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2 Timothy 2:4 — Word Study

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N1904οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ.

BSANo [one]oudeis serving as a soldierstrateuō [on active duty, serving in the army] entangles himselfemplekō [involving, getting caught up in] in theho of thisho [his commander, master] lifebios [everyday, worldly] affairs,pragmateia [business, occupations] so thathina the [one]ho having enlisted himstratologeō [chose, recruited] he may please.areskō [so that, with the purpose of, be agreeable to, satisfy]

Word
Listen & take away2 Timothy 2
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Say the word Each Greek word carries its transliteration (areskō) — no per-word recordings of the Greek exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Timothy 2:4quick helps
In a sentenceA soldier must avoid distractions from civilian life to serve his commander well.
Who is speakingPaul, writing to Timothy, uses military imagery to convey spiritual truths.
Where we areThis verse is part of a passage encouraging Timothy to endure hardships and remain focused.
The hard wordστρατευόμενος
Take awayA soldier's commitment requires undivided attention.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectοὐδείς verbστρατεύω The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the New Testament

2 of 11 occur nowhere else in the New Testament — words chosen on purpose.

Bars are logarithmic — , the commonest word in the Greek New Testament, stands 19,867 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 2 Timothy 2:4

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Encouragement to Endure Hardshipgenerated

3Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.
5Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.
6The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops.

2 Timothy 2:4 emphasizes the importance of focus and commitment in the Christian life. Paul encourages Timothy to view his ministry like that of a soldier who must not get distracted by civilian matters. This metaphor illustrates the need for dedication and discipline in serving God, much like a soldier must prioritize their duties over personal interests. The surrounding verses further elaborate on this theme of perseverance and commitment in the face of challenges.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Deuteronomy 20:5–7Furthermore, the officers are to address the army, saying, “Has any man built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man dedicate it.
2Luke 9:59–62Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
32 Timothy 4:10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
4Luke 8:14The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.
51 Corinthians 9:25–26Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word στρατευόμενος, strateuōgenerated

The word στρατευόμενος is a present participle of στρατεύω, meaning to serve as a soldier. It indicates an ongoing action, highlighting the active duty of a soldier in the military context.

This term is not only about physical combat but also symbolizes the spiritual warfare believers engage in. Paul uses this imagery to remind Timothy that just as a soldier must remain focused on their mission, so must he remain steadfast in his ministry.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as: 'A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.' This wording is echoed in several translations, including the KJV and ASV, which maintain the military imagery.

Where translations differ, they do so primarily in the rendering of specific terms. For example, στρατευόμενος is expressed as 'serving as a soldier' in the LSV and YLT, while the FBV opts for 'on active duty'. Similarly, βίου is translated as 'life' in most versions but as 'everyday' in the FBV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is ἐμπλέκεται, entangles, which governs the subject οὐδεὶς, no one. The structure includes a participial phrase στρατευόμενος, serving as a soldier, that describes the subject, and a purpose clause introduced by ἵνα, so that, indicating the reason for the action.

The sentence is constructed to emphasize the relationship between the soldier's duty and the need to please the one who enlisted him. The participial phrase adds depth, indicating that the soldier's identity and actions are interconnected.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the word οὐδεὶς (oudeis) appears frequently, translating the Hebrew אַ֫יִן (ayin), which conveys the idea of 'nothing' or 'no one.' This choice emphasizes the exclusivity of the statement, reinforcing that no one should become entangled in civilian affairs.

The term βίου (bios) in the LXX translates the Hebrew יוֹם (yom), which typically means 'day.' However, in this context, it is used to refer to 'life,' indicating the importance of focusing on one's duties rather than worldly distractions. The conjunction ἵνα (hina) translates to 'so that,' aligning with the Hebrew מַ֫עַן (ma'an), which means 'for the sake of.' Finally, ἀρέσῃ (areskō) translates the concept of pleasing, emphasizing the soldier's goal to please the one who enlisted him.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Timothy 2:4 uses the metaphor of a soldier to illustrate the importance of focus in ministry. Just as a soldier avoids distractions to serve his commander, Timothy is encouraged to remain dedicated to his calling without getting caught up in worldly matters.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be a soldier in this context?

Being a soldier here symbolizes the commitment and focus required in the Christian life, emphasizing the need to prioritize spiritual duties over worldly distractions.

How can I avoid getting entangled in civilian affairs?

Avoiding entanglement involves setting clear priorities, dedicating time to spiritual growth, and being mindful of distractions that can divert attention from one's purpose.

What does it mean to please the one who enlisted him?

Pleasing the one who enlisted refers to the desire to fulfill God's will and be obedient to His calling, much like a soldier aims to satisfy their commanding officer.

How does this passage relate to my daily life?

This passage encourages believers to remain focused on their spiritual mission, reminding them to prioritize their relationship with God and their responsibilities as followers of Christ over worldly concerns.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I feel distracted from my spiritual responsibilities?
  2. How can I better prioritize my time to serve God effectively?
  3. What does it look like for me to be a good soldier in my faith?
  4. How can I encourage others to remain focused on their spiritual journey?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early church writers referenced this verse to discuss the commitment required in serving God, drawing parallels to military discipline.

Ignatius of AntiochEpistle of Pseudo-Ignatius to Hero, a Deacon of Antioch c. 35–108
Give attention to reading, that thou mayest not only thyself know the laws, but mayest also explain them to others, as the earnest servant of God.
Early Church Fathers on 2 Timothy 2 →
Ignatius of AntiochEpistle of Ignatius to Polycarp c. 35–108
Pay attention to the bishop so that God will pay attention to you. I give my life as a sacrifice (poor as it is) for those who are obedient to the bishop, the presbyters and the deacons.
Early Church Fathers on 2 Timothy 2 →
Origen of AlexandriaHOMILIES ON Leviticus 11.1 c. 185–253
If you have understood how either an animal or a vessel or a garment is called holy, understand too that a person is also called holy by these observances and laws.
Early Church Fathers on 2 Timothy 2 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Timothy 2:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

No man that warreth,.... Who is a soldier, and gives himself up to military service, in a literal sense: the Vulgate Latin version, without any authority, adds, "to God"; as if the apostle was

Read John Gill on 2 Timothy 2 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 'No one while serving as a soldier' [ strateuomenos (G4754)].

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Timothy 2 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Having told Timothy that his life was to be the life of a soldier, in which he would be exposed to many difficulties, and dangers, and hazards, he here mindeth him of the law and custom of soldiers, who being once entered in the muster-roll, use to sequester themselves from other employments in trading, husbandry, or the like, that thereby they might be at the command of their general, or captain, to be called out upon what service he pleaseth. So he who is a minister of the gospel ought not voluntarily and of choice engage himself in secular employments, but give up himself wholly to the ministerial work, that so he might please the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath chosen him to be his soldier.

Read Matthew Poole on 2 Timothy 2 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Ver. 4. With the affairs] Or, gainful negotiations with marriage matters, say the Papists here, but without all show of sense. The Council of Chalcedon strictly forbiddeth ministers to meddle in worldly matters: Clericus in oppido, piscis in arido. (Canon 31.) The apostle seemeth to allude to the Roman soldiers, who might not be tutors to other men’ s persons, proctors of other men’ s causes; they might not meddle with husbandry, merchandise, &c.

