ἐξαιτέομαι
exaitéomai
G1809 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To ask for or demand persistently, especially with a sense of urgency or insistence. In the middle voice (as used here), it especially indicates seeking something for oneself through entreaty or petition, sometimes with the nuance of claiming or requiring what is due. In legal or adversarial contexts, it can mean demanding someone for trial or handing them over for examination.
Semantic Range
to demand urgently, to ask persistently, to claim as one's own, to insist upon, to demand for examination or trial
Root / Etymology
From ἐκ ('out of, from') and αἰτέω ('to ask, request, demand'), forming a compound verb carrying the sense of 'ask out' or 'demand from.' The middle voice emphasizes the subject acting in their own interest or on their own behalf.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Occurrences of ἐξαιτέομαι in Classical and Hellenistic Greek are rare. In the New Testament (Luke 22:31), it appears in the context of Satan 'demanding' or 'insisting upon' Simon Peter, reflecting strong entreaty or claim over him—suggesting more than a simple request. The nuance of legal demand (as in demanding one's custody or right for examination) can be found in extra-biblical Greek. English translations often render it as 'asked for,' 'demanded,' or 'sought to have' but may not capture the intensity and self-motivated aspect implied by the Greek middle form. The term is less common than the simple αἰτέω, highlighting the sense of extracting or insisting upon, often in adversarial or urgent circumstances.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
middle voice from ἐκ and αἰτέω; to demand (for trial):--desire.
Root Family
αἰτέω (exaitéomai) — to ask, to demand, to request
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1809-01 |
ἐξῃτήσατο | exetesato | V AOR MID IND 3P SG |
has-demanded | demanded for himself | demanded for himself | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1809-01 |
Luke 22:31 | ἐξῃτήσατο | exetesato | V AOR MID IND 3P SG |
has-demanded | demanded for himself | demanded for himself |