Lexical Summary eneileó: To wrap, to enclose, to envelop Original Word: ἐνειλέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wrap in. From ennomos and the base of heilisso; to enwrap -- wrap in. see GREEK ennomos see GREEK heilisso NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom en and eileó (to wind) Definition to roll in, to wind in NASB Translation wrapped (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1750: ἐνειλέωἐνειλέω, ἐνείλω: 1 aorist ἐνείλησα; to roll in, wind in: τινα τίνι, one in anything, Mark 15:46. (1 Samuel 21:9; (Aristotle, mund. 4, p. 396a, 14; Philo), Plutarch, Artemidorus Daldianus, Philostr., others.) Topical Lexicon Burial Preparations in First-Century Judaism Jewish burial practice called for the body to be washed, anointed with spices, and wrapped in clean linen before sundown (Genesis 50:2-3; John 19:40). Linen symbolized purity and honor, setting a sharp contrast with the shame of crucifixion. The single New Testament occurrence of Strong’s 1750, found in Mark 15:46, captures this critical moment: “Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a tomb cut out of the rock”. The verb underscores deliberate, reverent care for the Lord’s body in accord with Jewish custom and Mosaic law regarding the treatment of the dead (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). Joseph of Arimathea’s Act of Devotion Joseph’s bold request of Pilate (Mark 15:43) and his personal handling of the corpse involved ceremonial defilement on the eve of Passover, yet he prioritized honoring Jesus. By wrapping the body himself, Joseph identified with the crucified Messiah, fulfilling Proverbs 10:12’s call that “love covers all transgressions.” His act also publicly certified Jesus’ death; a living victim would not have been entrusted to a respected council member nor sealed in a prominent garden tomb. Prophetic Resonances The righteous burial foretold in Isaiah 53:9—“He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but He was with a rich man in His death”—finds tangible expression in the linen shroud obtained by a “prominent member of the Council.” The careful wrapping links the Passion narratives to Psalm 16:10, “You will not abandon My soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay,” for the cloth would preserve the body from immediate decomposition until resurrection dawn. Witness to the Reality of Death and Resurrection The existence of the linens became evidentiary proof at the empty tomb. John 20:5-7 records that Peter “saw the linen cloths lying there” and “the cloth that had been around Jesus’ head, folded up by itself”. The body had been wrapped; now only the wrappings remained, contradicting any claim of grave robbery and underscoring bodily resurrection. Likewise Acts 13:29 testifies, “When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb,” echoing Mark’s wording and confirming apostolic proclamation of Christ’s literal death and burial. Pastoral and Theological Reflections 1. Christ’s burial validates His true humanity; He did not merely appear to die. Related Scriptural Texts Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53; John 19:40; John 20:5-7; Acts 13:29; Isaiah 53:9; Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 25:7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; Deuteronomy 21:22-23. Practical Ministry Applications • Funerary care: Christians imitate Joseph’s dignified treatment of the deceased, affirming the body’s future resurrection. Hymnody and Liturgical Echoes Traditional hymns such as “Man of Sorrows, What a Name” and “Were You There When They Laid Him in the Tomb” draw on the imagery of the linen shroud. Liturgically, the placement of a white pall over a casket echoes the wrapping in Mark 15:46, visually proclaiming hope in the resurrection of the body. Forms and Transliterations ενειλημμένη ενείλησε ενειλησεν ἐνείλησεν eneilesen eneilēsen eneílesen eneílēsenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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