The Greek adjective ἀνεξιχνίαστος (anexichniastos) means “unfathomable” or “inscrutable.” It is derived from the prefix ἀν- (an-), meaning “not,” and ἐξιχνίαστος (exichniastos), meaning “traceable” or “searchable.” The term describes something that cannot be fully explored or understood, emphasizing its profound and incomprehensible nature.

Detailed Overview

According to Strong’s Concordance, ἀνεξιχνίαστος (G421) is used to denote something that is beyond human understanding or investigation. It appears in Romans 11:33, where Paul speaks of the “depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” as being “unfathomable” and “inscrutable.” This emphasizes the divine mysteries that surpass human comprehension.

The Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon provides further context by defining ἀνεξιχνίαστος as “unfathomable” or “inscrutable.” BDAG highlights its use in contexts where something is so complex or profound that it cannot be fully understood or traced. This term is used to describe the depths of divine wisdom and knowledge, reflecting the limitations of human understanding in the face of divine mysteries.

The Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon also supports this definition by describing ἀνεξιχνίαστος as “unfathomable” or “inaccessible.” LSJ provides context from classical Greek literature, where the term is used to describe things that cannot be explored or comprehended, aligning with its biblical usage to describe the profound nature of divine attributes and mysteries.

In summary, ἀνεξιχνίαστος primarily means “unfathomable” or “inscrutable,” indicating something that is beyond human comprehension or investigation. This meaning is consistently supported by Strong’s Concordance, BDAG, and LSJ, each providing context for its use in describing the profound and incomprehensible nature of divine wisdom and knowledge in biblical and classical Greek literature.