Lexical Summary ekkomizó: To carry out, to bring out Original Word: ἐκκομίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance carry out. From ek and komizo; to bear forth (to burial) -- carry out. see GREEK ek see GREEK komizo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ek and komizó Definition to carry out (for burial) NASB Translation carried (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1580: ἐκκομίζωἐκκομίζω: imperfect passive ἐξεκομιζομην; to carry out; a dead man for burial (Polybius 35, 6, 2; Plutarch, Agis 21; Herodian, 2, 1, 5 (2nd edition, Bekker), etc.; in Latinefferre): Luke 7:12. Topical Lexicon Lexical Footprint in Scripture The verb occurs only once in the Greek New Testament, in Luke 7:12, where it describes the funeral procession of the widow’s only son in Nain: “As He approached the gate of the town, behold, a dead man was being carried out…” (ἐξεκομίζετο). Though the verbal form is passive, the scene is active with movement, community involvement, and impending grief. Historical and Cultural Setting First-century Jewish burial customs required that a body be interred on the day of death (Deuteronomy 21:23). Mourners formed a cortege that wound from the deceased’s home through the town gate to the tombs outside the city walls. Hired flute-players, professional lamenters, relatives, and neighbors accompanied the bier. The term captured the solemn duty of the community to “carry out” the departed, embodying both respect for the dead and solidarity with the bereaved. The widow of Nain, having already buried her husband, now faced utter destitution without her son. The processional verbs mirror her personal trajectory—moving outward from community life toward isolation. Narrative Significance in Luke 7:11-17 1. A collision of processions: Jesus and His disciples enter the gate as the funeral party exits. The contrasting movements dramatize the confrontation between life and death. Theological Observations • Death’s outward march contrasts with Christ’s inward call to life (John 11:25). Connections to Broader Biblical Themes • Old Testament precedents: Elijah raises the widow’s son at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24), prefiguring the Nain account. Both narratives involve a prophet, a widow, and a single male heir. Pastoral and Practical Applications 1. Ministry to the bereaved: Just as the community shouldered the bier, churches today bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Homiletical Angles • “When Two Processions Meet” – contrasting the inevitable human march toward death with the life-giving advance of Jesus. Christological Focus The solitary use of ἐκκομίζω magnifies Jesus’ unique role: He intercepts humanity’s funeral procession, embodies divine compassion, and decisively overturns death’s dominion. The term’s scarcity underlines the rarity—and sufficiency—of Christ’s intervention. Forms and Transliterations εξεκομιζετο εξεκομίζετο ἐξεκομίζετο exekomizeto exekomízetoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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