The Greek verb ekpetannumi means to spread out, stretch out, or extend — particularly of hands. It appears only once in the NT (Romans 10:21), where Paul quotes Isaiah 65:2: "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." The image is God's persistent, outstretched arms of invitation.
Romans 10:21's single use of ekpetannumi is one of Scripture's most moving images of divine longing. Paul quotes Isaiah to show that Israel's rejection of the gospel was not unanticipated — God had been stretching out His hands toward them all along, met with disobedience. The posture of outstretched arms is the posture of welcome, invitation, and unrequited love. This same gesture — arms stretched wide — was finally and fully embodied in the cross: Christ on the cross with arms outstretched, welcoming all who come. The crucifixion is the ultimate ekpetannumi.