagint and once in the New Testament (John 19:37). In the Septuagint it translates Hebrew דָּקַר (daqar, 'to pierce, to thrust through'), especially in contexts of mortal violence (e.g., those pierced with the sword). In John 19:37, it alludes to Zechariah 12:10 LXX. The act of piercing, as conveyed by ἐκκεντέω, generally refers to a violent, penetrating wound that passes through the body. The English 'pierce' is apt but potentially underspecifies the vividness and severity implied in Greek. Not a common term in classical Greek; Koine usage is influenced by the biblical context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐκ and the base of κέντρον; to transfix:--pierce.

Root Family

κεντ- (ekkentéō) — to pierce, to prick, to stab

Root κεντ- to pierce, to prick, to stab

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1574-01 ἐξεκέντησαν exekentesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL pierced they pierced through pierced through 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1574-01 John 19:37 ἐξεκέντησαν exekentesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they pierced they pierced through they pierced through
G1574-01 Revelation 1:7 ἐξεκέντησαν exekentesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL pierced they pierced through pierced through
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