ἐξολεθρ-εύω G1842
to be utterly destroyed, completely annihilated; suffer total and final destruction
This verb means to be utterly destroyed or completely wiped out. Acts 3:23 quotes Moses' warning that anyone who doesn't listen to the prophet 'shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' The term emphasizes total, final annihilation. LXX and NT usage shows intensified destruction language. Peter applies this Deuteronomic warning to Christ: rejecting Jesus brings complete exclusion from God's people. The passive voice indicates divine judgment: God himself executes this total destruction upon those who refuse the ultimate Prophet.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 3:23 warns that everyone who refuses to hear the prophet 'shall be completely destroyed' (ἐξολεθρευθήσεται) from the people. The future passive emphasizes certain, divinely-executed judgment. This is covenant curse language from Deuteronomy applied to Christ. Spanish será destruida and French exterminer convey total annihilation. The verb intensifies simple destruction: not just punished but utterly removed from covenant community. Peter makes clear the stakes: rejecting Jesus, the Prophet like Moses, brings final, complete exclusion from salvation. 1×
AR["سَتُبَادُ"]·ben["ধ্বংস-হবে"]·DE["ἐξολεθρευθήσεται"]·EN["shall-be-destroyed"]·FR["exterminer"]·heb["תִּכָּרֵת"]·ID["akan-dibinasakan"]·IT["distruggere"]·jav["badhé-katumpes"]·KO["그-"]·PT["será-destruída"]·RU["истребится"]·ES["será-destruida"]·SW["ataangamizwa"]·TR["-den"]·urd["ہلاک-کیا-جائے-گا"]
Related Senses
H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)H7843 1. Hifil: destroy, annihilate (83×)H2491a 1. slain, fatally pierced (74×)H6862c 1. adversary, enemy, foe (69×)H8045 1. destroy, exterminate (69×)G0615 1. kill, put to death (60×)H6571b 1. horseman, cavalryman (52×)H8077a 1. desolation, waste (abstract state) (52×)G4678 1. of wisdom (51×)G4717 1. crucify, fasten to a cross (46×)H2763a 1. utterly destroy (Hifil active) (44×)G0622 1. perish, be destroyed (intransitive) (41×)H0006 2. to destroy, annihilate (Piel) (38×)H8074 1. be desolate, lie waste (36×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐξολεθρ-εύω, destroy utterly, LXX+NT+1st c.AD+ in this group of words is frequently in later codices and Papyrus, as Refs 6th c.AD+