Brief Overview of ἐντεῦθεν (Strong’s G1782: enteuthen)

Introduction

Understanding Greek words is crucial for deepening our knowledge of Biblical texts and ancient culture. The Greek word ἐντεῦθεν (enteuthen) is particularly significant because it means “from here,” “from this place,” or “hence.” This adverb appears in the New Testament in contexts that describe movement or origin, often indicating direction or a point of departure. Exploring ἐντεῦθεν helps readers understand the nuances of geographical and metaphorical movements in the text and provides insights into the way ancient Greek language conveyed spatial relationships and logical progressions.

Key Information

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• The Greek Word: ἐντεῦθεν (enteuthen) [en-TEY-then]
• Etymology Root Words and Meanings: Likely derived from a combination of ἐν (en, “in”) and a form of the demonstrative pronoun τῆδε (tēde, “here”), giving the meaning “from here” or “hence.”
• Part of Speech: Adverb. It functions to describe location or origin and does not decline.
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.

Primary Meanings

• From here — indicating movement or origin from a specific place.
• Hence — conveying the idea of movement away from a point or from this point forward.
• From this place — used to specify a location as the starting point for an action or event.

Similar Words: ἐκεῖθεν (ekeithen) [e-KEY-then] also means “from there,” but it refers to a distant place rather than the immediate “here” of ἐντεῦθεν. ἔνθεν (enthen) [EN-then] can similarly mean “from here” or “hence,” but it is less specific and more versatile in usage, sometimes carrying a broader meaning like “on both sides.”

Further Insights: ἐντεῦθεν is an adverb and does not have a declension or inflection pattern, as it does not change form according to case, number, or gender. It is primarily used to provide spatial context, indicating the starting point of movement or a logical step in reasoning.

Lexicon Insights

BDAG: ἐντεῦθεν is defined as “from here” or “from this place.” BDAG emphasizes its usage in contexts that describe either literal spatial movement or figurative transitions, such as in argumentation or reasoning.

Thayers: Thayer’s lexicon describes ἐντεῦθεν as “hence” or “from this place,” noting its application in New Testament passages that involve descriptions of movement or directional change.

Vines: Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words explains ἐντεῦθεν as “from here” or “hence,” highlighting its role in passages where the departure from a specific point or starting location is being described.

LSJ: The Liddell-Scott-Jones Greek-English Lexicon provides a broader definition of ἐντεῦθεν as “from here” or “hence,” used in various Greek texts to convey spatial and logical relations, emphasizing the word’s utility in both literal and figurative contexts.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s concordance defines ἐντεῦθεν as “from this place” or “hence,” pointing out its application in scenarios where movement away from a given location or point is described.

Scripture References

• John 7:3 – “His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence (ἐντεῦθεν), and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.”
• John 19:18 – “Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst (ἐντεῦθεν).”
• Revelation 9:18 – “By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths (ἐντεῦθεν).”

Classical Usage

Summary of ἐντεῦθεν (G1782: enteuthen)

ἐντεῦθεν (enteuthen) is a Greek adverb meaning “from here,” “hence,” or “from this place.” It is significant in Biblical contexts for describing movement, direction, or the origin of an action or event. This word is used in passages that involve physical departure from a location or the logical progression from a starting point. In classical Greek literature and the Septuagint, ἐντεῦθεν reflects the importance of spatial relationships and transitions, both literal and figurative.

Did You Know?

In ancient Greek literature, ἐντεῦθεν was not only used to describe literal movement but also as a rhetorical tool in philosophical discussions. It helped indicate the starting point of an argument or reasoning process, illustrating how ancient Greek thinkers like Plato structured their dialogues and conveyed logical progressions. In Biblical texts, ἐντεῦθεν retains this dual function, describing both geographical and spiritual or logical journeys.