"Blotting Out"

EXAMINING COLOSSIANS 2:14 AND THE USE OF EXALIPHO

     

Blotting out^G1813 the^G3588 handwriting^G5498 of ordinances^G1378 that was against^G2596 us,^G2257 which^G3739 was^G2258 contrary^G5227 to us,^G2254 and^G2532 took^G142 it^G846 out of^G1537 the^G3588 way,^G3319 nailing^G4338 it^G846 to his cross;^G4716
(KJV + STRONG’S #S)

The Greek term used for “blotting out is Strong’s # G1813 “exalipho.” In the NIV the term used is “cancelled,” in the NKJV the term used is “wiped out.” Nevertheless the Greek term is “exalipho” meaning: to smear out, obliterate, erase, blot out, wipe away.

          G1813 (ἐξαλείφω) exaleiphō pronounced ex-al-i'-fo. From G1537 and G218; to smear out, that 

          is, obliterate (erase tears, figuratively pardon sin): - blot out, wipe away.

The Thayer’s Definition is as follows:

1) to anoint or wash in every part

     1a) to besmear: i.e. cover with lime (to whitewash or plaster)

2) to wipe off, wipe away

     2a) to obliterate, erase, wipe out, blot out

The term “exaleipho” only appears five (5) times in the New Testament beginning in the book of Acts 3:19. Follow along as we examine each passage for the context and usage of “exaleipho” to see if we can determine what is being blotted out. Is it the Law of Moses or something else?

          “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of 

          refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD… (Acts 3:19)

That’s pretty hard to twist into the context of the Law of Moses isn’t it? It specifically says your SINS may be blotted out. What is sin? It is the Transgression of the Law. The Law itself isn’t sin; however, the breaking of the law IS. Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself; we still have six more verses to go. Let’s examine those.

The next time we see this term “exaleipho” is in the book of Revelation 3:5, please turn there and read along with me so you know it really says what I have written.

          “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name 

          from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 

          He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

Ok…that OFFICIALLY has my attention, does it have yours? The next occurrence is in

Revelation 7:17.

          “For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living 

          fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

When you wipe away tears nothing remains. Just the same Yeshua has wiped away or “blots” out your sins and nothing remains either. He has not wiped away the Law of Moses! The final time we see this term used in the New Testament is in Revelation 21:4 follow me there.

          “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor 

          sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Pretty clear to me that death; pain; sorrow; and crying pass away; but I have read nothing yet that would suggest to me that the Torah (aka) the "law" or instructions of Yahweh actually pass away. 

Now that we have looked at all the New Testament Passages concerning blotting we should see if the term is used in the Septuagint (LXX); and discover what the underlying Hebrew term is; that is if one exists!

When one performs the search in E-Sword what they discover is that the term IS used in 36 passages where the Greek term “exaleipho” appears. It has been used to translate the Hebrew term

“maw-khaw.” Let us see if there are any clues about what is going to be wiped away, or blotted out from the Old Testament and its Hebrew text.

H4229 (מחה) mâchâh maw-khaw'

A primitive root; properly to stroke or rub; by implication to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), that is, grease or make fat; also to touch, that is, reach to: - abolish, blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, X utterly, wipe (away, out).

Let us look at a few in particular beginning with Isaiah 43:25:     

          “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not 

          remember your sins."

The thing that is so interesting about this passage, is that the LORD is speaking to His people Israel. Over 82 times God calls His people Israel. It is not the gentiles to whom He speaks, but to Israel. You may not be ready to accept this, but your faith in Yeshua is what grafts you into Israel and you are no longer considered to be a gentile by the LORD (hfhi). I will handle this more fully in another correspondence (chapter). In the mean time please turn with me to another passage
Isaiah 44:21-22:

          “Remember these, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant I have formed you, you are My 

          servant; Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your 

          sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

Once again we see another reference to sin being blotted out by the Father as He prophesies through His servant Isaiah. Let us look at another passage however this one is much, much older. Please turn to Exodus 32:31-33:

          “Oh these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! 

          Yet now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of  Your book which You 

          have written. And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him 

          out of My book.”

As we have seen there are two things which are blotted out in the Bible from beginning to end, sin and people. People are blotted out because they have sinned; and, sin is blotted out because of the LORD’s mercy through His son Yeshua’s precious sacrifice at Golgotha.