Word Study for G1781 (ἐντέλλομαι)

entéllomai /en-tel'-lom-ahee/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐν and the base of τέλος

Meaningto enjoin

KJV usage(give) charge, (give) command(-ments), injoin.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of entéllomai — 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 entéllomai, represented by G1781, means to enjoin. It is derived from ἐν and the base of τέλος. Appearing 21 times in 17 unique verses, this term signifies the act of giving a charge, command, or injunction, and it conveys a sense of authoritative instruction.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G1781 is used in various contexts of authoritative instruction. God the Father commanded foundational moral laws, such as to "Honour thy father and mother" Matthew 15:4. Jesus uses the term to establish his own authority, linking obedience to friendship with him John 15:14 and issuing the Great Commission to his disciples to teach all that he commanded Matthew 28:20. The term also refers to the Mosaic law, as when questioners referenced how Moses commanded certain punishments John 8:5. It is even used to describe the charge God gives to his angels for protection Luke 4:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context and nature of the commands given:

G1321 didáskō (to teach): This verb is often linked with G1781, showing that divine commands are not just orders but are part of a larger body of teaching meant for observance Matthew 28:20.
G1127 grēgoreúō (to keep awake, i.e. watch): This is a specific action that is the subject of a command. For instance, a master commanded his porter to watch, highlighting that commands often require vigilance and readiness Mark 13:34.
G2036 épō (to speak or say): A command is fundamentally a communicated instruction. Jesus charged his disciples, saying they should not tell anyone about the vision, directly connecting the act of commanding with the act of speaking Matthew 17:9.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1781 is significant, highlighting the relationship between divine authority and human response.

Source of Authority: The word consistently points to a legitimate source of authority. Commands are issued by God the Father Matthew 15:4, Jesus Christ Matthew 28:20, the Lord Acts 13:47, and through the law of Moses John 8:5.
Basis of Relationship: Obedience to what is commanded is presented as a cornerstone of one's relationship with Christ. Jesus states, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" John 15:14. His primary command is for his followers to love one another John 15:17.
Covenant and Mission: Commands from God establish covenants and define missions. God enjoined the testament with the people of Israel Hebrews 9:20, and Christ gave commandments to the apostles to fulfill their mission to the world Acts 1:2. Jesus himself acts according to the commandment given to him by the Father John 14:31.

Summary

In summary, G1781 is not merely about giving an order, but about an authoritative charge that defines relationships and directs action. Whether issued by God, Jesus, or through the Law, a command establishes a clear expectation for belief and behavior. It is through responding to these divine commandments that believers demonstrate their love, friendship, and commitment to God's mission.

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 17 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative 3rd Singular 8×
2nd Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Future Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 1st Singular 2×
Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Aorist Middle Or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Perfect Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 3rd Singular 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
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.
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Middle Deponent: Middle in form but active in meaning.
Passive Deponent: Passive in form but active in meaning.
Middle Or Passive: Can be read as middle or passive; context decides.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

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 17 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (5 verses); never once in the other 21.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Hebrews

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.