Original Word: ἐξανατέλλω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: exanatelló
Pronunciation: ex-an-at-EL-lo
Phonetic Spelling: (ex-an-at-el'-lo)
KJV: spring up
NASB: sprang
Word Origin: [from G1537 (ἐκ - among) and G393 (ἀνατέλλω - risen)]

1. to start up out of the ground, i.e. germinate

spring up.

From ek and anatello; to start up out of the ground, i.e. Germinate -- spring up.

see GREEK ek

see GREEK anatello

Word Origin
from ek and anatelló
Definition
to spring up
NASB Translation
sprang (2).

STRONGS NT 1816: ἐξανατέλλω

ἐξανατέλλω: 1 aorist ἐξανετειλα;

1. transitive, to make spring up, cause to shoot forth: Genesis 2:9, etc.

2. intransitive, to spring up: Matthew 13:5; Mark 4:5. (Rare in secular authors (cf. Winer's Grammar, 102 (97)).)

Imagery and Meaning

The verb depicts the sudden, visible emergence of a plant through the soil. It evokes the first flush of green that appears almost overnight after a rain, especially in the thin limestone top-soil of Galilee. The action is rapid, eye-catching, and—because the root system is undeveloped—short-lived.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Matthew 13:5 — “Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.”
• Mark 4:5 — “Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was not deep.”

Both occurrences lie within the Parable of the Sower, where Jesus interprets the seed that sprouted rapidly yet withered as those who “receive the word with joy, but they have no root” (Matthew 13:20-21; Mark 4:16-17).

Agricultural Setting

Galilean farmland often consisted of a thin layer of fertile earth resting on hard limestone. Seed buried only a few centimeters deep can germinate almost instantly when moisture and sun combine, giving farmers an early but misleading sign of success. Seasoned villagers knew that such shoots, lacking subterranean depth, would be scorched by the first hot wind from the Judean desert. Jesus’ audience would have recognized the image as a cautionary tale drawn from daily life.

Parabolic Function

The verb underscores contrast: quick emergence against long-term endurance. In each Gospel, the “springing up” is coupled with withering, dramatizing the fate of shallow faith that meets tribulation or persecution. The momentary green foliage reflects an initial enthusiasm for the gospel—joyful, emotional, yet unrooted in conviction and obedience.

Old Testament Echoes

Hebrew poetry frequently compares human life to grass that “sprouts” and then fades (for example, Psalm 90:5-6; Isaiah 40:6-8). While the Septuagint tends to use other Greek verbs in those contexts, the thematic parallel remains: life without deep divine anchoring is transitory. Jesus’ wording gathers this Old Testament backdrop into a single, vivid snapshot.

Pastoral and Evangelistic Implications

1. Depth before display: Ministry strategy must prioritize catechesis and discipleship rather than mere numerical growth.
2. Testing as revelation: Tribulation does not destroy genuine faith; it reveals its quality.
3. Heart-soil diagnosis: Spiritual oversight involves discerning whether apparent conversions possess “root” in repentance, doctrine, and attachment to Christ.
4. Patience in nurture: True germination that endures is often slower and less conspicuous, calling churches to long-term investment.

Historical Reception

Church Fathers such as Chrysostom and Augustine used this image to warn catechumens against “temporary faith.” During the Reformation, the verb served in debates on perseverance, illustrating that visible profession is not identical with saving faith. In modern missions literature, it guards against equating rapid decision counts with lasting discipleship.

Contemporary Application

In an age of instant media and rapid public responses, the verb challenges believers to cultivate hidden root systems—prayer, Scripture intake, fellowship—before seeking platform visibility. Leaders must resist the allure of quick metrics and instead labor for fruit that survives drought.

Summary

By choosing a term that pictures swift sprouting, the Spirit confronts every generation with the danger of superficial reception of the word. Only deeply rooted faith, nourished by ongoing grace, will withstand the inevitable heat.

εξανατέλλοντι εξανατέλλων εξανατελώ εξανέτειλε εξανετειλεν εξανέτειλεν ἐξανέτειλεν εξανθεί εξανθήσει εξανθήση εξανθήσουσιν εξανθίζουσά εξανθούντα εξανθούσα εξανθούσά εξανθούσης εξήνθησαν εξήνθησε εξήνθησεν exaneteilen exanéteilenInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts