The Greek verb ekphyō means to put forth or sprout, especially of plants producing leaves or growth. It appears in Matthew 24:32 and Luke 21:30 in Jesus' parable of the fig tree: "As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out (ekphyē), you know that summer is near."
Ekphyō (to sprout/put forth) is the verb at the heart of Jesus' parable of the fig tree — one of His clearest eschatological signs. The budding fig tree signals the approach of summer; similarly, the signs Jesus describes signal the approach of the Kingdom's fullness. The natural world with its reliable seasonal sprouting becomes a parable for divine faithfulness: as surely as leaves sprout in season, so surely will God's promises be fulfilled. Creation itself testifies to the trustworthiness of God's word.