1854. exó
Lexical Summary
exó: Outside, without, out

Original Word: ἔξω
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: exó
Pronunciation: ek'-so
Phonetic Spelling: (ex'-o)
KJV: away, forth, (with-)out (of, -ward), strange
NASB: outside, away, foreign, forth, outer
Word Origin: [adverb from G1537 (ἐκ - among)]

1. out(-side, of doors)
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
away, forth, without, strange.

Adverb from ek; out(-side, of doors), literally or figuratively -- away, forth, (with-)out (of, -ward), strange.

see GREEK ek

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ek
Definition
outside, without
NASB Translation
away (2), foreign (1), forth (1), outer (1), outside (20), outsiders* (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1854: ἔξω

ἔξω, adverb (from ἐξ, as ἔσω and εἴσω from ἐς and εἰς);

1. without, out of doors;

a. adverbially: Mark 11:4; joined with verbs: ἑστάναι, Matthew 12:46, 47 (WH text omit the verse); Mark 3:31; Luke 8:20; Luke 13:25; John 18:16; John 20:11 (Lachmann omits); καθῆσθαι, Matthew 26:69; or with some other verb declaring that the person without is doing something, Mark 3:31. Preceded by the article ἔξω, absolutely, he who is without, properly, of place; metaphorically, in plural, those who do not belong to the Christian church (cf. Lightfoot on Col. as below; Meyer on Mark as below): 1 Corinthians 5:12, 13; Colossians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:12; those who are not of the number of the apostles, Mark 4:11 ((cf. Meyer) WH marginal reading ἔξωθεν, which see). With a noun added: αἱ ἔξω πόλεις, foreign, Acts 26:11; ἔξω ἄνθρωπος, the outer man, i. e. the body (see ἄνθρωπος, 1 e.), 2 Corinthians 4:16.

b. it takes the place of a preposition and is joined with the genitive, without i. e. out of, outside of (Winer's Grammar, § 54, 6): Luke 13:33; Acts 21:5; Hebrews 13:11, 12.

2. after the verbs of going, sending, placing, leading, drawing, etc., which commonly take prepositions or adverbs signifying rest in a place rather than those expressive of motion toward a place, ἔξω has the force of the Latinforas (German hinaus,heraus), forth out, out of;

a. adverbially, after the verbs ἐξέρχομαι, Matthew 26:75; Mark 14:68; Luke 22:62; John 19:4, 5; Revelation 3:12; ἄγω, John 19:4, 13; προάγω, Acts 16:30; ἐξάγω, Luke 24:50 (R G L brackets); βάλλω and ἐκβάλλω, Matthew 5:13; Matthew 13:48; Luke 8:54 R G; (); John 6:37; John 9:34, 35; John 12:31; John 15:6; Acts 9:40; 1 John 4:18; Revelation 11:2 R G; δεῦρο ἔξω, John 11:43; ἔξω ποιεῖν τινα, Acts 5:34.

b. as a preposition with the genitive: after ἀπελθεῖν, Acts 4:15; ἀποστέλλειν, Mark 5:10; ἐκβάλλειν, Mark 12:8; Luke 4:29; Luke 20:15; Acts 7:58; ἐξέρχεσθαι, Matthew 21:17; Acts 16:13; Hebrews 13:13; ἐκπορεύεσθαι, Mark 11:19; ἐξάγειν, Mark 8:23 (R G L Tr marginal reading); σύρειν τινα, Acts 14:19; έ῾λκειν τινα, Acts 21:30.

Topical Lexicon
Spatial and Social Distance

Across the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation, ἔξω marks the line between what is within and what is without—whether that line is a city wall, a house door, a synagogue threshold, or the covenant community itself. It describes ordinary movements (Matthew 12:46; Acts 16:13), arrest procedures (John 18:16), and commercial activities (Colossians 4:5). Yet the same term becomes a theological marker, indicating exclusion, separation, and even final judgment.

Worthlessness and Discarding

Jesus’ first use of the word occurs in the Sermon on the Mount: “It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men” (Matthew 5:13). The image of salt cast outside sets a pattern: that which fails in purpose is expelled from useful fellowship. Similarly, in parabolic form, the bad fish are “thrown away” (Matthew 13:48), and the vinedresser casts fruitless branches “into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:6). ἔξω therefore announces the destiny of the unproductive and unfaithful.

