ἐξορύσσω
exorýssō
G1846 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To dig out from, to remove by digging; commonly with the sense of extracting or removing something embedded or covered, often through forceful or deliberate action. In contexts, especially medical or metaphorical, used for removing an eye (to gouge out), or for breaking through or dismantling a surface (such as breaking up a roof).
Semantic Range
to dig out, to excavate, to gouge out (an eye), to break up (a roof or ground), to remove by digging, to unearth, to extract forcibly
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἐκ (out of, from) and the verb ὀρύσσω (to dig, to excavate); thus, literally 'to dig out.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὀρύσσω is a general verb for digging or excavating, and the compound ἐξορύσσω intensifies this to denote digging out from within, or removing by digging. Attested in classical and Hellenistic Greek, it maintains a literal sense (e.g., digging up buried objects, foundations) but gains metaphorical and physical extension in later usage. In the Septuagint and New Testament (e.g., Mark 2:4, Luke 5:19), ἐξορύσσω is used for removing or breaking up part of a roof, showing a more technical context related to houses with earthen roofs. The extraction of an eye (meaning 'to gouge out') occurs in both literary and colloquial contexts, expressing a violent action. English translations often render the term as 'break up,' 'dug through,' or 'pluck out,' but these may lose some nuance of 'removal by forceful digging.' Ἐξορύσσω thus covers a range from mundane to violent and metaphorical extraction.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐκ and ὀρύσσω; to dig out, i.e. (by extension) to extract (an eye), remove (roofing):--break up, pluck out.
Root Family
ὀρυσ- (exorýssō) — to dig, to excavate, to remove
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1846-01 |
ἐξορύξαντες | exoruxantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having dug | having dug out | having dug out | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1846-01 |
Mark 2:4 | ἐξορύξαντες | exoruxantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having dug | having dug out | having dug out |
G1846-01 |
Galatians 4:15 | ἐξορύξαντες | exoruxantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
you would have plucked out | having dug out | having dug out |