ἐξαπορέομαι (G1820) — Greek Lexicon

ἐξαπορέομαι

exaporéomai

G1820 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To be utterly at a loss, to be completely perplexed or bewildered, to experience profound confusion or hopelessness; in some contexts, to be in a state of despair or at the extreme end of having no way or resource. The central sense is an intensified form of perplexity, indicating total loss or abandonment of options, sometimes to the point of despair.

Semantic Range

to be utterly at a loss, to be completely perplexed, to despair, to lose all hope, to have no way forward

Root / Etymology

Formed with the preposition ἐκ ('out of,' 'from') and the verb ἀπορέω ('to be at a loss,' 'to be perplexed'), in the middle or passive voice. The sense is of being 'entirely without resources,' with ἐκ intensifying the meaning of ἀπορέω. Not attested with this form in earlier, classical Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Koine Greek, especially in the New Testament (e.g., 2 Corinthians 1:8, 4:8), ἐξαπορέομαι expresses the idea of being in an extreme state of perplexity or despair, where no solution or way forward seems possible. This is distinct from ἀπορέω, which on its own means 'to be at a loss' without the extreme connotation. The addition of ἐκ (ἐξ-) functions to strengthen the sense, indicating 'utter' or 'complete' perplexity. Classical Greek does not use this intensifying compound; its usage is limited to Hellenistic Greek. Septuagintal occurrences are rare or absent; the word is thus characteristic of later Greek. Traditional English translations often render it as 'despair' or 'be in utter despair,' but this can miss the active sense of confoundedness and utter loss of recourse which the Greek implies. In ancient psychological and philosophical literature, perplexity (ἀπορία) was a state leading to reconsideration or insight, but ἐξαπορέομαι indicates one is left with no possible avenue for resolution.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from ἐκ and ἀπορέω; to be utterly at a loss, i.e. despond:--(in) despair.

Root Family

ἐξαπορέομαι (exaporeomai) — to be at a loss, to lack resources, to be perplexed, to despair

Root ἀπορέ- to be at a loss, to lack resources, to be perplexed

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1820-01`	ἐξαπορηθῆναι	exaporethenai	`V AOR PASS INF`	to despair	to be utterly at a loss	to be utterly at a loss	1
`G1820-02`	ἐξαπορούμενοι	exaporoumenoi	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL`		being utterly at a loss	being utterly at a loss	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1820-01`	2 Corinthians 1:8	ἐξαπορηθῆναι	exaporethenai	`V AOR PASS INF`	to despair	to be utterly at a loss	to be utterly at a loss
`G1820-02`	2 Corinthians 4:8	ἐξαπορούμενοι	exaporoumenoi	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL`		being utterly at a loss	being utterly at a loss

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