Strong's g1572

Pronunciation Guide: ek-KAI-oh (where the ‘ai’ sounds like the ‘y’ in “sky”)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1572: The Greek word ἐκκαίω literally means “to burn out” or “to kindle completely.” It refers to an intense burning or inflaming that consumes completely, often with the connotation of being set ablaze from within. In biblical usage, it frequently describes the kindling of strong passions or desires that consume a person’s thoughts and actions.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Verb
• Root words: ἐκ (ek, “out from, thoroughly”) + καίω (kaiō, “to set on fire, burn”)
• Language origin: Classical Greek
• Primary usage: Found in ethical and theological contexts
• Tense: Present active
• Voice: Middle/Passive (in Romans 1:27)
• Appears only once in the New Testament

ἐκκαίω Morphology:

• ἐκκαίω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I burn out completely
• ἐκκαίεις (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you burn out completely
• ἐκκαίει (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it burns out completely
• ἐκκαίομαι (present middle/passive indicative, 1st person singular) – I am burned out completely
• ἐξεκαύθησαν (aorist passive indicative, 3rd person plural) – they were burned out completely (as used in Romans 1:27)

Origin & History

The term ἐκκαίω has a rich history in classical Greek literature, where it was used to describe the complete burning or kindling of fire. In works like Xenophon’s “Cyropaedia,” the term appears in describing the igniting of signal fires. The prefix ἐκ- intensifies the base verb καίω, emphasizing thoroughness—not just to burn, but to burn completely or burn out.

In the Septuagint (LXX), forms of καίω appear frequently in descriptions of sacrificial fires and divine manifestations, though the compound ἐκκαίω is less common. The concept carries significant theological weight in ancient Jewish thought, where fire often symbolizes both divine presence (as in the burning bush with Moses) and divine judgment. By New Testament times, the term had developed strong metaphorical associations with passion and desire, which is how Paul employs it in his letter to the Romans.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Complete kindling or ignition of fire
• Burning thoroughly or intensely
• Inflaming of emotions or passions
• Consuming from within
• Burning out completely (with the sense of depletion)

ἐκκαίω Translation Options:

• “To burn out completely” – Emphasizes the totality of the burning process
• “To be inflamed with” – Captures the passive voice and metaphorical sense of being consumed by passion
• “To kindle thoroughly” – Highlights the initiating aspect of the burning
• “To be set ablaze” – Conveys the passive experience of being overcome by desire
• “To burn with consuming fire” – Combines both the intensity and completeness of the action

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἐκκαίω appears only once, in Romans 1:27, where Paul describes those who have rejected God’s truth as being “burned with” (ἐξεκαύθησαν) desire for one another. The context is Paul’s exposition of divine judgment against those who suppress the truth about God. The aorist passive form used here (ἐξεκαύθησαν) indicates that this burning passion is something that has happened to them—they have been set ablaze by their lusts as a consequence of their rejection of God.

Though rare in biblical Greek, this vivid term powerfully conveys the consuming nature of misplaced desires. The only direct biblical usage is:

• “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned [ἐξεκαύθησαν] in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” Romans 1:27

Cultural Insights

In the Greco-Roman world, fire held significant cultural and religious importance. Fire was seen as both creative and destructive—a purifying force and a consuming one. The temple of Vesta in Rome housed an eternal flame tended by the Vestal Virgins, symbolizing the hearth of the state. The concept of being “consumed by passion” was a familiar literary and philosophical trope, often used to describe both romantic desire and destructive obsession.

In Jewish thought, fire was frequently associated with divine presence and judgment. The burning bush that was not consumed (Exodus 3), the pillar of fire that led Israel through the wilderness, and the fire that consumed sacrifices all contributed to a rich theological understanding of fire as a symbol of God’s presence and power. When Paul uses ἐκκαίω in Romans, he draws on this cultural background to communicate how turning away from God leads to being consumed by one’s own passions—a form of divine judgment that operates through natural consequences.

Theological Significance

The singular use of ἐκκαίω in Romans 1:27 occupies a significant place in Paul’s theological exposition of divine judgment. In this passage, Paul describes a pattern where rejection of God leads to being “given over” to one’s own sinful desires. The burning passion described by ἐκκαίω is not merely strong desire, but a consuming force that demonstrates the theological principle that sin itself becomes part of its own punishment.

This reveals an important aspect of God’s justice. Rather than always intervening directly, God sometimes allows the natural consequences of sin to serve as judgment. The passive voice of ἐξεκαύθησαν suggests that this inflaming of passion is something that happens to those who reject God—they lose control over their desires, which then consume them. This illustrates the biblical principle that true freedom is found not in rejecting divine boundaries but in living within them.

The concept also connects to the broader biblical theme of fire as both purifying and judging. For the faithful, the fire of God’s presence refines and purifies; for those who reject Him, that same fire becomes consuming judgment. This dual nature of divine fire reminds us that God’s character of love and justice are not contradictory but complementary aspects of His holiness.

Personal Application

The powerful imagery of ἐκκαίω invites us to examine our own desires and passions. What fires are burning within us? Are they the refining fires of godly passion, or the consuming fires of misplaced desires? Scripture teaches that passion itself is not inherently sinful—indeed, we are created as passionate beings. The question is whether our passions are directed toward that which gives life or that which ultimately consumes and destroys.

When we find ourselves “burning with” desires that lead away from God’s design, we can recognize this as a warning sign. The consuming nature of sinful passion is not merely a moral issue but a spiritual indicator that we are moving away from the source of life. Yet even here, the gospel offers hope. The same God who allows us to experience the consequences of our choices also offers redemption through the Messiah Yeshua, whose love is described as “strong as death” and whose jealousy is “fierce as the grave,” its coals “coals of fire, the very flame of יהוה (Yahweh)” (Song of Solomon 8:6). The consuming fire of God’s love can redirect and purify even the most misplaced passions.

Related Words

• φλογίζω (phlogizō) – to set on fire, inflame – Similar in describing inflammation but lacks the “complete” or “thorough” aspect of ἐκκαίω. Used metaphorically of the tongue setting the course of life on fire in James 3:6. See G5394
• πυρόω (pyroō) – to burn with fire, to be inflamed – Often used metaphorically for being inflamed with passion or purified by fire. Broader application than ἐκκαίω, appearing in contexts of both purification and testing. See G4448
• καίω (kaiō) – to light, kindle – The root verb of ἐκκαίω without the intensifying prefix. More general term for burning without the emphasis on completeness or intensity. See G2545
• κατακαίω (katakaiō) – to burn down, consume entirely – Similar intensity to ἐκκαίω but with emphasis on downward burning or complete destruction. See G2618
• ζέω (zeō) – to boil, be hot – Used metaphorically for fervent spirit (Romans 12:11), conveying heat and intensity but without the fire imagery. See G2204

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the term ἐκκαίω would have resonated powerfully with Paul’s Roman audience because of the Great Fire of Rome that would occur about a decade after his letter was written? This catastrophic event in 64 CE destroyed much of the city and became a cultural touchpoint for understanding the destructive power of unbridled fire—a vivid physical illustration of the spiritual destruction Paul was describing.
• Did you know that ancient Greek medical writers like Hippocrates used terms related to ἐκκαίω to describe inflammation in the body? This medical usage adds depth to Paul’s metaphor, suggesting that misdirected passion is not just destructive but actually a form of spiritual inflammation or disease that affects the whole person.
• Did you know that in modern Greek, derivatives of καίω are still used in everyday language? The word “καίγομαι” (kaigomai) can mean “I’m burning” in the literal sense, but colloquially it can also mean “I’m in a hurry” or “I’m very anxious”—preserving the ancient connection between fire and intense emotion that Paul drew upon in his use of ἐκκαίω.

Remember This

ἐκκαίω reminds us that passion without divine direction doesn’t just burn brightly—it burns completely, consuming those who reject the Creator’s design for the creation’s counterfeit.