The Greek adjective ἀνεκδιήγητος (anekdēgētos) means “inexpressible” or “unspeakable.” It is derived from the prefix ἀν- (an-), meaning “not,” and ἐκδιήγησις (ekdēgēsis), meaning “description” or “narration.” The term describes something that is beyond verbal description or too great to be adequately expressed in words.

Detailed Overview

According to Strong’s Concordance, ἀνεκδιήγητος (G411) is used in the New Testament to describe something so profound or extraordinary that it cannot be adequately expressed in human language. It appears in 2 Corinthians 9:15, where Paul uses it to refer to the “indescribable gift” of God, emphasizing the immeasurable nature of God’s gift of grace.

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The Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon provides additional insight by noting that ἀνεκδιήγητος conveys the idea of being “inexpressible” or “beyond description.” BDAG highlights its use in contexts where the subject matter is so remarkable or awe-inspiring that it transcends ordinary means of expression.

The Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon supports this interpretation by defining ἀνεκδιήγητος as “inexpressible” or “unspeakable.” LSJ emphasizes that the term is used to describe things that are too great or profound to be fully articulated, reflecting its application in contexts requiring an extraordinary level of awe or reverence.

In summary, ἀνεκδιήγητος primarily means “inexpressible” or “unspeakable,” highlighting something that cannot be fully described in words due to its extraordinary nature. This meaning is consistently supported by Strong’s Concordance, BDAG, and LSJ, each providing context for its use in describing concepts or gifts that transcend ordinary verbal description in biblical and classical Greek literature.