ἐξορκ-ίζω G1844
to adjure, put under oath; charge someone solemnly in the name of God to speak truth
This verb means to adjure or put someone under solemn oath, especially by invoking God's name. Matthew 26:63 records the high priest adjuring Jesus: 'I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ.' The term involves calling upon deity as witness to compel truthful response. Classical usage shows it meant to make someone swear or to exorcise. The high priest invokes the most solemn oath formula to force Jesus' testimony, seeking grounds for condemnation.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Matthew 26:63 records the high priest's adjuration: 'I adjure you by the living God' (Ἐξορκίζω σε κατὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος) to declare if you're the Messiah. The present indicative shows formal oath-taking: the high priest puts Jesus under the most solemn obligation to answer. Spanish Te conjuro and French adjurer capture the oath formula. Classical usage included exorcism, but here it's legal: compelling sworn testimony. The high priest invokes God's name to force Jesus' self-incriminating confession—which Jesus then provides. 1×
AR["أُقْسِمُكَ"]·ben["শপথ-দিচ্ছি"]·DE["Ἐξορκίζω"]·EN["I-adjure"]·FR["adjurer"]·heb["מַשְׁבִּיעֲ-ךָ"]·HI["शपथ-दिलाता-हूं"]·ID["Aku-menyumpahi"]·IT["exorkizo"]·jav["Kula-sumpahi"]·KO["맹세한다"]·PT["Conjuro-te"]·RU["Заклинаю"]·ES["Te-conjuro"]·SW["Nakuapisha"]·TR["Yemin-ettiriyorum"]·urd["قسم-دیتا-ہُوں"]
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
ἐξορκ-ίζω, ={ἐξορκόω}, Refs 4th c.BC+, etc.: with double accusative, Refs 3rd c.BC+ —passive Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 conjure, ἐ. σε κύριον τὸν θεόν LXX+NT __II exorcise an evil spirit, Refs