Original Word: ἐκκόπτω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ekkoptó
Pronunciation: ek-kop'-to
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-kop'-to)
KJV: cut down (off, out), hew down, hinder
NASB: cut down, cutoff
Word Origin: [from G1537 (ἐκ - among) and G2875 (κόπτω - mourn)]

1. to cut out or cut off
2. (figuratively) to frustrate

cut down, cut out, hew down, hinder.

From ek and kopto; to exscind; figuratively, to frustrate -- cut down (off, out), hew down, hinder.

see GREEK ek

see GREEK kopto

1581 ekkóptō (from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2875 /kóptō, "cut") – properly, cut off (out) and left to the inevitable outcome: (figuratively) entirely remove (cut off), emphasizing complete detachment (removal, severance).

Word Origin
from ek and koptó
Definition
to cut off, cut down, cut out, fig. to frustrate
NASB Translation
cut...off (5), cut down (5).

STRONGS NT 1581: ἐκκόπτω

ἐκκόπτω: future ἐκκόψω; 1 aorist imperative ἔκκοψον, subjunctive ἐκκόψω; (passive, present ἐκκόπτομαι); 2 aorist ἐξεκοπην; 2 future ἐκκοπήσομαι; to cut out, cut off;

a. properly: of a tree, Matthew 3:10; Matthew 7:19; Luke 3:9; Luke 13:7, 9 (Herodotus 9, 97, etc.); a hand, an eye: Matthew 5:30; Matthew 18:8 (τόν ὀφθυλμον, Demosthenes, p. 744 (13) 17); passive ἐκ τίνος, a branch from a tree, Romans 11:22, 24.

b. figuratively: τήν ἀφορμήν, to cut off occasion, 2 Corinthians 11:12 (τήν ἐλπίδα, Job 19:10). In 1 Peter 3:7 read ἐγκόπτεσθαι; see ἐγκόπτω.

Core Concept

ἐκκόπτω pictures decisive removal—an axe falling, a hand severed, an obstacle cleared. Scripture employs the term to underline God’s uncompromising holiness and the believer’s wholehearted allegiance.

Occurrences in the Synoptic Gospels

1. Judgment on Unfruitful Trees: John the Baptist warns, “Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9). The metaphor prefigures eschatological separation between genuine repentance and empty profession.
2. Radical Discipleship: Jesus instructs, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away” (Matthew 5:30; 18:8). The verb presses home the urgency of mortifying sin—better painful loss now than eternal ruin later.
3. Israel’s Final Opportunity: In the parable of the fig tree, the owner commands, “Cut it down; why should it use up the soil?” (Luke 13:7) and, after a year of grace, the vinedresser concedes, “If it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, you can cut it down” (Luke 13:9). The word signals looming judgment if repentance remains absent.

Pauline Usage

2 Corinthians 11:12—Paul resolves to “cut off the opportunity” for false apostles, illustrating decisive action to protect the flock.

Romans 11:22–24—Paul interprets Israel’s unbelief and Gentile inclusion through an olive-tree allegory: unbelieving branches “were cut off,” while Gentile branches were grafted in. Yet the same God “is able to graft them in again,” affirming both severity and kindness.

Theological Emphases

1. Divine Severity and Kindness: Romans 11:22 unites the themes—cutting off is not arbitrary but rooted in covenant faithfulness.
2. Holiness Requires Separation: Whether excising personal sin (Matthew 5:30) or removing corrupt influence (2 Corinthians 11:12), the action protects purity.
3. Opportunity before Finality: Luke 13:8–9 shows mercy granting time for fruit; nevertheless, judgment remains certain if fruitlessness persists.

Historical Reception

Early church writers (e.g., Chrysostom on Matthew 5:30) viewed the term as figurative, urging spiritual surgery rather than literal amputation. Reformers connected it to church discipline, emphasizing removal of persistent error to preserve gospel integrity.

Ministry Applications

• Preaching: Employ ἐκκόπτω passages to balance assurance with sober warning, encouraging genuine fruit.
• Discipleship: Teach believers to “cut off” stumbling behaviors, relationships, or media that entice sin.
• Church Discipline: Follow Paul’s example to safeguard the flock by decisively addressing false teaching.
• Evangelism: Romans 11 grounds outreach to Israel and the nations in the promise that God can re-graft any who believe.

Related Imagery

• Pruning (John 15:2) complements cutting off: the former refines fruitful branches; the latter removes fruitless ones.
• The unquenchable fire motif (Matthew 3:10) underscores the finality accompanying ἐκκόπτω.

Summation

ἐκκόπτω embodies the Biblical principle that God’s kingdom tolerates no enduring fruitlessness or corruption. In grace He warns; in justice He removes. Believers, therefore, respond with vigilant holiness, decisive self-denial, and confident hope in God’s power to graft in all who repent and believe.

εκκεκομμένα εκκεκομμένον εκκοπή εκκοπηση εκκοπήση ἐκκοπήσῃ εκκοπήσονται εκκοπήτε εκκοπτεται εκκόπτεται ἐκκόπτεται εκκοπτομενου εκκόψαι εκκόψαισαν εκκόψας εκκόψατε εκκοψεις εκκόψεις ἐκκόψεις εκκόψετε εκκόψη εκκοψον έκκοψον ἔκκοψον εκκόψουσι εκκοψω εκκόψω ἐκκόψω εξεκοπης εξεκόπης ἐξεκόπης εξέκοψαν εξέκοψας εξέκοψε εξέκοψεν ekkopese ekkopēsē ekkopḗsei ekkopḗsēi ekkopseis ekkópseis ekkopso ekkopsō ekkópso ekkópsō ekkopson ékkopson ekkoptetai ekkóptetai exekopes exekopēs exekópes exekópēsInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts