Greek · G1785 · unreviewed

ἐντολή

Commandment

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

ἐντολή G1785

Pronunciation entolḗ

What does ἐντολή (entolḗ) mean in the Bible?

ἐντολή (entolḗ) is a Greek word meaning "commandment". ἐντολή, -ῆς, ἡ (ἐντέλλω, which see), [in LXX chiefly for מִצְוָה; in pl. The commandment reveals sin but is not itself sinful. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Faith, Messiah.

Full entry for ἐντολή (G1785) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

commandment

Extended definition

Authoritative directive from God or Christ requiring obedience; often religious precepts or moral rules.

(ἐντέλλω, which see), [in LXX chiefly for מִצְוָה; in pl. frequently in Pss for פִּקּוּד ;]

1generally, a charge, injunction, order, command: Luk.15:29, Jhn.10:18 11:57 12:49-50 14:31, Act.17:15, Col.4:10; ἐ. σαρκίνη, Heb.7:16, 18

2Esp. of religious precepts and commandments;

aof God's commandments: in OT, Mat.15:3 22:36, 38 22:40 Mk 7:8-9; Mrk.10:5, 19 12:28, 31 Eph.2:15, Heb.9:19; esp. of the decalogue, Mat.5:19 19:17, Mrk.10:19, Luk.18:20 23:56, Rom.7:8-13 13:9, Eph.6:2; of God's commandments in general, Luk.1:6, 1Co.7:19, 1Jn.2:3-8 Jn 3:22-24 Jn 4:21 Jn 5:2-3, Rev.12:17 14:12; collectively, ἡ ἐ. (cf. τ. ἔργον τ. θεοῦ, Jhn.6:29), 1Ti.6:14, 2Pe.2:21 3:2;

bof things commanded Christ by the Father: Jhn.12:49-50 14:31 15:10; __(with) of the precepts of Christ: Jhn.13:34 14:15, 21 15:10, 12, 1Co.14:37.

3Phrases: before ἵνα, Jhn.13:34 15:12, 1Jn.3:23 Jn 4:21, 2Jn.6; ἐντολὴν (ὰς) παραβαίνειν, Mat.15:3; ἀκυροῦν, Mat.15:6 Rec.; τηρεῖν, Mat.19:17 Jhn.15:10, al.; ποιεῖν, 1Jn.5:2; διδόναι, Jhn.11:57; λαμβάνειν, Jhn.10:18, 2Jn.4; ἔχειν, Jhn.14:21, Heb.7:5; ἐ. καὶ δικαιώματα, Luk.1:6; ἐντολαὶ ἀνθρώπων (of Jewish tradition), Tit.1:14; i. καινή, Jhn.13:34, 1Jn.2:7, 2Jn.5.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

The commandment reveals sin but is not itself sinful. 1 John 2:3-6

Father's directive resulting in eternal life. 1 John 2:7-11

Highlights continuity between the foundational gospel message and the ethical demand of love. 1 John 3:19-24

Summarized as faith in Jesus and love for one another, uniting belief and practice. 1 John 5:1-5

Obedience demonstrates love for God and evidences genuine regeneration.

Obedience to God’s revealed will is the concrete evidence of genuine faith, not an optional extra for advanced believers.

Love is not optional sentiment but divine mandate, inseparable from true obedience.

John condenses God’s will into faith in Christ and love, uniting doctrine and ethics.

Obedience is the practical expression of love for God.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Matt 22:36 · Matt 22:38 · Mark 12:28 · Mark 12:31 · John 12:50 · John 15:12 · Rom 7:10 · Rom 7:12 · Rom 13:9 · Eph 6:2 · 1 John 2:7 · 1 John 3:23 · 2 John 1:6 13×

Nominative · Plural · Feminine 1 John 5:3 1×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine Rom 7:8 · Rom 7:9 · Rom 7:11 · Rom 7:13 · Heb 7:16 · Heb 7:18 · Heb 9:19 · 2 Pet 2:21 · 2 Pet 3:2 9×

Genitive · Plural · Feminine Matt 5:19 · 1 Cor 7:19 · Eph 2:15 3×

Dative · Plural · Feminine Matt 22:40 · Luke 1:6 · Titus 1:14 3×

Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 15:3 · Mark 7:8 · Mark 7:9 · Mark 10:5 · Luke 15:29 · Luke 23:56 · John 10:18 · John 12:49 · John 13:34 · Acts 17:15 · 1 Tim 6:14 · Heb 7:5 · 1 John 2:7 · 1 John 2:8 · 1 John 3:23 · 1 John 4:21 19×

Accusative · Plural · Feminine Matt 19:17 · Mark 10:19 · Luke 18:20 · John 11:57 · John 14:15 · John 14:21 · John 15:10 · Col 4:10 · 1 John 2:3 · 1 John 2:4 · 1 John 3:22 · 1 John 3:24 · 1 John 5:2 · 1 John 5:3 · 2 John 1:6 · Rev 12:17 18×

Canonical Themes

Covenant Faith Messiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 John 2:3-6 commands entolḗ Accusative · Plural · Feminine

Authoritative instructions given by God, particularly as fulfilled and clarified in Christ.

1 John 2:7-11 command entolḗ Nominative · Singular · Feminine

An authoritative directive rooted in God’s will and revealed through Christ.

1 John 3:19-24 command entolḗ Nominative · Singular · Feminine

Authoritative directive expressing God’s will.

1 John 5:1-5 commands entolḗ Nominative · Plural · Feminine

Authoritative directives expressing God’s will.

Additional Occurrences

1-john Command entolḗ

authoritative directive rooted in covenant obligation

1-john Command entolḗ

authoritative directive

1-john Commandments entolḗ

authoritative directives

John 12:37-50 ντολή entolḗ

commandment

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 14 — Pursue Love, Desire Gifts, and Let All Things Be Done for Edification and Order John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 7 — True Defilement and Boundary-Crossing Mercy Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Romans 7 — Released from the Law, Exposed by the Law, and Crying Out for Deliverance

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details