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ἐκτός

ektós

G1622 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

As an adverb, ἐκτός primarily means 'outside' or 'outdoors,' specifying something located physically beyond a certain boundary or within a spatial exterior. As a preposition, it introduces the sense 'outside (of),' 'apart from,' or 'except,' designating something excluded from a set or category. In extended usage, it functions to express exclusion, exception, or separation from a group, place, or condition.

Semantic Range

outside, out of, beyond, apart from, except, unless, without, other than, beside

Root / Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐκ ('out of') with the adverbial suffix -τός, forming a comparative or relational term indicating exteriority.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐκτός is attested as both an adverb and preposition indicating position (outside, beyond), and, by extension, exclusion. Septuagint and Koine usage maintains these senses but increasingly emphasizes its role in expressing exceptions ('except, unless') and separation from a group ('other than, apart from'). In the New Testament, it often marks exceptions or conditions that do not fit within the stated category, sometimes translated as 'except,' 'apart from,' or 'without.' Standard English translations tend to represent its semantic range by choosing among 'outside,' 'except,' or 'apart from' depending on context, but this can underrepresent the spatial origins of its meaning. It contrasts with ἐντός ('within') and is broader in its use than ἄνευ ('without'), which focuses exclusively on absence or lack rather than exclusion or separation.

Translation Consistency

primary "outside" 7 occurrences

ἐκτός most often conveys being 'outside' or 'out of' a place or group; 'outside' is a natural, versatile English rendering that also covers the exclusion/exception sense (e.g. 'outside of' meaning 'except/apart from'). It fits both the spatial and figurative uses better than the conditional 'unless' and reads more naturally than consistently using 'except' for physical locatives.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"unless" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐκ; the exterior; figuratively (as a preposition) aside from, besides:--but, except(-ed), other than, out of, outside, unless, without.

Root Family

ἐκτός (ektos) — outside, out of, apart from, except

Root ἐκτ- outside, out of, apart from, except

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1622-01 ἐκτὸς ektos ADV outside outside outside of 8

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1622-01 Matthew 23:26 ἐκτὸς ektos ADV outside outside outside (or, when marking exception, "outside of")
G1622-01 Acts 26:22 ἐκτὸς ektos PREP GEN beyond outside outside of
G1622-01 1 Corinthians 6:18 ἐκτὸς ektos PREP GEN outside outside outside (or, when marking exception, "outside of")
G1622-01 1 Corinthians 14:5 ἐκτὸς ektos ADV unless outside outside of
G1622-01 1 Corinthians 15:2 ἐκτὸς ektos ADV unless outside unless
G1622-01 1 Corinthians 15:27 ἐκτὸς ektos PREP GEN except outside outside of
G1622-01 2 Corinthians 12:2 ἐκτὸς ektos PREP GEN outside outside outside (or, when marking exception, "outside of")
G1622-01 1 Timothy 5:19 ἐκτὸς ektos ADV except outside outside of
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