Lexical Summary enalios: Of the sea, marine Original Word: ἐνάλιος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thing in the sea. From en and hals; in the sea, i.e. Marine -- thing in the sea. see GREEK en see GREEK hals NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom en and hals (the sea) Definition in or of the sea, i.e. marine creatures NASB Translation creatures of the sea (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1724: ἐνάλιοςἐνάλιος, ἐναλιον, or ἐνάλιος, ἐναλια, ἐναλιον (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 11, 1)) ἅλς the sea), that which is in the sea, marine; plural τά ἐναλια marine animals, James 3:7. (Often in Greek writings; the epic form εἰνάλιος as old as Homer.) Topical Lexicon Translational Overview Strong’s Greek 1724 (ἐνάλιος) describes that which is “in the sea,” hence “marine, sea-creature.” English versions render it “creatures of the sea” (James 3:7). Although occurring only once, the term harmonizes with a broad biblical vocabulary that distinguishes land animals, birds, reptiles, and aquatic life, underscoring the Creator’s comprehensive sovereignty over every realm of nature. Biblical Context: James 3:7 James contrasts humanity’s ability to subdue created beings with its inability to master the tongue: “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man” (James 3:7). The reference to ἐνάλιος completes a fourfold classification reflecting Genesis 1. By evoking mankind’s dominion mandate, James heightens the irony that the same humanity that can train sea creatures cannot bridle its speech. The single use of 1724 therefore serves a rhetorical function that intensifies moral exhortation. Dominion, Stewardship, and Human Limitation 1. Dominion Granted: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image… to rule over the fish of the sea’ ” (Genesis 1:26). Human authority extends even to elusive marine life, illustrating the breadth of God’s gift. Symbolism of the Sea and Its Creatures • Chaos and Threat: The sea often pictures untamed forces (Isaiah 57:20; Revelation 13:1). Historical and Cultural Background Greco-Roman natural science classified creatures as terrestrial, aerial, aquatic, or amphibious, paralleling Hebrew categories (Genesis 1). Marine spectacles—such as fishponds, maritime trade, and even exotic animals in arenas—were familiar to first-century readers, making James’s illustration vivid. Jewish fishermen on the Sea of Galilee, Roman sailors on Mediterranean routes, and coastal communities all testified to mankind’s growing mastery over the sea. Ministry and Homiletical Applications • Self-Control: Use James 3:7–8 to emphasize that external accomplishments cannot substitute for internal holiness. Related Biblical Vocabulary • θάλασσα (thalassa) – the sea itself (Matthew 8:24). These terms supplement ἐνάλιος, collectively portraying a consistent scriptural witness to God’s dominion over aquatic creation. Summary Though ἐνάλιος appears only in James 3:7, it anchors the epistle’s ethical teaching in the creation narrative, affirms human stewardship over marine life, exposes human moral frailty, and contributes to the Bible’s larger theology of the sea. The single word thus richly connects Genesis, Psalms, the Gospels, and Revelation, demonstrating the coherence of Scripture and its continued relevance for faith and practice. Forms and Transliterations εναλιων εναλίων ἐναλίων εναλλάξ ενάλλεσθε εναλούμαι ενήλατο enalion enaliōn enalíon enalíōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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