Lexical Summary ekteinó: To stretch out, to extend Original Word: ἐκτείνω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cast, put forth, stretch out. From ek and teino (to stretch); to extend -- cast, put forth, stretch forth (out). see GREEK ek NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ek and teinó (to stretch) Definition to extend NASB Translation extend (1), lay (2), reached (1), stretch (4), stretched (7), stretching (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1614: ἐκτείνωἐκτείνω; future ἐκτενῶ; 1 aorist ἐξέτεινα; (from Aeschylus, Sophocles, Herodotus down); the Sept. common for נָטָה, פָּרַשׂ and שָׁלַח; to stretch out, stretch forth: τήν χεῖρα (often in the Sept.), Matthew 8:3; Matthew 12:13; Matthew 14:31; Matthew 26:51; Mark 1:41; Mark 3:5; Luke 5:13; Luke 6:10; John 21:18; Acts 26:1; with the addition of ἐπί τινα, over, toward, against one — either to point out something, Matthew 12:49, or to lay hold of a person in order to do him violence, Luke 22:53; ἐκτείνειν τήν χεῖρα εἰς ἴασιν, spoken of God, Acts 4:30; ἀγκύρας, properly, to carry forward (R. V. lay out) the cable to which the anchor is fastened, i. e. to cast anchor (the idea of extending the cables runs into that of carrying out and dropping the anchors (Hackett); cf. B. D. American edition, p. 3009a last paragraph), Acts 27:30. (Compare: ἐπτείνω, Topical Lexicon Meaning and Core Idea Strong’s Greek 1614 expresses the purposeful stretching forth of the hand or arm—an intentional extension that brings touch, command, help, or judgment. Throughout Scripture the gesture embodies decisive action, whether divine or human. Occurrences and Distribution The verb appears sixteen times across the Synoptic Gospels, John, and Acts. Half the uses come from the earthly ministry of Jesus, five occur in Luke–Acts as the Church is born, and one anticipates Peter’s martyrdom in John. The settings fall naturally into four spheres: healing compassion, protective intervention, judicial arrest, and apostolic proclamation. Christ’s Healing Compassion 1. Matthew 8:3; Mark 1:41; Luke 5:13 – “Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing. Be cleansed.’ And immediately the leprosy was cleansed.” These scenes pair Christ’s extended hand with the sufferer’s obedient extension. The gesture becomes a living parable: divine willingness meets human trust, resulting in instantaneous wholeness. For ministry today the pattern urges personal, compassionate engagement that bridges distance and breaks uncleanness taboos. Protective Intervention Matthew 14:31 – When Peter begins to sink, “Jesus immediately reached out His hand, took hold of him, and said, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’” Matthew 26:51 – A disciple, “stretching out his hand,” draws a sword in misguided zeal. In one case the stretched hand rescues; in the other it precipitates violence. The contrast warns that human impulse, even in defense of Jesus, must submit to the Lord who rescues by grace, not by force. Gesture of Identification and Teaching Matthew 12:49 – “Stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers.’” A simple motion redefines family as those who do the Father’s will. The extended hand draws a new boundary line around kingdom relationships, instructing believers to prize obedience over bloodline. Judicial Arrest and the Hour of Darkness Luke 22:53 – “This is your hour—and the dominion of darkness.” The leaders “stretched out” their hands to seize Jesus. What Christ once used to heal, His enemies now employ to bind. Yet even this hostile extension fulfills redemptive purpose, demonstrating that human malice cannot overturn divine sovereignty. Apostolic Prayer and Boldness Acts 4:30 – The congregation prays, “Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” The early Church looks to the risen Christ to continue the same works He began, reinforcing a seamless continuity between the Gospel accounts and ongoing mission. Public Address and Persuasion Acts 26:1 – Paul “stretched out his hand” before Agrippa as he offered his defense. Acts 27:30 – Sailors pretend to “stretch out” anchors but plan escape. The gesture frames both authentic gospel proclamation and duplicity; therefore, discernment remains essential when hands go up in apparent sincerity. Prophetic Sign of Suffering John 21:18 – “When you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” Tradition links the saying to Peter’s crucifixion. The stretched hand here signals surrender to God’s will even unto death, reminding believers that service may culminate in costly witness. Old Testament Background The gesture echoes Yahweh’s mighty acts—“with an outstretched arm” He delivered Israel (Exodus 6:6). New Testament usage situates Jesus and His Church within that salvific pattern: the same God who once liberated with a stretched arm now heals, saves, and judges through the incarnate Son. Practical Ministry Application • Extend the hand in personal, compassionate contact; distance ministry alone fails to model Christ’s touch. Theological Reflections The recurring image of the outstretched hand unites the narrative of Scripture: creation (formed by God’s hand), redemption (delivered by His hand), incarnation (touched by Christ’s hand), and consummation (into whose hand believers commend their spirit). Each occurrence of ἐκτείνω invites renewed trust in the One whose extended hand still sustains, saves, and sends. Forms and Transliterations εκταθήσεται εκτείναι εκτείναντες εκτεινας εκτείνας ἐκτείνας εκτείνασα εκτείνει εκτεινειν εκτείνειν εκτείνείν ἐκτείνειν εκτείνεται εκτείνη εκτείνης εκτείνητε Εκτεινον έκτεινον Ἔκτεινον Ἔκτεινόν εκτείνονται εκτείνοντες εκτείνου εκτείνουσι εκτείνω εκτείνων εκτείνωσιν εκτενεί εκτένει εκτενεις εκτενείς ἐκτενεῖς εκτενώ εκτέτακα εκτεταμέναι εκτεταμένη εκτεταμένον εντείνας εξέτεινα εξέτειναν εξέτεινας εξετεινατε εξετείνατε ἐξετείνατε εξέτεινε εξετεινεν εξέτεινεν ἐξέτεινεν εξέτεινον ekteinas ekteínas ekteinein ekteínein Ekteinon Ékteinon Ékteinón ekteneis ekteneîs exeteinate exeteínate exeteinen exéteinenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 8:3 V-APA-NFSGRK: καὶ ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα NAS: Jesus stretched out His hand KJV: Jesus put forth [his] hand, INT: And having stretched out the hand Matthew 12:13 V-AMA-2S Matthew 12:13 V-AIA-3S Matthew 12:49 V-APA-NFS Matthew 14:31 V-APA-NFS Matthew 26:51 V-APA-NFS Mark 1:41 V-APA-NFS Mark 3:5 V-AMA-2S Mark 3:5 V-AIA-3S Luke 5:13 V-APA-NFS Luke 6:10 V-AMA-2S Luke 22:53 V-AIA-2P John 21:18 V-FIA-2S Acts 4:30 V-PNA Acts 26:1 V-APA-NFS Acts 27:30 V-PNA Strong's Greek 1614 |
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