Read John Trapp on 2 Timothy 2 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) No man that warreth . . .—Better rendered, while engaged on military service, or serving as a soldier. The first picture is suggested by the last simile (in 2 Timothy 2:3). It was one very familiar to the numerous peoples dwelling under the shadow of the Roman power, this picture of the soldier concerned only in the military affairs of the great empire—the legionary wrapped up in his service, with no thought or care outside the profession of which he was so proud. None of these sworn legionaries have aught to do with buying or selling, with the Forum, or any of the many employments of civil life. So should it be with the earnest and faithful Christian; paramount and above any earthly…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Timothy 2 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. No man that warreth entangleth, &c.] It is well remarked by Grotius, on this passage, that the legionary soldiers among the Romans were not permitted to engage in husbandry, merchandise, mechanical employments, or any thing that might be inconsistent with their calling. Many canons, at different times, have been made to prevent ecclesiastics from intermeddling with secular employments. The who will preach the Gospel thoroughly, and wishes to give full proof of his ministry, had need to have no other work. He should be wholly in this thing, that his profiting may appear unto all. There are many who sin against this direction. They love the world, and labour for it, and are…

Read AdamClarke on 2 Timothy 2 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. No man that warreth] More literally no one on service, as in Luke 3:18 ‘men on march’ came to St John Baptist. Carr, however, there quotes instances from the classics for the absence of the article, Eur. Ion 639, Med. 68, as shewing that possibly it may be used irregularly as a substantive, ‘no fighting man.’entangleth himself with the affairs of this life] The verb occurs only here and in 2 Peter 2:20; the noun only here: ‘affairs,’ in the sense in which we speak of a ‘man of affairs’ skilled in public business; the word has been debased and generalised since the writing of A.V. and of Shakespeare’s‘There is a tide in the affairs of menWhich taken at the flood leads on to fortune.’And…

Read Cambridge on 2 Timothy 2 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life - Having alluded to the soldier, and stated one thing in which the Christian minister is to resemble him, another point of

Read Albert Barnes on 2 Timothy 2 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.

NETBNew English Translation2006

No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who recruited him.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

RVARevised Version, American1894

No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

No man that warreth, entangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life, because he woulde please him that hath chosen him to be a souldier.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

No one going as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life, that he may please him who has enlisted him as a soldier.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

no one serving as a soldier did entangle himself with the affairs of life, that him who did enlist him he may please;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

no one serving as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life, that he may please him who enlisted him;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

No soldier serves while entangled in the affairs of this life, so that he may please his superior officer.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

No man, being a soldier to God, entangleth himself with secular businesses; that he may please him to whom he hath engaged himself.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

A soldier on active duty doesn't get caught up in the business of everyday life. He wants to please the one who enlisted him.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

A fighting man, when he is with the army, keeps himself free from the business of this life so that he may be pleasing to him who has taken him into his army.

Word by word, the decisions they made

στρατευόμενοςstrateuō serving as a soldier G4754 2 different renderings
serving as a soldierLSV YLT
on active dutyFBV
βίουbios life G979 2 different renderings
lifeASV BBE DBY GNV KJV LSV NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
everydayFBV NETB
πραγματείαις,pragmateia affairs, G4230 2 different renderings
affairsASV BSB DBY KJV LSV MSB NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
businessBBE FBV
ἀρέσῃ.areskō he may please. G700 3 different renderings
he may pleaseASV DBY DRA KJV LSV NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
pleaseBSB FBV GNV MSB NETB
pleasingBBE

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the Nestle 1904 treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseclausesubjectοὐδεὶςNo oneadverbialστρατευόμενοςserving as a soldierverbἐμπλέκεταιentangles himselfnoun phrase · adverbialταῖςin thenoun phrasenoun phraseτοῦof thisβίουlifeπραγματείαιςaffairsclauseἵναthatclausenoun phrase · objectτῷthe [one]clauseverbστρατολογήσαντιhaving enlisted himverbἀρέσῃhe might please

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The earliest translations — Latin and Syriac

Every translation is an argument about meaning made by someone who had to commit to one. These two were made while the Greek was still a living language, and they are the oldest opinions we have about what this verse says.

Latin VulgateAD 382–405

Nemo militans Deo implicat se negotiis sæcularibus : ut ei placeat, cui se probavit.

Jerome revised the Old Latin against the Greek from AD 382; the Latin west read this text for a thousand years.

Syriac Peshittaby AD 400

ܠܐ ܐܢܫ ܦܠܚ ܘܡܬܦܟܪ ܒܨܒܘܬܐ ܕܥܠܡܐ ܕܢܫܦܪ ܠܗܘ ܡܢ ܕܓܒܝܗܝ

The Bible of the Syriac-speaking church, in the language nearest to the Aramaic Jesus spoke.

Shown verse by verse rather than word by word: aligning a Greek word to its Latin or Syriac counterpart automatically would be guesswork, and a wrong alignment is worse than none.


The Greek editions compared — what the manuscripts actually say

Eight printed editions of the Greek New Testament, side by side. Where they agree the wording is settled; where a word is missing from an edition it is marked, so you can see the difference rather than take it on trust.

Nestle-Aland 28th edition2012 · Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ.

The standard critical text of the New Testament.

Nestle-Aland 27th edition1993 · Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ.

The previous edition, still widely cited.

SBL Greek New Testament2010 · Michael Holmes

οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ.

The Society of Biblical Literature edition, freely licensed.

Westcott–Hort1881 · Westcott and Hort

οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ.

The edition that turned scholarship toward the earliest manuscripts.

Tregelles1857–1879 · Samuel Prideaux Tregelles

οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ.

An independent critical text built from the oldest witnesses then known.

Tyndale House Greek NT2017 · Tyndale House, Cambridge

οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ.

A recent critical edition following documentary evidence closely.

Byzantine majority text2018 · Robinson–Pierpont

οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ.

The reading of the majority of surviving manuscripts.

Textus Receptus1550/1894 lineage

οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ.

The printed tradition behind the King James Version.

Every witness on this verse all agree
Critical editions
Nestle-Aland 28th edition2012Nestle-Aland 27th edition1993SBL Greek New Testament2010Westcott–Hort1881Tregelles1857–1879Tyndale House Greek NT2017
Byzantine / Majority
Byzantine majority text2018
Received Text
Textus Receptus1550/1894

A witness that read differently would show its variant word here, marked.

Word by word, across the editions

Every edition agrees. All 8 printed editions — Nestle-Aland 28, Nestle-Aland 27, SBLGNT, Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Tyndale House 2017, Textus Receptus (KJV), Byzantine majority — carry every word of this verse, in the same order, with no difference that any translator would render differently.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Greek New Testament — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

2 Timothy 2:4οὐδείςNo [one]No [one]οὐδείςστρατεύωserving as serving as a soστρατεύωἐμπλέκωentangles hentangles himseἐμπλέκωin thein theof thisof thisβίοςlifelifeβίοςπραγματείαaffairs,affairs,πραγματείαἵναso thatso thatἵναthe [one]the [one]στρατολογέωhaving enlihaving enlistedστρατολογέωἀρέσκωhe may pleahe may please.ἀρέσκωοὐδέNeg.cj. neNeg.cj. neitherοὐδέστρατιάn.f. an arn.f. an army, hστρατιάἐνPrep. in, Prep. in, on, aἐνπραγματεύομαιv. I transv. I transact bπραγματεύομαιαἴρωv. I raisev. I raise, lifαἴρωἑαυτοῦRefl.pr. hRefl.pr. himselἑαυτοῦArticle thArticle theλέγωv. I say, v. I say, speakλέγωὠφελέωv. I help,v. I help, beneὠφελέωτολμάωv. I dare,v. I dare, enduτολμάωκατάPrep. downPrep. down fromκατάτίςIrg.pr. whIrg.pr. who, whτίςβάλλωv. I cast,v. I cast, throβάλλωἔχωv. I have,v. I have, holdἔχωπληρόωv. I fill,v. I fill, fulfπληρόωχαράn.f. joy, n.f. joy, gladnχαράἩρῴδηςn.m. Herodn.m. HerodἩρῴδηςπῶςAdv. & IrgAdv. & Irg.adv.πῶς
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 2 Timothy 2:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Greek lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. Imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, the full Liddell-Scott-Jones, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate LSJ, Robinson and Packard on the Greek, Webster and Cawdrey on the English the translators were using. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
οὐδεὶςoudeis No [one] G3762 Adjective · nominative · singular · masculine
235× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in 2 Timothy as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word means 'none' or 'nobody', used in Luke 4:24 and Romans 8:1 to emphasize the absence of something or someone. It's a strong way to say that nothing or no one is present or available.
Tyndale gloss
none
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

