ἐκτίθημι G1620
to set forth, explain in detail; to expose (a child); to lay out publicly
This compound verb (ἐκ + τίθημι, 'to place out') carries two distinct senses in Acts. In Acts 7:21 it refers to the exposure of the infant Moses—the ancient practice of abandoning unwanted newborns. In Acts 11:4, 18:26, and 28:23, it means to set forth or explain something in orderly detail. Spanish captures both registers: 'exponer' covers physical exposure and intellectual exposition alike. The shift from literal placement to rhetorical presentation follows a natural semantic path.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To expose a newborn child by placing it outside, abandoning it to the elements. This technical sense appears in Acts 7:21, where Moses is described as having been 'exposed' (ἐκτεθέντος). Spanish 'habiendo-sido-expuesto' and French 'exposer' use cognate forms preserving the physical imagery of setting out. The passive participle emphasizes the infant's vulnerability and the providential rescue that follows. 4×
AR["شَرَحَ", "طُرِحَ", "ـهُ-شَرَحَا"]·ben["তাঁরা-ব্যাখ্যা-করলেন", "পরিত্যক্ত-হলে", "ব্যাখ্যা-করছিল", "ব্যাখ্যা-করিতেছিল"]·DE["ἐκτεθέντος", "ἐξέθεντο", "ἐξετίθετο"]·EN["explained", "having-been-exposed", "he-was-explaining", "was-explaining"]·FR["exposer"]·heb["הִסְבִּיר", "הִרְחִיבוּ", "הֵעִיד", "כְּשֶׁהוּשְׁלַךְ"]·HI["उसने-समझाया,", "छोड़े-जाने-पर", "समझा-रहा-था", "समझाया"]·ID["Dibuang", "menjelaskan", "menjelaskan,"]·IT["esporre"]·jav["kabuwang", "nerangaken", "nerangaken,", "nyariyosaken"]·KO["버려진-후에", "설명하였다", "설명했다"]·PT["expunha,", "tendo-sido-exposto"]·RU["выброшенного", "излагал", "изложили", "он-излагал,"]·ES["exponía", "expusieron", "habiendo-sido-expuesto"]·SW["alipotupwa", "aliwaeleza", "aliwaelezea", "walimweleza"]·TR["açıkladılar", "açıklıyordu", "krallığı", "terk-edilince"]·urd["باہر-رکھا-گیا", "بیان-کرتا-تھا", "بیان-کیا", "سمجھایا"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐκτίθημι (infinitive -τιθεῖνRefsfuture -θήσω: perfect -τέθεικαRefs 2nd c.BC+:—set out, place outside, πυκινὸν λέχος Refs 8th c.BC+; expose on a desert island, Refs 5th c.BC+; expose a new-born child, Refs 5th c.BC+ —so in passive, τέθνηκε.. θηρσὶν ἐκτεθείςRefs; expose, ἑαυτὸν βέλεσι Refs 1st c.AD+ —middle, ἐκτίθεσθαι λείαν εἰς Βιθυνούς export it thither, Refs 1st c.AD+ __II set up, offer for a…