### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **hypéchō**, represented by `{{G5254}}`, is defined as **to hold oneself under, i.e. endure with patience:--suffer**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, making its single usage highly specific and significant. The word is a compound of ὑπό (meaning under) and ἔχω (meaning to have or hold).
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{G5254}}` is in [[Jude 1:7]], where it describes the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. The verse states that these cities, along with those around them, are "set forth for an example, **suffering** the vengeance of eternal fire." In this context, the word portrays a state of undergoing a continuous penalty. Their punishment for "giving themselves over to fornication" and "going after strange flesh" is presented not as a past event, but as an ongoing condition that serves as a visible warning.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its context clarify the meaning of this suffering:
* `{{G4295}}` **prókeimai** (to lie before the view, i.e. (figuratively) to be present (to the mind), to stand forth (as an example or reward)): This word, translated as "are set forth for," establishes that the suffering of the cities is a deliberate and public display [[Jude 1:7]].
* `{{G1164}}` **deîgma** (a specimen (as shown)): This highlights that Sodom and Gomorrah serve as a tangible **example** of the consequences of sin [[Jude 1:7]].
* `{{G1349}}` **díkē** (right (as self-evident), i.e. justice (the principle, a decision, or its execution)): The suffering is explicitly defined as **vengeance** or just punishment, emphasizing it as a righteous execution of justice [[Jude 1:7]].
* `{{G166}}` **aiṓnios** (perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well)): This adjective describes the fire as **eternal**, indicating the unending nature of the judgment being endured.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G5254}}` in its single use is profound. It serves to illustrate key principles of divine judgment.
* **Judgment as a Perpetual Warning:** The use of **hypéchō** shows that the consequences of sin can serve as an ongoing, public example. Sodom and Gomorrah are not just historical accounts but are "set forth for an example" [[Jude 1:7]], actively **suffering** to warn others.
* **The Link Between Sin and Punishment:** The passage draws a direct line from the cities' specific sins—giving themselves over to fornication `{{G1608}}` and going after strange `{{G2087}}` flesh `{{G4561}}`—to the punishment they endure.
* **The Nature of Divine Justice:** The suffering is characterized as the "vengeance" `{{G1349}}` of "eternal" `{{G166}}` fire [[Jude 1:7]], portraying God's justice as both severe and everlasting in response to unrepentant sin.
### Summary
In summary, while **hypéchō** `{{G5254}}` literally means to hold oneself under or endure, its lone biblical appearance gives it a powerful and specific application. It defines the state of undergoing a continuous and visible divine judgment. The fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, as described in [[Jude 1:7]], transforms the word from a simple act of suffering into a permanent illustration of the consequences of sin, set forth as an eternal warning.
TRV