οὐδείς is built from the negation οὐ (not) and εἷς (one), meaning no one or none. It appears in various contexts in the New Testament, often emphasizing the absence of people or things, such as in Matthew 5:13 and John 1:18. The word can also be used adverbially to mean not at all or nothing.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

οὐδείς, -δεμία, -δέν (also in WH, txt., the Hellenistic forms -θείς, -θέν, Lk 22:35 23:14, Ac 15:9 19:27 26:26, I Co 13:2, II Co 11:8; cf. Bl., § 6, 7; M, Pr., 56n, Thackeray, Gr., 58), related to μηδείς as οὐ to μή,

no, no one, none: with nouns, Lk 4:24, Jo 10:41, Ro 8:1, al.; absol., Mt 6:24, Mk 3:27, Lk 1:61, Jo 1:18, Ac…

Read the full entry →
Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

οὐδείς. P Alex 4° (iii/B.c.) (= Witkowski’, p. 52), οὐδείς σε ἀνθρώπων μὴ ὠφειλήσηι. For a similar use of οὐθείς, cf. P Petr 11. 13(19)!8 (B.c. 258-3) (= Witkowski?, p. 20) τοῦτο {δ᾽ ἔχε τῆι δια[νοία]ι, ὅτι οὐθέν σοι μὴ γενηθῆι λυπηρόν, ἀλλὰ πᾶν ἐμοὶ ἔστ]αι πεφροντισμένον τοῦ σε γενέσθαι ἄλυπον, ‘‘but hold this fact in your mind, that nothing vexatious may happen to you, but that I have used every forethought to keep you free from trouble’’ (Ed.). Another ex. of the neut. οὐδέν is the illiterate BGU II. 380" (ili/A.D.) (= Selections, p. 105) οὐδὲν περισότε[ρ]ον ext σε. οὐδ΄ ποτε “there is nothing so much the matter with you.’’ The stronger οὐδέν is sometimes used for οὐ : see Epict. iv. ro. 36 οὐδὲν κωλύονται ἀθλιώτατοι εἶναι Kal δυστυχέστατοι (cited by Radermacher G7. p. 26), and possible NT exx. in Ac 18! (but cf. Blass Gr. p. 104), Rev 377, The usual accumulation of negatives may be…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

οὐδείς (oudeis) — none.

οὐδείς,

feminine οὐδεμίᾰ (never nominative accusative -μίη, -μίην, since οὐδεμιῇ is probably in [Refs], rarely οὐδ᾽ ἴα [Refs 7th c.BC+], not one, i.e. no one, none, used by [Refs 8th c.BC+], except in the phrase τὸ ὃν μένος οὐδενὶ εἴκων [Refs 8th c.BC+]; οὐδείς is found in [Refs 5th c.BC+]: rare in plural, no set of persons or things, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐδένων εἰσὶ βελτίους, i.e. οὔ τινων ἄλλων, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —In _Ionic dialect_ the _plural_ is usually οὐδαμοί.

2. οὐ. ὅστις οὐ every one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐδὲν ὅ τι οὐ every, [Refs]; this came to be regarded as one word, so that οὐδείς passed into the same case as ὅστις, οὐδένα ὅντινα οὐ κατέκλασε [Refs 5th…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

οὐδείς οὐθείς

oudeis

oudemia oo-dem-ee'-ah, and neuter

ouden oo-den'

from 3761 and 1520; not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none,

nobody, nothing:--any (man), aught, man, neither any (thing), never

(man), no (man), none (+ of these things), not (any, at all, -thing),

nought.

see GREEK for 3761

see GREEK for 1520

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

οὐδείς, οὐδεμία, οὐδέν

Adj

no one, none, nothing

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

οὐδείς oudeis 227x

latter form, οὐθείς (G4032), not one, no one, none, nothing, Mt. 5:13; 6:24; 19:17; met. οὐδέν, nothing, of no account, naught, Jn. 8:54; Acts 21:24

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

οὐδείς never οὐδεμίη and not one, i. e. no one, none, as Lat. nullus, for ne ullus, Hom., etc.:—rare in pl. (οὐδαμοί being used instead), Xen.; πρὸς οὐδένας τῶν Ἑλλήνων Dem.; v. infr. II. 3.

οὐδεὶς ὅστις οὐ, Lat. nemo non, every one, Hdt., attic; οὐδὲν ὅ τι οὐ, Lat. nihil non, every, Hdt.; this came to be regarded as one word, so that οὐδείς passed into the same case as the relative, οὐδένα ὅντινα οὐ κατέκλασε Plat.

naught, good for naught, Ar.

in neut. of persons, οὐδέν εἰμι Hdt.; πρὸς τὸν οὐδένα Eur.; οὐδὲν εἶναι to be good for nothing, Ar.

in pl., οὐδένες ἐόντες being nobodies, Hdt.; ὄντες οὐδένες Eur.; ὁ μηδὲν ὢν κἀξ οὐδένων κεκλήσομαι id. Eur.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj-NSM-N — Adjective · nominative · singular · masculine
nominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

A-NSM-N Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Nominative Number: Singular Gender: Masculine Negative

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wun.

See NUMBER.

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
90%no
no90% · 212×none5% · 12×other renderings3% · 7×other renderings2% · 4×

235 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 8 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
subject46%object32%adverbial12%predicate8%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 235 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
ἐγώαὐτόςεἰμίI am, exist
ὅτιthat, since, because
σύαὐτόςΠιλᾶτοςPilate
αὐτός
ὀφθαλμόςthe eyeφοβέωI fear, am terriλέγωI say, speak
ὅς
ἐπίγράφωI writeαὐτός
σύ
λέγωI say, speakκατήγοροςa prosecutor, acχαράjoy, gladness
οὐδείςNo [one]235×
what comes after →
εἰμίI am, exist
ὅςἐκἀλλάbut, except
δύναμαιI am powerful, am ab
ἔρχομαιI come, goδύοἀποκρίνομαιI answer, reply
γάρfor
εἰμίI am, existδύναμαιI am powerful, aτὶς
ὁράωI see, look upon, ex
Article theεἰCondἀλλάbut, except
ἐγώ
μισθόωI hire out, hireδύναμαιI am powerful, aδιαφέρωI carry through,

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceοὐδείς · 235× in the New Testament
John Luke Acts Mark 1 Corinthians Matthew Revelation 2 Corinthians Galatians Hebrews Romans 1 Timothy

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament19 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 113 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 4c. AD 40

τὸ μὲν οὖν κάλλος τῶν νοημάτων τῆς κοσμοποιίας οὐδεὶς οὔτε ποιητὴς οὔτε λογογράφος ἀξίως ἂν ὑμνῆσαι δύναιτο·