Rejection of the Righteous

Israel’s long habit of casting prophets beyond the camp culminates in the Son Himself. “And they took Him and killed Him and threw Him out of the vineyard” (Mark 12:8; Luke 20:15). Stephen’s martyrdom repeats the pattern: “They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him” (Acts 7:58). The locus of rejection is always ἔξω; righteousness is expelled by unrighteous men.

Christ Sanctifying His People Outside the Camp

Hebrews draws a deliberate parallel with the Levitical sin offering (Hebrews 13:11) and Christ’s crucifixion “outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood” (Hebrews 13:12). Believers are then urged, “Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore” (Hebrews 13:13). Ministry significance: Christian service often unfolds beyond familiar, comfortable boundaries as believers identify with a rejected but victorious Messiah.

Mission Beyond the Walls

Luke repeatedly notes prayer and proclamation occurring outside official structures: the crowd prays “outside” while Zechariah ministers in the temple (Luke 1:10); Paul meets worshipers “outside the city gate at a river” (Acts 16:13). Evangelism in Acts frequently moves from inside to outside—synagogues to marketplaces, councils to public squares—displaying an outward-facing gospel.

Community Discipline and Evangelistic Witness

Paul distinguishes those “inside” the church from “those outside” (1 Corinthians 5:12). Expulsion serves both purity and restoration, mirroring Jesus’ own teaching on worthless salt. Yet the church’s posture toward outsiders is missional: “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5); living “properly before outsiders” (1 Thessalonians 4:12) adorns the gospel.

Inside and Outside in Johannine Theology

In John, ἔξω separates allegiance and unbelief. The man born blind is “thrown out” of the synagogue (John 9:34); Jesus immediately seeks him “outside” (John 9:35), revealing Himself as the One who receives the outcast. Conversely, the one who comes to Jesus will “never be driven away” (John 6:37). Fear “has to do with punishment,” and perfect love “drives out fear” (1 John 4:18)—a reversal of exclusion for those abiding in Christ.

Eschatological Finality

ἔξω reaches its climax in Revelation. To the overcomer in Philadelphia Jesus promises, “Never again will he leave it” (Revelation 3:12), securing eternal residence within God’s temple-city. By contrast, at history’s end “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and the murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15). The temporal casting out of the wicked prefigures a final, irrevocable exclusion.

Pastoral and Missional Implications

1. Holiness: The church must guard its internal purity, recognizing that persistent sin may necessitate removal ἔξω, yet always with a view toward redemption.
2. Identification with Christ: Faithful discipleship may require going “outside the camp”—geographically, culturally, or socially—to bear Christ’s reproach.
3. Evangelism: Those once outside are the very field to which believers are sent; wisdom toward outsiders is integral to gospel advance.
4. Assurance: Union with Christ guarantees believers will never be cast out, offering bold confidence in love and mission.

Thus ἔξω serves Scripture as a vivid index of separation and belonging, warning of judgment, inviting participation in Christ’s sufferings, and promising secure inclusion for all who come to Him.

Forms and Transliterations
εξω έξω ἔξω εξωτέρω exo exō éxo éxō
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 5:13 Adv
GRK: μὴ βληθὲν ἔξω καταπατεῖσθαι ὑπὸ
KJV: to be cast out, and
INT: not having been cast out to be trampled upon by

Matthew 10:14 Adv
GRK: ὑμῶν ἐξερχόμενοι ἔξω τῆς οἰκίας
INT: of you going forth away of [that] house

Matthew 12:46 Adv
GRK: αὐτοῦ εἱστήκεισαν ἔξω ζητοῦντες αὐτῷ
NAS: were standing outside, seeking
KJV: stood without, desiring
INT: of him were standing outside seeking to him

Matthew 12:47 Adv
GRK: ἀδελφοί σου ἔξω ἑστήκασιν ζητοῦντές
INT: brothers of you outside are standing seeking

Matthew 13:48 Adv
GRK: δὲ σαπρὰ ἔξω ἔβαλον
NAS: but the bad they threw away.
KJV: cast the bad away.
INT: and [the] bad out they cast

Matthew 21:17 Adv
GRK: αὐτοὺς ἐξῆλθεν ἔξω τῆς πόλεως
KJV: them, and went out of the city into
INT: them he went out of the city

Matthew 21:39 Adv
GRK: αὐτὸν ἐξέβαλον ἔξω τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος
KJV: and cast [him] out of the vineyard,
INT: him they cast [him] out of the vineyard

Matthew 26:69 Adv
GRK: Πέτρος ἐκάθητο ἔξω ἐν τῇ
NAS: was sitting outside in the courtyard,
KJV: Peter sat without in the palace:
INT: Peter was sitting outside in the

Matthew 26:75 Adv
GRK: καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἔξω ἔκλαυσεν πικρῶς
KJV: thrice. And he went out, and wept
INT: And having gone out he wept bitterly

Mark 1:45 Adv
GRK: εἰσελθεῖν ἀλλ' ἔξω ἐπ' ἐρήμοις
KJV: but was without in desert
INT: to enter but out in solitary

Mark 3:31 Adv
GRK: αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔξω στήκοντες ἀπέστειλαν
NAS: and standing outside they sent
KJV: and, standing without, sent unto
INT: him and outside standing sent

Mark 3:32 Adv
GRK: ἀδελφαί σου ἔξω ζητοῦσίν σε
NAS: and Your brothers are outside looking
KJV: thy brethren without seek for thee.
INT: sister of you outside seek you

Mark 4:11 Adv
GRK: δὲ τοῖς ἔξω ἐν παραβολαῖς
NAS: but those who are outside get
KJV: unto them that are without, all [these] things
INT: however who are outside in parables

Mark 5:10 Adv
GRK: αὐτὰ ἀποστείλῃ ἔξω τῆς χώρας
KJV: them away out of the country.
INT: them he would send out of the country

Mark 8:23 Adv
GRK: ἐξήνεγκεν αὐτὸν ἔξω τῆς κώμης
KJV: and led him out of the town; and
INT: he led forth him out of the village

Mark 11:4 Adv
GRK: πρὸς θύραν ἔξω ἐπὶ τοῦ
NAS: at the door, outside in the street;
KJV: the door without in
INT: at the door outside by the

Mark 11:19 Adv
GRK: ἐγένετο ἐξεπορεύοντο ἔξω τῆς πόλεως
KJV: was come, he went out of the city.
INT: came he went forth out of the city

Mark 12:8 Adv
GRK: ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος
KJV: cast [him] out of the vineyard.
INT: cast forth him outside the vineyard

Mark 14:68 Adv
GRK: καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἔξω εἰς τὸ
KJV: And he went out into the porch;
INT: And he went forth out into the

Luke 1:10 Adv
GRK: λαοῦ προσευχόμενον ἔξω τῇ ὥρᾳ
NAS: were in prayer outside at the hour
KJV: praying without at the time
INT: people praying outside at the hour

Luke 4:29 Adv
GRK: ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω τῆς πόλεως
KJV: and thrust him out of the city, and
INT: they cast him out of [the] city

Luke 8:20 Adv
GRK: σου ἑστήκασιν ἔξω ἰδεῖν θέλοντές
NAS: are standing outside, wishing
KJV: stand without, desiring
INT: of you are standing outside to see wishing

Luke 13:25 Adv
GRK: καὶ ἄρξησθε ἔξω ἑστάναι καὶ
NAS: to stand outside and knock
KJV: to stand without, and
INT: and you begin outside to stand and

Luke 13:28 Adv
GRK: δὲ ἐκβαλλομένους ἔξω
KJV: you [yourselves] thrust out.
INT: however being cast out

Luke 13:33 Adv
GRK: προφήτην ἀπολέσθαι ἔξω Ἰερουσαλήμ
NAS: would perish outside of Jerusalem.
KJV: perish out of Jerusalem.
INT: a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem

Strong's Greek 1854
63 Occurrences


ἔξω — 63 Occ.

1853
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