Pronunciation Guide: ek-PEM-pō
Basic Definition
Strong’s G1599: ἐκπέμπω (ekpempō) describes the deliberate action of sending someone out or away with purpose and authority. It combines the intensifying preposition ἐκ (ek, “out from within”) with πέμπω (pempō, “to send”), creating a compound verb that emphasizes authorized dispatch from one place to another with clear intention. This word carries connotations of divine commissioning and purposeful sending with an underlying sense of authority and mission.
Etymology and Morphology
- Compound verb formed from ἐκ (ek, “out from”) + πέμπω (pempō, “to send”)
- Used primarily in narrative passages, especially in Acts
- Appears in contexts of apostolic mission and divine commissioning
- Koine Greek origin with classical precedents
- Conveys authorized movement with purpose
ἐκπέμπω Morphology:
- ἐκπέμπω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I send out/forth
- ἐκπέμπει (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it sends out/forth
- ἐκπέμπουσιν (present active indicative, 3rd person plural) – they send out/forth
- ἐξέπεμψεν (aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it sent out/forth (completed action)
- ἐκπεμφθέντες (aorist passive participle, nominative plural masculine) – having been sent out/forth
Origin & History
The verb ἐκπέμπω has roots in classical Greek literature where it was used to denote formal sending or dispatching with authority. In Herodotus’ Histories (5th century BCE), the term appears in contexts of military expeditions and official delegations sent by rulers. Thucydides employs it when describing the dispatching of military forces or envoys on official missions, highlighting the authoritative nature of the sending.
In the Septuagint (LXX), ἐκπέμπω appears sparingly but significantly. In 2 Maccabees 12:22, it describes Judas Maccabeus sending forth troops, maintaining the sense of authorized dispatch. The term bridges secular administrative language and sacred commissioning, which becomes more prominent in New Testament usage, particularly in Acts where it characterizes the Holy Spirit’s authoritative sending of the apostles on mission. Early church fathers like Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History continued this tradition, using ἐκπέμπω when describing apostolic missions and the sending forth of church leaders.
Expanded Definitions & Translation Options
- To send out with authority and purpose from a specific origin point
- To dispatch officially as a representative on a mission
- To commission and release for a specific task
- To send forth with divine sanction and backing
- To authoritatively direct someone from one location to another with intention
ἐκπέμπω Translation Options:
- “Send forth” – Captures the directional movement away from the sender with purpose
- “Commission” – Emphasizes the authority behind the sending
- “Dispatch” – Highlights the official nature of the sending
- “Send out” – Conveys the basic meaning while maintaining the outward direction
- “Send away” – Emphasizes separation from the point of origin while maintaining connection to the sender
Biblical Usage
In the New Testament, ἐκπέμπω appears exclusively in the Book of Acts, where it serves a distinct theological purpose in Luke’s narrative about the spread of the gospel. Its first appearance is in Acts 13:4, where Barnabas and Saul (Paul) are “sent out” [ἐκπεμφθέντες] by the Holy Spirit. This usage is significant as it establishes that their missionary journey was not merely a human decision but a divine commissioning. The passive form emphasizes they were acted upon by divine agency.
The term appears again in Acts 17:10 when the believers in Thessalonica “sent away” [ἐξέπεμψαν] Paul and Silas to Berea for their safety. Here, the word carries both the sense of protective care and continued mission, showing how the early church participated in God’s sending work. This pattern highlights Luke’s theological point that the gospel’s expansion occurred through divinely orchestrated “sendings” that fulfilled the Messiah’s commission in Acts 1:8.
- “So, being sent out [ἐκπεμφθέντες] by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.” Acts 13:4
- “The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away [ἐξέπεμψαν] by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.” Acts 17:10
Cultural Insights
In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of “sending forth” carried significant administrative and political implications. Roman authorities would ἐκπέμπω (dispatch) officials and representatives to govern provinces or handle diplomatic affairs. These emissaries carried the full authority of Rome, acting as extensions of imperial power. This cultural backdrop illuminates why Luke chose this specific term when describing the Holy Spirit’s commissioning of apostles—they were being sent as authorized representatives of the Kingdom of God.
This commissioning language also evokes the Jewish concept of the שָׁלִיחַ (shaliach), a legal envoy who acted with the full authority of the sender. In Jewish tradition, “a man’s shaliach is as himself,” meaning the messenger functioned as the legal equivalent of the one who sent him. When the text states that Barnabas and Saul were “sent out” (ἐκπεμφθέντες) by the Holy Spirit, first-century readers would understand this as a divine appointment conferring Yahweh’s own authority, with the apostles functioning as Heaven’s ambassadors on earth—a revolutionary concept that elevated former fishermen and a Pharisee to divine emissaries.