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.11c. AD 75–95

ὁ δὲ τῶν παρʼ ἡμῖν ἀρχιερέων οὐδενὸς ἀρετῇ δεύτερος Ἐλεάζαρος τῷ προειρημένῳ βασιλεῖ ταύτης ἀπολαῦσαι τῆς ὠφελείας οὐκ ἐφθόνησε πάντως ἀντειπὼν ἄν, εἰ μὴ πάτριον ἦν ἡμῖν τὸ μηδὲν ἔχειν τῶν καλῶν ἀπόρρητον.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 4.9c. AD 100

διὸ προσέχωμεν ἐν ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις: οὐδὲν γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἡμᾶς ὁ πᾶς χρόνος τῆς πίστεως ἡμῶν, ἐὰν μὴ νῦν ἐν τῷ ἀνόμῳ καιρῷ καὶ τοῖς μέλλουσιν σκανδάλοις, ὡς πρέπει υἱοῖς θεοῦ, ἀντιστῶμεν, ἵνα μὴ σχῇ παρείσδυσιν ὁ μέλας.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 3rd c. BC 4th c. AD 1st c. AD
P. Grenf. 1 12Latopolis151 BC

Φιλωτέρειον Δρύτωνι Παμφίλου ὄντα συγγενῆ, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Ἐσθλάδου τοῦ Ἐσθλάδου. Ἀλλωι δὲ οὐθενὶ οὐθὲν καταλείπω οὐδε δίδωμι. Μαρτυρες … … … … δεξι … … μελίχρως τετανὸς

P.Grenf. 1 37Thebais109 BC

ς δεομένων δὲ τῶν … ντων ὑμῶν διαλήψεως … καὶ οὐδὲ μέχρι τοῦ νῦν οὐδενός … ς ἀξιοῦμεν … ἀνθρώπου ἀλόγως … ὀφείλει ἡμῖν διάφορα … θαι ἀλλʼ ἀποστερέσαι

P.Grenf. 2 36Pathyris96 BC

καὶ Φάφις καὶ οἱ παρʼ ἡμῖν πάντες. μὴ λυπεῖσθε ἐπὶ τοῖς χωρισθεῖσι. ὑπελάμβανον φονευθήσεσθαι. οὐθὲν ἡμῖν κακὸν ἐποίησεν ἀλλʼ ἐκ τῶν ἐναντίων ἐπιμεμέληται, περὶ ὧν, ἐὰν αἱρῆτε, γράψατέ μοι.

No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
στρατευόμενοςstrateuō serving as a soldier G4754 Verb · present · middle · participle · nominative · singular · masculine
7× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Timothy than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to serve as a soldier or to go to war, like the soldiers in Luke 3:14 and 1 Corinthians 9:7. It can also mean to fight a spiritual battle, as in 2 Corinthians 10:3 and 1 Timothy 1:18. It's about being a warrior for a cause.
Amplified meaning
on active duty, serving in the army
Tyndale gloss
to battle
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

στρατεύω (i.e., *strateuō*) primarily means to serve in a military capacity, derived from the word for an army. In the New Testament, it is used both literally, referring to soldiers (e.g., Luke 3:14), and metaphorically, to describe spiritual warfare (e.g., 2 Corinthians 10:3). The lexicons indicate a consistent understanding of the term's military and metaphorical applications without significant disagreement.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

στρατεύω and depon., -ομαι, so always in NT

(< στρατός, an encamped army),

[in LXX for מההּ hith., יצא, צבא; metaph., IV Mac 9:23 ;]

used of the general, to make war, do battle, and (chiefly) of the soldiers serving under him, to serve as a soldier: Lk 3:14, I Co 9:7, II Ti 2:4. Metaph. (cf. MM, ii, xxiii), of spiritual conflict, to war, make war: II Co 10:3, I Ti 1:18, Ja 4:1, I Pe 2:11.†

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

στρατεύω: Mid., pres. στρατεύομαι; 1 aor. subjunc. 2 pers. sing. στρατεύσῃ (1 Tim. i. 18 T Tr txt. WH mrg.); (στρατός [related to στρωννύω, q. v-], an encampment, an army); fr. Hdt. down; to make a military expedition, to lead soldiers to war or to battle, (spoken of a commander); to do military duty, be on active service, be a soldier; in the N. T. only in the mid. (Grk. writ. use the act. and the depon. mid. indiscriminately; ef. Passow s. y. 1 fin. ; [L. and 5. 5. ν. I. 2]): prop. of soldiers, Lk. iii. 14; 1 Co. ix. 7; 2Tim.ii.4; to fight, [Α΄ V. war]: trop. of the conflicts of the apostolic office, 2 Co. x. 3; with a kindred ace. [W. § 32, 2; B.§ 131, 5], τὴν καλὴν στρατείαν, 1 Tim. i. 18 (ἱερὰν x. εὐγενῆ στρατείαν στρατεύσασθαι περὶ τῆς εὐσεβείας, 4 Mace. ix. 23); of passions that disquiet the soul, Jas. iv. 1; 1 Pet. ii.11. [Come.: ἀντιotparevouat.…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

στρατεύομαι is common in the general sense “serve in the army,” ‘am a soldier’? (whether on active service or not). See e.g. P Rev Lxxiv-6 (gc. 259-8) τῶν στρατευομένων Kal τοὺϊς SOG a0 OND ] κλήρους πεφευκότων, P Tebt 1. 515 (B.c. 118) τοὺς στρατευομένους “EAAnvas, “the Greeks serving in the army”’ (Edd.), 74. 2745 (B.c. 113) ἀπό Te τῶ]ν στρατευομένων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῶν τόπους κατ[ο]ικούντων, ‘from those in the army and the other inhabitants of the district ” (Edd.), P Amh II. 32? (ii/B.c.) where certain στρατενόμενοι defend themselves against the charge of returning for taxation purposes their κλῆροι at less than their true value, P Lond 1171 verso (c)? (A.D. 42) (= ΠῚ. p. 107) where a distinction is drawn between στρατευόμενοι *‘regular soldiers” and μαχαιροφόροι ‘‘armed attendants upon officials” (see further the editors’ note ad P Tebt I. 351%), P Hamb I. 3138 (A.D. 103) ἀπογραφὴν…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

στρατεύω (strateuō) — to battle.

στρατ-εύω,

(στρατός) advance with an army or fleet, wage war, or rulers, offcers, or men, Κροῖσος ἐνένωτο -εύειν ἐπὶ τοὺς Πέρσας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι -εύσαντες ἐς Πλάταιαν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐστράτευσαν πρὸς Ἄβυδον[Refs 5th c.BC+]; metaphorically, ἑνὸς δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀνδρὸς δώματα στρατεύομεν (Iris et Lyssa loq.) [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—so in middle, στρατεύομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]future -εύσομαι[Refs 4th c.BC+]: aorist ἐστρατευσάμην [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἐστράτευμαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]; Boeotian dialect 3rd.pers. plural perfect middle ἐστροτεύαθη [Refs 4th c.BC+]; -εύσονται ἐπὶ τὴν ἡμετέρην [Ἀθηναῖοι] [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐστρατευμένοι γάρ εἰσι they have been soldiers, have seen war-service, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁπλίτης σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρὸς τὴν τῶν Ὀλυνθίων πόλιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μισθοῦ σ. [Refs]; πανδημεὶ ἔξω σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

στρατεύω

strateuomai

middle voice from the base of 4756; to serve in a military campaign;

figuratively, to execute the apostolate (with its arduous duties and

functions), to contend with carnal inclinations:--soldier, (go to)

war(-fare).

see GREEK for 4756

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

στρατεύομαι

v.

