ἐκ-λεκτός, -ή, -όν
(< ἐκλέγω), [in LXX for בָּחַר (so prob. in Is 28:16, Pr 17:3, for MT בָּחַן), בָּרִיא, etc.;]
1. choice, select (cl., rarely; Thuc., Plat., al.), hence, eminent: Ro 16:13 (cf. Ez 27:24).
2. As in Inscr. (MM, Exp., xii), chosen; esp. as in LXX, of Israel, elect, chosenof God (Is 65:9, Ps 105:43, al.); so in NT;
(a) of Christ: Lk 23:35 (cf. Is 42:1); fig., λίθος, I Pe 2:4, 6(LXX);
(b) of holy angels: I Ti 5:21;
(c) of Christians: Mt 24:22, 24, Mk 13:20, 22, 27, II Ti 2:10, I Pe 1:1; τ. θεοῦ, Lk 18:7, Ro 8:33, Col 3:12, Tit 1:1; τ. Χριστοῦ, Mt 24:31; ἐ. κυρία, II Jo 1; ἀδελφή, ib. 13; γένος, I Pe 2:9(LXX); κλητοὶ καὶ ἐ. κ. πιστοί, Re 17:14; opp. to κλητός (not so in Epp.; v. Lft. on Col 3:12), Mt 20:16 (T, WH, txt., R, omit) Mt 22:14 (Cremer, 405, 775).†