"to cut out; to cut off, Mt. 3:10; 5:30; met. to cut off an occasion, remove, prevent, 2 Cor. 11:12; to render ineffectual, Mt. 7:19; 18:8; Lk. 3:9; 12:7, 9; Rom. 11:22, 24; 1 Pet. 3:7*"
Definition and meaning
to cut out; to cut off, Mt. 3:10; 5:30; met. to cut off an occasion, remove, prevent, 2 Cor. 11:12; to render ineffectual, Mt. 7:19; 18:8; Lk. 3:9; 12:7, 9; Rom. 11:22, 24; 1 Pet. 3:7*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐκκόπτω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of ekkopto (G1581) across the King James Bible.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
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Common questions
Strong's G1581 (ekkopto) is a Greek word that means: to cut out; to cut off, Mt. 3:10; 5:30; met. to cut off an occasion, remove, prevent, 2 Cor. 11:12; to render ineffectual, Mt. 7:19; 18:8; Lk. 3:9; 12:7, 9; Rom. 11:22, 24; 1 Pet. 3:7* It appears 11 times in the King James Bible.
The word ekkopto (G1581) appears 11 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1581 is ekkopto, a Greek word defined as: to cut out; to cut off, Mt. 3:10; 5:30; met. to cut off an occasion, remove, prevent, 2 Cor. 11:12; to render ineffectual, Mt. 7:19; 18:8; Lk. 3:9; 12. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
ekkopto is a Greek word found in the New Testament.