Lexical Summary entellomai: To command, to order, to charge Original Word: ἐντέλλομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance give charge, command, enjoin. From en and the base of telos; to enjoin -- (give) charge, (give) command(-ments), injoin. see GREEK en see GREEK telos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1781 entéllomai – to command, emphasizing the end-objective, i.e. reaching the purpose (consummation, end result) of an order – i.e. as envisioning how or where it ends up. See 1785 (entolē). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom en and tellomai (to accomplish) Definition to enjoin, to charge, command NASB Translation command (6), commanded (7), gave orders (1), given orders (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1781: ἐντέλλωἐντέλλω: (τέλλω equivalent to τελέω); several times in the poets (Pindar Olymp. 7, 73) and the later writers (ἐντεταλκε, Josephus, Antiquities 7, 14, 5 (but Bekker ἐντεταλθαι); καθώς ἐντέταλται σοι, passively, Sir. 7:31); generally, and so always in the N. T., deponent middle ἐντέλλομαι; future ἐντελοῦμαι; 1 aorist ἐνετειλάμην; perfect 3 person singular ἐντέταλται (Acts 13:47); the Sept. very often for צִוָּה; to order, command to be done, enjoin: περί τίνος, Hebrews 11:22; ἐνετείλατο λέγων, Matthew 15:4 (R T); τίνι, Acts 1:2; (with λέγων added, Matthew 17:9); with οὕτω added, Acts 13:47; καθώς, (Mark 11:6 R L marginal reading); John 14:31 R G T; followed by an infinitive Matthew 19:7; τίνι, followed by an infinitive (Buttmann, § 141, 2; 275 (237)), John 8:5 Rec.; τίνι, ἵνα (cf. Buttmann, 237 (204)), Mark 13:34 (Josephus, Antiquities 7, 14, 5; 8, 14, 2); τίνι τί, Matthew 28:20; Mark 10:3; John 15:14, 17; τίνι περί τίνος, the genitive of person, Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:10, from Psalm 90:11ff ( Topical Lexicon Essence of Divine CommandThe verb ἐντέλλομαι embodies the concept of authoritative instruction that must be heeded. It always presupposes a superior speaking to a subordinate and carries an expectation of concrete obedience. Whether the speaker is God, Christ, Moses, an angelic voice, or a human authority, the action implied is never merely advisory; it binds the hearer to do. This inherent authority makes every occurrence a window into covenantal relationships: commands reveal the nature of the commander, the loyalty of the recipient, and the purpose for which the command is given. Usage in the Teaching Ministry of Jesus 1. Protective Care (Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:10). Even Satan recognizes that God “will command His angels concerning You,” highlighting divine sovereignty over angelic hosts. Christ’s Obedience to the Father John 14:31 presents the Son’s perfect submission: “I do exactly as the Father commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.” The verb underscores that the incarnation is a mission carried out under explicit divine orders. Because Jesus obeys, salvation history moves forward; believers’ obedience is patterned after His. Mutual Love Among Disciples The upper-room discourse pivots on ἐντέλλομαι. “You are My friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). “This is My command to you: love one another” (John 15:17). Obedience becomes relational, not legalistic. The command is both singular (love) and dynamic (continual practice), making the Christian community a lived commentary on Christ’s authority. Apostolic Continuation Acts traces how Christ’s commands shape early mission: • Acts 1:2 – The risen Lord “had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles.” Mosaic Covenant Echoes Hebrews twice draws on ἐντέλλομαι to link past covenant to present fulfillment. Hebrews 9:20 cites Exodus 24:8: “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep,” anchoring Christ’s atonement in Mosaic ceremony. Hebrews 11:22 recalls Joseph, who “gave instructions concerning his bones,” testifying that even dying saints command future generations to trust God’s promises. Historical and Literary Background In the Septuagint, ἐντέλλομαι regularly translates Hebrew צִוָּה (ṣiwâ), a verb of covenantal decree. Bringing that freight into the New Testament, the writers present Jesus as the true covenant Mediator whose words possess the same binding force as Yahweh’s at Sinai. Ministry Significance Today • Authority of Scripture: Because every biblical command ultimately issues from God, selective obedience is not an option. Thus ἐντέλλομαι threads through redemptive history as the verbal cord binding God’s will to human response, culminating in the Lord who both perfectly obeys and rightfully commands. Forms and Transliterations ενετειλάμεθα ενετειλαμην ενετειλάμην ἐνετειλάμην ενετείλαντο ενετειλατο ενετείλατο ενετείλατό ἐνετείλατο ενετείλω ενέτειλω ενετέλλεσθε εντείλαι έντειλαι εντειλαμενος εντειλάμενος ἐντειλάμενος εντειλαμένου εντείλασθαι εντείλασθε εντείλη εντείληται εντείλωμαι εντείλωμαί εντελείσθε εντελείσθέ εντελειται εντελείται εντελείταί ἐντελεῖται εντελή εντέλλεσθαι εντέλλεται εντελλομαι εντέλλομαι εντέλλομαί ἐντέλλομαι εντελλόμενος εντελλομένου εντελούμαι έντερα έντερά εντέταλμαι εντέταλμαί εντεταλται εντέταλται εντέταλταί ἐντέταλται eneteilamen eneteilamēn eneteilámen eneteilámēn eneteilato eneteílato enteilamenos enteilámenos enteleitai enteleîtai entellomai entéllomai entetaltai entétaltaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 4:6 V-FIP-3SGRK: ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ ἐντελεῖται περὶ σοῦ NAS: for it is written, HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS KJV: his angels charge concerning thee: INT: angels of him he will give orders concerning you Matthew 17:9 V-AIM-3S Matthew 19:7 V-AIM-3S Matthew 28:20 V-AIM-1S Mark 10:3 V-AIM-3S Mark 13:34 V-AIM-3S Luke 4:10 V-FIP-3S John 8:5 V-AIM-3S John 14:31 V-AIM-3S John 15:14 V-PIM/P-1S John 15:17 V-PIM/P-1S Acts 1:2 V-APP-NMS Acts 13:47 V-RIM/P-3S Hebrews 9:20 V-AIM-3S Hebrews 11:22 V-AIM-3S Strong's Greek 1781 |
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