Theological Significance
The use of ἐκπέμπω in Acts reveals profound theological truths about God’s character and His redemptive work. First, it demonstrates Yahweh’s sovereign initiative in salvation history—He does not wait passively but actively sends forth His representatives to accomplish His purposes. This reflects the proactive love of God who, rather than remaining distant, extends Himself through human agents to reach the world. The Holy Spirit’s role in “sending out” the apostles also reinforces the Trinitarian nature of mission, showing how Father, Son, and Spirit work in harmony to extend the Kingdom.
Moreover, ἐκπέμπω connects directly to the Messianic fulfillment of the Great Commission. When Yeshua commanded His followers to “go therefore and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19), the Book of Acts shows this command actualized through divine sending. The passive form used in Acts 13:4 (ἐκπεμφθέντες—”having been sent out”) emphasizes God’s initiative over human volition, teaching us that effective ministry flows from divine calling rather than mere human ambition. This underscores the theological principle that salvation is God’s work, in which He graciously allows human participation, rather than a human work that merely receives divine blessing.
Personal Application
Understanding ἐκπέμπω challenges us to reconsider our approach to ministry and mission. Just as Barnabas and Paul did not self-appoint but were “sent out” by the Holy Spirit, we too must ensure our service stems from divine commissioning rather than personal ambition. This requires cultivating a posture of spiritual listening through prayer and community discernment, allowing God to direct our paths rather than charting our own course.
When we embrace this “sent” identity, we gain both confidence and humility. Confidence comes from knowing we carry divine authority—we do not go in our own name but as ambassadors of the King. Humility emerges from the realization that the results don’t depend on our abilities but on the One who sent us. In daily life, this might mean asking, “Am I being sent to this conversation, this workplace, this neighborhood?” and then moving forward in the bold assurance that where God sends, He also empowers and goes before us.
Related Words
- ἀποστέλλω (apostellō, “to send forth with a commission”) – More frequently used term for commissioning, emphasizing the separation from the sender and specific assignment. While ἐκπέμπω focuses on the outward movement with authority, ἀποστέλλω emphasizes the special commission and representative status of the one sent. See G649
- πέμπω (pempō, “to send”) – The root word of ἐκπέμπω, which carries the basic meaning of sending without the intensified directional force of the compound form. See G3992
- προπέμπω (propempō, “to send forward, accompany”) – Refers to sending someone forward with accompanying support, often used for missionary support in the early church. While ἐκπέμπω emphasizes the sending out, προπέμπω highlights the supportive accompaniment in the sending process. See G4311
- ἐξαποστέλλω (exapostellō, “to send forth from”) – A double compound that intensifies the sending concept, emphasizing both exit (ἐκ) and commissioning (ἀποστέλλω). See G1821
- ἀποπέμπω (apopempō, “to send away”) – Focuses on dismissal or sending away, often without the positive commissioning aspect of ἐκπέμπω. See G3992
Did You Know?
- Did you know that in ancient Athenian democracy, the term ἐκπέμπω was used when the assembly would “send forth” representatives to establish new colonies (known as apoikia)? These emissaries would carry all the cultural, religious, and political authority of Athens to establish new outposts of Athenian civilization. This historical usage illuminates why Luke might have chosen this specific term to describe the church’s missionary expansion—the apostles were establishing new “colonies” of the Kingdom of God throughout the Mediterranean world.
- Did you know that the same Greek word ἐκπέμπω was used in ancient maritime contexts to describe the launching of ships on important voyages? Ship captains would be “sent forth” (ἐκπεμφθέντες) on missions of trade, diplomacy, or military importance. In Acts 13:4, immediately after being “sent out” by the Holy Spirit, Paul and Barnabas “sailed to Cyprus”—a nautical connection that Luke’s readers would have readily recognized, suggesting that the apostles were embarking on a journey of immense spiritual significance, like vessels carrying precious cargo to distant shores.
- Did you know that in modern Greek, derivatives of ἐκπέμπω are still used in telecommunications? The word “εκπομπή” (ekpompi) refers to a broadcast or transmission, while “εκπέμπω” in contemporary usage means “to broadcast” or “to transmit signals.” This modern evolution of the term provides a beautiful metaphor for understanding the apostolic mission—like radio waves that emanate from a transmission tower, the gospel message was designed to extend outward from Jerusalem, carried by those who were “sent out” to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Remember This
ἐκπέμπω reminds us that our Christian journey begins not with our decision to go, but with God’s sovereign choice to send—we are not self-appointed adventurers but divinely commissioned ambassadors carrying the authority of the King who sends us.