Word Study for G1758 (ἐνέχω)

enéchō /en-ekh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐν and ἔχω

Meaningto hold in or upon, i.e. ensnare; by implication, to keep a grudge

KJV usageentangle with, have a quarrel against, urge.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of enéchō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word enéchō, represented by G1758, is a term used to describe being held, ensnared, or keeping a grudge. Derived from ἐν and ἔχω, its base definition is to hold in or upon. It appears 4 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, carrying the sense of being entangled with something, having a quarrel against someone, or to urge them.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G1758 is used in several distinct negative contexts. It serves as a strong apostolic warning to believers not to be entangled again with the "yoke of bondage" Galatians 5:1, contrasting with the freedom provided by Christ. The word also conveys intense personal animosity, as when Herodias "had a quarrel against" John the Baptist, a grudge that led her to desire his death Mark 6:19. Finally, it illustrates the hostile pressure from religious leaders, who began to urge Jesus vehemently in an attempt to trap him in his words Luke 11:53.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context and consequences associated with G1758:

G2218 zygós (yoke): This word for servitude or obligation is used directly with G1758 in the command not to be entangled with the yoke of bondage Galatians 5:1.
G615 apokteínō (to kill outright): This term is linked to the animosity of G1758 in Mark 6:19, where Herodias's quarrel results in her desire to kill John the Baptist.
G653 apostomatízō (to provoke to speak): This is used in parallel with G1758 in Luke 11:53, where the scribes and Pharisees urge Jesus and provoke him to speak in a hostile manner.

Theological Significance

The conceptual significance of G1758 lies in its consistent portrayal of negative restraint and hostility.

Spiritual Ensnarement: The term is used to caution against spiritual entrapment. In Galatians 5:1, believers who have been made free (eleutheróō, G1659) are warned not to become entangled again in a yoke (zygós, G2218) of bondage (douleía, G1397).
Destructive Animosity: It defines a grudge that festers and leads to violent intent. Herodias's quarrel G1758 was not a passing disagreement but a persistent hostility that sought to kill its object Mark 6:19.
Hostile Interrogation: The word describes an aggressive pressure intended to ensnare someone. The scribes and Pharisees did not simply question Jesus; they began to urge G1758 him, attempting to provoke a misstep Luke 11:53.

Summary

In summary, G1758 is a potent word describing the state of being negatively held or contained. It is never used in a positive sense. Whether depicting the danger of spiritual entanglement Galatians 5:1, the destructive nature of a personal quarrel Mark 6:19, or the malicious intent to urge someone into a trap Luke 11:53, enéchō consistently illustrates the concept of being ensnared by hostile or oppressive forces.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Infinitive 1×
Present Passive Imperative 2nd Plural 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Mark, Luke, and Galatians (1 verse each); never once in the other 24.

Mark

Luke

Galatians

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.