"to expel, drive out, Acts 7:45; to propel, urge forward, Acts 27:39*"
Definition and meaning
to expel, drive out, Acts 7:45; to propel, urge forward, Acts 27:39*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐξωθέω
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 exotheo (G1856) across the King James Bible.
Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
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Common questions
Strong's G1856 (exotheo) is a Greek word that means: to expel, drive out, Acts 7:45; to propel, urge forward, Acts 27:39* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word exotheo (G1856) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1856 is exotheo, a Greek word defined as: to expel, drive out, Acts 7:45; to propel, urge forward, Acts 27:39*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
exotheo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.