Lexical Summary metoikizó: To deport, to exile, to relocate Original Word: μετοικίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance carry away, remove, exile toFrom the same as metoikesia; to transfer as a settler or captive, i.e colonize or exile -- carry away, remove into. see GREEK metoikesia NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom metoikos (an emigrant) Definition to cause to migrate NASB Translation move (1), remove (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3351: μετοικίζωμετοικίζω: future (Attic) μετοικιῶ (cf. Buttmann, 37 (32); Winer's Grammar, § 13, 1 c.); 1 aorist μετῴκισα; to transfer settlers; to cause to remove into another land (see μετά, III. 2): τινα followed by εἰς with the accusative of place, Acts 7:4; ἐπέκεινα with the genitive of place (Amos 5:27), Acts 7:43. (Thucydides 1, 12; Aristophanes, Aristotle, Philo (Josephus, contra Apion 1, 19, 3), Plutarch, Aelian; the Sept. several times for הִגְלָה.) Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences Acts records the term twice, both in Stephen’s address before the Sanhedrin. In Acts 7:4 he recounts how God “removed him to this land in which you now live”, describing Abraham’s divinely directed relocation from Mesopotamia to Canaan. In Acts 7:43 Stephen, quoting Amos, warns of judgment: “I will exile you beyond Babylon.” The two uses span the redemptive storyline—one positive, one punitive—underscoring that every displacement, whether blessing or discipline, remains under God’s sovereign hand. Historical Background 1. Patriarchal Pilgrimage: Abraham’s departure from Ur modeled obedience that set Israel’s national identity as a sojourning people looking for a promised inheritance (Genesis 12:1-4; Hebrews 11:8-10). Theological Themes • Sovereignty and Initiative: God Himself ordains every relocation. Whether progressing the covenant (Abraham) or implementing judgment (exile), the movement serves His unfolding plan. Implications for the People of God 1. Obedience May Require Geographical Disruption: Like Abraham, believers may be called to leave comforts for God’s mission (Matthew 28:19-20). Christological Connections Jesus embodies the faithful stranger: born away from home, exiled to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15), ministering “without a place to lay His head” (Luke 9:58), and ascending to prepare a dwelling for His people (John 14:2-3). His atoning work gathers the scattered children of God into one (John 11:52), reversing the dispersive curse of sin. Practical Ministry Applications • Mission Strategy: Church history is filled with Spirit-led movements of peoples that carry the gospel across borders—from the dispersion after Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:1-4) to modern diasporas. Related Old Testament Parallels The Hebrew Scriptures employ verbs such as galah (“to uncover, exile”) and yashab (“to settle”) to describe similar divine relocations. Joseph’s sale into Egypt (Genesis 37), the wilderness journey (Numbers 14), and the Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah 29) each display the pattern of God using movement to advance covenant purposes. Conclusion From patriarchal calling to prophetic warning, the New Testament’s use of Strong’s 3351 portrays God as the One who plants and uproots His people to fulfill His redemptive design. Every believer, therefore, lives as a pilgrim—trusting that wherever the Lord leads, His presence, promises, and purposes remain sure. Forms and Transliterations μετοικιούσιν μετοικιω μετοικιώ μετοικιῶ μέτοικον μετώκησεν μετώκισα μετώκισαν μετωκισεν μετῴκισεν μετωκίσθη metoikio metoikiô metoikiō metoikiō̂ metṓikisen metokisen metōkisenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 7:4 V-AIA-3SGRK: πατέρα αὐτοῦ μετῴκισεν αὐτὸν εἰς NAS: died, [God] had him move to this KJV: father was dead, he removed him into INT: father of him he removed him into Acts 7:43 V-FIA-1S Strong's Greek 3351 |