I wage war, fight

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PMP-NSM — Verb · present · middle · participle · nominative · singular · masculine
nominative — the one doing it — the subject.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PMP-NSM Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Middle Mood: Participle Case: Nominative Number: Singular Gender: Masculine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sol'-jer.

See ARMY.

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
14%serves as a soldier
serves as a soldier14% · 1×do we wage war14% · 1×you may war14% · 1×serving as a soldier14% · 1×warring14% · 1×war14% · 1×those being soldiers14% · 1×

7 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 7 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
verb71%subject14%adverbial14%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 7 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
αὐτός
τίςIrg
σάρξflesh, body
κατά
ἵναin order that, so th
προφητείαprophecy
οὐδείςno one, none, nothin
στρατεύωserving as a soldier
what comes after →
ἐν
αὐτόςArticle the
λέγωI say, speak
τίςIrg
ἴδιοςone’s own, private,
ὀψώνιονpay, wages
ἐμπλέκωI enfold, entangle
Article the
κατά
Article the

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceστρατεύω · 7× in the New Testament
1 Corinthians 1 Peter 1 Timothy 2 Corinthians 2 Timothy James Luke
Across the New Testament7 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria Polycarp
Philo of AlexandriaOn Drunkenness 76c. AD 40

ἀδελφὰ δ’ ἔφην τὰ ἆθλα οὐκ ἀπὸ σκοποῦ, ἀλλ’ εἰδὼς ὅτι οὔτ’ ἂν ἱερεὺς γένοιτο πρὸς ἀλήθειαν ἔτι τὴν ἀνθρωπίνην καὶ θνητὴν στρατευόμενος στρατείαν, ἐν ᾗ ταγματαρχοῦσιν αἱ κεναὶ δόξαι, οὔτ’ ἂν εἰρηνικὸς ἀνὴρ μὴ τὸ μόνον ἀμέτοχον πολέμου καὶ τὴν αἰώνιον…

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 3.266c. AD 75–95

εἰ γὰρ τοῦτʼ ἦν ἀληθές, οὐκ ἂν ἐπὶ τῇ αὑτοῦ Μωυσῆς ἀτιμίᾳ τοιαῦτʼ ἐνομοθέτησεν, οἷς εὔλογον ἦν αὐτὸν καὶ ἑτέρων εἰσηγουμένων ἀντειρηκέναι, καὶ ταῦτα παρὰ πολλοῖς ὄντων λεπρῶν ἔθνεσι καὶ τιμῆς ἀπολαυόντων, οὐ μόνον ὕβρεως καὶ φυγῆς ἀπηλλαγμένων, ἀλλὰ…

PolycarpPolycarp to the Philippians 5.3c. AD 110

καλὸν γὰρ τὸ ἀνακόπτεσθαι ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, ὅτι πᾶσα ἐπιθυμία κατὰ τοῦ πνεύματος στρατεύεται, καὶ οὔτε πόρνοι οὔτε μαλακοὶ οὔτε ἀρσενοκοῖται βασιλείαν θεοῦ κληρονομήσουσιν, οὔτε οἱ ποιοῦντες τὰ ἄτοπα.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
3rd c. BC 1st c. AD 2nd c. AD 2nd c. BC 3rd c. AD
SB 12 10799AD 14–AD 41

r Ἡρακλᾶς Ὥρωι καὶ Ταχώνει, χαίρειν καὶ ὑγιαίνειν. μὴ ἀγωνία περὶ ἡμῶν, ὅτι στρατευόμεθα. ἐν τῶι πλοίωι πεποιήκαμεν ὀκτὼ ἡμέρας. θεῶν θελόντων, ἐν ταῖς τρισὶ ἡμέραις ἐσόμεθα ἐν

ἐμὸν δίπλωμα τὰ αὐτάρκη ἐπιτήδεια τιμὴν ἀποδιδόντας αὐτῶν. ἐὰν δέ τις μηνυθῇ ἢ τῶν στρατευομένων ἢ τῶν μαχαιροφόρων ἢ ὅστις οὖν τῶν ὑπηρετῶν τῶν ἐπὶ ταῖς δημοσίαις χρείαις παρὰ

P.Ryl. 2 189Soknopaiu Nesos (Arsinoites)AD 128

ους χιτῶνας δέκα ἐννέα, γίνονται ιθ, καὶ εἰς στρατιωτικὰς χρείας τῶν ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ στρατευομένων παλλίολα λευκὰ πέντε, γίνεται ε. ιγ ἔτους Αὐτοκράτορος Καίσαρος Τραιανοῦ Ἁδριανοῦ Σεβαστοῦ, Χοίακ κβ.

No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
ἐμπλέκεταιemplekō entangles himself G1707 Verb · present · passive · indicative · third person · singular
2× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Timothy than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To entangle or involve someone in something, as in 2 Timothy 2:4 where a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs. It's about getting caught up or tangled in a situation.
Amplified meaning
involving, getting caught up in
Tyndale gloss
to entangle/involve
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἐμπλέκω (i.e. empleko) means to entwine or entangle, both literally and metaphorically. It can refer to weaving or plaiting, as well as being involved or implicated in something. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts suggesting entanglement in worldly affairs (2 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 2:20). The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἐμ-πλέκω

[in LXX: Pr 28:18 (נָפַל), II Mac 15:17 * ;]

to weave in, entwine; pass., metaph., to be involved, entangled in: II Ti 2:4, II Pe 2:20.†

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ἐμ-πλέκω [see ev, IIT. 3]: Pass., [pres. ἐμπλέκομαι]; 2 aor. ptep. ἐμπλακείς ; lo inweave; trop.in pass., with dat. of thing, fo entangle, involve in: 2 Tim. ii. 4; 2 Pet. ii. 20. (From Aeschyl. down.)

Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ἐμπλέκω is used of a hostile attack in P Tebt I. 3917 (B.C. 114) καὶ ἐπελθὼν οὕτως ὁ mpoyeypappévos καὶ ἡ τού[το]υ γυνὴ Tavoipis ἐμπλεκέντες μοι καὶ δόντες πληγὰς πλείους, “ε thereupon the aforesaid and his wife T. closed with me and gave me many blows.” Vett. Val. p. 1184 προσέτι δὲ καὶ εἰς δουλικὰ πρόσωπα Kal παῖδας ἐμπλέκονται, de re Vererea. With 2 Tim 2‘ cf. Epict. iii. 22. 69 μή ποτ᾽ ἀπερίσπαστον εἶναι Set τὸν Kuvikoy . . . οὐ προσδεδεμένον καθήκουσιν ἰδιωτικοῖς οὐδ᾽ ἐμπεπλεγμένον σχέσεσιν, ds παραβαίνων κτλ. ; (see Sharp £fzct. p. 72), Polyb. xxv. 9. 3 “Ἑλληνικοῖς πράγμασιν ἐμπλεκόμενος. The compound παρεμπλέκω occurs in P Tor I. rviii 28 (p.c. 117) τὸν δὲ “Epplay παρεμπλέκοντα τὰ μηδαμῶς ἀνήκοντα πρὸς τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν κρίσιν, ‘‘Ilermias vero interserens ea…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἐμπλέκω (emplekō) — to entangle/involve.

ἐμπλέκ-ω,

Epic dialect ἐνιπλέκω, perfect ἐμπέπλεχα [Refs 5th c.BC+], variant in Hp.[same place]: future passive ἐμπλᾰκήσομαι [LXX]:—plait or weave in, entwine, χεῖρα ἐ. entwine one's hand in another's clothes, so as to hold him, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τῇ καλλίστῃ τέχνῃ τοὔνομα ἐ. connect the name with.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ποίῃ ἐνιπλέξω σε (i.e. ἀοιδῇ); [Refs 3rd c.BC+]:—passive, to be entangled in a thing, πλεκταῖσιν αἰώραισιν ἐμπεπλεγμένην [Refs 5th c.BC+]: metaphorically, to be involved, ἐν πόνοις, ἐν κακοῖς ἐμπλακῆναι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; form a connexion with, ἔθνει [Refs 1st c.BC+]; of troops, to be incorporated with hoplites, [Refs 1st c.BC+]having had a scuffle with.., [Refs 2nd…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἐμπλέκω

empleko

from 1722 and 4120; to entwine, i.e. (figuratively) involve

with:--entangle (in, self with).

see GREEK for 1722

see GREEK for 4120

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἐμπλέκω

v.

I enfold, entangle

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἐμπλέκω emplekō 2x

pr. to intertwine; met. to implicate, entangle, involve; pass. to be implicated, involved, or to entangle one’s self in, 2 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 2:20*

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἐμπλέκω epic ἐνι-πλέκω fut. ξω Pass., aor2 ἐνεπλάκην part. ἐμπλα^κείς ἐν to plait or weave in, Lat. implicare, χεῖρα ἐμπλ. to entwine one's hand in another's clothes, so as to hold him, Eur.:—Pass. to be entangled in a thing, c. dat., Soph., Eur.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PPI-3S — Verb · present · passive · indicative · third person · singular
present passive indicative — an action in progress.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PPI-3S Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Passive Mood: Indicative Person: third Number: Singular

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
50%entangles himself
entangles himself50% · 1×having been entangled50% · 1×

2 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 2 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
στρατεύωI wage war, fight
οὐδείςno one, none, no
πάλινagain, further, on t
δέbut, on the othe
ἐμπλέκωentangles himself
what comes after →
Article the
Article the
ἡσσάομαιI am defeated, made
γίνομαιI come into bein

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceἐμπλέκω · 2× in the New Testament
2 Peter 2 Timothy
Across the New Testament2 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
ταῖςho in the G3588 Article · dative · plural · feminine
19,783× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in 2 Timothy as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Tyndale gloss
the/this/who
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The definite article — the commonest word in the Greek New Testament at 19,867 occurrences. Greek uses it more freely than English does and can drop it deliberately, so its presence and its absence both carry weight for a translator; but no single occurrence carries a message of its own. Here it simply gathers “the things” into one definite bundle.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ὁ, ἡ, τό,

the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article.

As demonstr. pron.

As freq. in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Ac 17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus).

Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: I Co 7:7, Ga 4:22; pl., Ac 14:4, 17:32, Phl 1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mt 16:14, Jo 7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁ δέ, He 7:21, 23.

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ὁ 435 ὁ tives of quantity, ὅλος, πᾶς, πολύς, see each in its own place. d. What has been said concerning adjectives holds true also of all other limitations added to substantives, as ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Ro. ix. 11; ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, Ro. xi. 27; 6 λόγος 6 τοῦ σταυροῦ, 1 Co. i. 18; ἡ εἰς Χριστὸν πίστις, Col. ii. 5; on the other hand, ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, 1 Th. i. 8; τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους, 2 Co. viii. 4; see many other exx. of each usage in W. 131 (124) sqq.; [B. 91 (80) sqq.]. e. The noun has the article before it when a demonstrative pronoun (υὗτος, ἐκεῖνος) belonging to it either precedes or follows [W. § 18, 4; B. § 127, 29-31]; as, ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, Jn. ix. 24 [οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρ. 1, Tr mrg. WH); Acts vi. 13; xxii. 26; ὁ λαὸς οὗτος, Mt. xv. 8; 6 vids σου οὗτος, Lk. xv. 30; plur. Lk. xxiv. 17, and numberless other exx.; οὗτος 6 ἄνθρωπος, Lk. xiv. 30; οὗτος ὁ…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ὃ, ἡ τό. (1) Apart from connexion with μέν or δέ (see below) the demonstrative use of the art. in the NT is confined to a poetical quotation Ac 1778, but it is not uncommon in the papyri, e.g. P Par 45® (B.C. 153) (= Witkowski®, p. 85) τὰ (for ἃ) πράσεις (Δ πράσσεις), P Oxy VIII. 1160! (iii/iv A.D.) Ta (for ἃ) σεσύλληχα (for συνείληχα) δὲ κέρμα {ταν τηρῶ αὐτὰ εἰς τὴν δίκην, “1 am keeping for the trial the money that I have collected” (Ed.). For the distributive Opéev.. - 6 8€, as in 1 Cor7’, cf. P Lond 535 (B.c. 161) (=I. p. 19, U.P.Z. i. p. 239) kal τὰ μὲν ἡμῶν ἐληφότων εἰς τὴν γινομένην ἡμῖν συντάξειν, τὰ δ᾽ ἔτι διὰ τὴν τῶν ὑποτεταγμένων {(.. ... > παρελκομένων. (2) The use of the art. as a relative, of which there is no trace in the NT, may again be illustrated by the following papyrus citations from ¢c. A.D. 346—P Lond 414® (= II. Ῥ. 292) γεινῴσκιν oe θέλω περὶ τοῦ βρεουίου…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ὁ (ho) — the/this/who.

ὁ,

ἡ, τό, is, when thus written,

__A demonstrative Pronoun.

__B in Attic dialect, definite or prepositive Article.

__C in Epic dialect, the so-called postpositive Article, = relative Pronoun, ὅς, ἥ, ὅ.—The nominative masculine and feminine singular and plural, ὁ, ἡ, οἱ, αἱ, have no accent in codices and most printed books, except when used as the relative; but ὁ, ἡ, οἱ, αἱ differ only in writing from ὃ, ἣ, οἳ, α; the nominative forms of the article are said by Hdn.Gr.1.474 to be oxytone, and by [Refs 2nd c.AD+] in Aeolic dialect accusative to [Refs 8th c.BC+] genitive and dative dual τοῖιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]— In Doric dialect and all other dialects except Attic dialect and Ionic dialect the feminine forms preserve the old ᾱ instead of changing it to η, hence Doric dialect etc. ἁ, τάν, τᾶ; the genitive plural τάων contracts in many dialects to τᾶ; the genitive…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ὁ ἡ τό

ho

he hay, and the neuter

to to

in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be

supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one,

he, she, it, etc.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ὁ, ἡ, τό

Article

the

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ὁ ho 19x

the prepositive article, answering, to a considerable extent, to the English definite article; but, for the principle and facts of its usage, consult a grammar; ὁ μὲν ... ὁ δέ, the one ... the other, Phil. 1:16, 17; Heb. 7:5, 6, 20, 21, 23, 24; pl. some ... others, Mt. 13:23; 22:5, 6; ὁ δέ, but he, Mt. 4:4; 12:48; οἱ δέ, but others, Mt. 28:17; used, in a poetic quotation, for a personal pronoun, Acts 17:28

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ὁ the, that

ὁ, ἡ, τό, is

demonstr. Pronoun.

the definite Article.

in epic, the relative Pronoun, when it is written with the accent ὅ, ἥ, τό ῀ ὅς, ἥ, ὅ. Besides the common forms, note epic gen. sg. τοῖο for τοῦ; pl. nom. τοί, ταί; gen. fem. τάων [α^], dat. τοῖσι, τῇς and τῇσι; dual gen, and dat. τοῖιν:— in Trag. we find τοὶ μέν . . , τοὶ δέ . . , for οἱ μέν . . , οἱ δέ . . ; dat. pl. also τοῖσι, ταῖσι: the dual has commonly but one gender, τώ for τά, τοῖν for ταῖν.

DEMONSTR. PRONOUN:

joined with a Subst., not as the Art., but like Lat. ille, ὁ Τυδείδης Tydeus's famous son, Il.; Νέστωρ ὁ γέρων Nestor— that aged man, id. Il.; τιμῆς τῆς Πριάμου for honour, namely that of Priam, id. Il.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art-DPF — Article · dative · plural · feminine
dative — to, for, with — the one it is done to or by.
Agrees with anything else marked plural feminine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

T-DPF Part of Speech: definite arTicle Case: Dative Number: Plural Gender: Feminine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

A principal thing to notice about this preposition, which in the King James Version represents about 16 Hebrew and as many Greek words and prepositions, is that, in hundreds of cases (especially in the Old Testament, but frequently also in the New Testament) in the Revised Version (British and American) the rendering is changed to more exact forms ("to," "unto," "by," "upon," "at," "with," "among," "for," "throughout," etc.; compare e.g. Ge 6:16; 13:8; 17:7,9,12; 18:1; Ex 8:17; Le 1:9, etc.); while, nearly as often, "in" is substituted for divergent forms of the King James Version (e.g. Ge 2:14; 17:11; 31:54; 40:7; 49:17; Ex…

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 1c. AD 40

Τῶν ἄλλων νομοθετῶν οἱ μὲν ἀκαλλώπιστα καὶ γυμνὰ τὰ νομισθέντα παρ’ αὐτοῖς εἶναι δίκαια διετάξαντο, οἱ δὲ πολὺν ὄγκον τοῖς νοήμασι προσπεριβαλόντες ἐξετύφωσαν τὰ πλήθη μυθικοῖς πλάσμασι τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐπικρύψαντες.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.argc. AD 75–95

τοῦ κόσμου σύστασις καὶ διάταξις τῶν στοιχείων.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.1c. AD 100

Χαίρετε, υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες, ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος ἡμᾶς, ἐν εἰρήνῃ.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 1st c. AD 3rd c. BC 6th c. AD
P.Stras. 2 89Pathyris100 BC

r βασιλεύοντος Πτολεμαίου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βερενίκης τῆς ἀδελφῆς θεῶν Φιλομητόρων ἔτους ιε, ἐφʼ ἱερέων καὶ ἱερειῶν

P.Adl. 11Pathyris99 BC

ιζ Θῶυθ κη ἀπέδοτο Πετεσοῦχος Φίβιος καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τὸ ὕπαρχον αὐτοῖς ἥμισυ περιστερῶνος τοῦ ὄντος ἐν τῶι ἀπὸ βορρᾶ μέρει Παθύρεως χαλκοῦ Γ. ἐπρίατο Ὧρος Νεχούτου.

P.Grenf. 2 35Pathyris99 BC

βασιλευόντων Πτολεμαίου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βερενίκης τῆς ἀδελφῆς θεῶν φιλομητόρων ἔτους ιϛ, ἐφʼ ἱερέων καὶ ἱερειῶν

No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
τοῦho of this G3588 Article · genitive · singular · masculine
19,783× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in 2 Timothy as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Amplified meaning
his commander, master
Tyndale gloss
the/this/who
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The definite article — the commonest word in the Greek New Testament at 19,867 occurrences. Greek uses it more freely than English does and can drop it deliberately, so its presence and its absence both carry weight for a translator; but no single occurrence carries a message of its own. Here it simply gathers “the things” into one definite bundle.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ὁ, ἡ, τό,

the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article.

As demonstr. pron.

As freq. in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Ac 17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus).

Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: I Co 7:7, Ga 4:22; pl., Ac 14:4, 17:32, Phl 1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mt 16:14, Jo 7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁ δέ, He 7:21, 23.

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ὁ 435 ὁ tives of quantity, ὅλος, πᾶς, πολύς, see each in its own place. d. What has been said concerning adjectives holds true also of all other limitations added to substantives, as ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Ro. ix. 11; ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, Ro. xi. 27; 6 λόγος 6 τοῦ σταυροῦ, 1 Co. i. 18; ἡ εἰς Χριστὸν πίστις, Col. ii. 5; on the other hand, ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, 1 Th. i. 8; τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους, 2 Co. viii. 4; see many other exx. of each usage in W. 131 (124) sqq.; [B. 91 (80) sqq.]. e. The noun has the article before it when a demonstrative pronoun (υὗτος, ἐκεῖνος) belonging to it either precedes or follows [W. § 18, 4; B. § 127, 29-31]; as, ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, Jn. ix. 24 [οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρ. 1, Tr mrg. WH); Acts vi. 13; xxii. 26; ὁ λαὸς οὗτος, Mt. xv. 8; 6 vids σου οὗτος, Lk. xv. 30; plur. Lk. xxiv. 17, and numberless other exx.; οὗτος 6 ἄνθρωπος, Lk. xiv. 30; οὗτος ὁ…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ὃ, ἡ τό. (1) Apart from connexion with μέν or δέ (see below) the demonstrative use of the art. in the NT is confined to a poetical quotation Ac 1778, but it is not uncommon in the papyri, e.g. P Par 45® (B.C. 153) (= Witkowski®, p. 85) τὰ (for ἃ) πράσεις (Δ πράσσεις), P Oxy VIII. 1160! (iii/iv A.D.) Ta (for ἃ) σεσύλληχα (for συνείληχα) δὲ κέρμα {ταν τηρῶ αὐτὰ εἰς τὴν δίκην, “1 am keeping for the trial the money that I have collected” (Ed.). For the distributive Opéev.. - 6 8€, as in 1 Cor7’, cf. P Lond 535 (B.c. 161) (=I. p. 19, U.P.Z. i. p. 239) kal τὰ μὲν ἡμῶν ἐληφότων εἰς τὴν γινομένην ἡμῖν συντάξειν, τὰ δ᾽ ἔτι διὰ τὴν τῶν ὑποτεταγμένων {(.. ... > παρελκομένων. (2) The use of the art. as a relative, of which there is no trace in the NT, may again be illustrated by the following papyrus citations from ¢c. A.D. 346—P Lond 414® (= II. Ῥ. 292) γεινῴσκιν oe θέλω περὶ τοῦ βρεουίου…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ὁ (ho) — the/this/who.

ὁ,

ἡ, τό, is, when thus written,

__A demonstrative Pronoun.

__B in Attic dialect, definite or prepositive Article.

__C in Epic dialect, the so-called postpositive Article, = relative Pronoun, ὅς, ἥ, ὅ.—The nominative masculine and feminine singular and plural, ὁ, ἡ, οἱ, αἱ, have no accent in codices and most printed books, except when used as the relative; but ὁ, ἡ, οἱ, αἱ differ only in writing from ὃ, ἣ, οἳ, α; the nominative forms of the article are said by Hdn.Gr.1.474 to be oxytone, and by [Refs 2nd c.AD+] in Aeolic dialect accusative to [Refs 8th c.BC+] genitive and dative dual τοῖιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]— In Doric dialect and all other dialects except Attic dialect and Ionic dialect the feminine forms preserve the old ᾱ instead of changing it to η, hence Doric dialect etc. ἁ, τάν, τᾶ; the genitive plural τάων contracts in many dialects to τᾶ; the genitive…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ὁ ἡ τό

ho

he hay, and the neuter

to to

in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be

supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one,

he, she, it, etc.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ὁ, ἡ, τό

Article

the

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ὁ ho 19x

the prepositive article, answering, to a considerable extent, to the English definite article; but, for the principle and facts of its usage, consult a grammar; ὁ μὲν ... ὁ δέ, the one ... the other, Phil. 1:16, 17; Heb. 7:5, 6, 20, 21, 23, 24; pl. some ... others, Mt. 13:23; 22:5, 6; ὁ δέ, but he, Mt. 4:4; 12:48; οἱ δέ, but others, Mt. 28:17; used, in a poetic quotation, for a personal pronoun, Acts 17:28

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ὁ the, that

ὁ, ἡ, τό, is

demonstr. Pronoun.

the definite Article.

in epic, the relative Pronoun, when it is written with the accent ὅ, ἥ, τό ῀ ὅς, ἥ, ὅ. Besides the common forms, note epic gen. sg. τοῖο for τοῦ; pl. nom. τοί, ταί; gen. fem. τάων [α^], dat. τοῖσι, τῇς and τῇσι; dual gen, and dat. τοῖιν:— in Trag. we find τοὶ μέν . . , τοὶ δέ . . , for οἱ μέν . . , οἱ δέ . . ; dat. pl. also τοῖσι, ταῖσι: the dual has commonly but one gender, τώ for τά, τοῖν for ταῖν.

DEMONSTR. PRONOUN:

joined with a Subst., not as the Art., but like Lat. ille, ὁ Τυδείδης Tydeus's famous son, Il.; Νέστωρ ὁ γέρων Nestor— that aged man, id. Il.; τιμῆς τῆς Πριάμου for honour, namely that of Priam, id. Il.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art-GSM — Article · genitive · singular · masculine
genitive — of, from, belonging to.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

T-GSM Part of Speech: definite arTicle Case: Genitive Number: Singular Gender: Masculine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
64%the
the64% · 13160×<the>28% · 5846×those3% · 597×other renderings4% · 788×other renderings1% · 294×

20,685 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 83 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
subject34%adverbial32%object24%predicate5%indirect object4%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 19,783 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
αὐτόςεἰμίI am, existἐγώ
ἐν
καίand, even, also,αὐτόςArticle the
εἰς
αὐτόςεἰσέρχομαιI go in, come inἔρχομαιI come, go
αὐτός
λέγωI say, speakδέbut, on the otheπρός
εἰμίI am, exist
οὗτοςσύἐγώ
of this19783×
what comes after →
θεόςGod, a god
Article theκαίand, even, also,ἐγώ
δέbut, on the other ha
λέγωI say, speakἸησοῦςJesusἀποκρίνομαιI answer, reply
ἸησοῦςJesus
λέγωI say, speakκαίand, even, also,Article the
κύριοςlord, Lord, master,
ἐγώἸησοῦςJesusArticle the
πατήρfather, Father, ance
ἐγώσύαὐτός

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordance · 19,783× in the New Testament
Matthew Acts Luke John Revelation Mark Romans 1 Corinthians Hebrews 2 Corinthians Ephesians 1 John

40 inflected forms — one of the commonest words in the New Testament. Full distribution →

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 1c. AD 40

Τῶν ἄλλων νομοθετῶν οἱ μὲν ἀκαλλώπιστα καὶ γυμνὰ τὰ νομισθέντα παρ’ αὐτοῖς εἶναι δίκαια διετάξαντο, οἱ δὲ πολὺν ὄγκον τοῖς νοήμασι προσπεριβαλόντες ἐξετύφωσαν τὰ πλήθη μυθικοῖς πλάσμασι τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐπικρύψαντες.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.argc. AD 75–95

τοῦ κόσμου σύστασις καὶ διάταξις τῶν στοιχείων.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.1c. AD 100

Χαίρετε, υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες, ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος ἡμᾶς, ἐν εἰρήνῃ.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 1st c. AD 3rd c. BC 6th c. AD
P.Stras. 2 89Pathyris100 BC

r βασιλεύοντος Πτολεμαίου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βερενίκης τῆς ἀδελφῆς θεῶν Φιλομητόρων ἔτους ιε, ἐφʼ ἱερέων καὶ ἱερειῶν

P.Adl. 11Pathyris99 BC

ιζ Θῶυθ κη ἀπέδοτο Πετεσοῦχος Φίβιος καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τὸ ὕπαρχον αὐτοῖς ἥμισυ περιστερῶνος τοῦ ὄντος ἐν τῶι ἀπὸ βορρᾶ μέρει Παθύρεως χαλκοῦ Γ. ἐπρίατο Ὧρος Νεχούτου.

P.Grenf. 2 35Pathyris99 BC

βασιλευόντων Πτολεμαίου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βερενίκης τῆς ἀδελφῆς θεῶν φιλομητόρων ἔτους ιϛ, ἐφʼ ἱερέων καὶ ἱερειῶν

No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
βίουbios life G979 Noun · genitive · singular · masculine
9× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Timothy than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word for life refers to our daily existence and how we make a living. It appears in Luke 8:14 and 1 Timothy 2:2, describing our life on earth. It's about how we live our lives.
Amplified meaning
everyday, worldly
Tyndale gloss
life
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word βίος (bios) refers to life in terms of its course or manner, rather than merely animal existence. It encompasses the period of life and the means of livelihood, appearing in various New Testament contexts such as Luke and Timothy. While it is often contrasted with ζωή (zoe), which denotes a more intense or spiritual life, βίος is primarily about physical existence and sustenance.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

βίος, -ου, ὁ,

[in LXX chiefly for יָמִים;]

period or course of life, life: Lk 8:14, I Ti 2:2, II Ti 2:4, I Jo 2:16.

living, livelihood, means (in Pr 31:14 for לֶחֶם; v. DCG, ii, 39a): Mk 12:44, Lk 8:43 15:12, 30 21:4, I Jo 3:17.†

SYN.: ζωή, is life intensive, "vita quâ vivimus," the vital principle; βίος, life extensive, "vita quam vivimus," (1) the period of life, (2) the means by which it is sustained. Hence, in cl., ζ., being confined to the physical life common to men and animals, is the inferior word (cf. zoology, biography). In NT, ζωή is…

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

βίος, -ov, 6, [fr. Hom. down]; a. life extensively, i.e. the period or course of life [see below and Trench ὃ xxvii.]: Lk. viii. 14 ; 1 Tim. ii. 2; 2 Tim. ii. 4; 1 Jn. ii. 16; 1 Pet. iv. 3 [Ree.]. b. (as often in Grk. writ. fr. Hes. opp. 230, 575; Hdt., Xen.) that by which life is sustained, resources, wealth, [A. V. living]: Mk. xii. 44; Lk. viii. 43 [WH om. Tr mre. br. cl.]; xv. 12, 30; xxi. 4; 1 Jn. iii. 17 [goods]. (For on? in Prov. xxxi. 14 (xxix. 32).)

Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

βίος (bios) — life.

βίος[ῐ], ὁ,

life, i. e. not animal life (ζωή), but mode of life [Refs 3rd c.AD+], manner of living (mostly therefore of men, see [Refs 5th c.AD+]; but also of animals, διεχώριζον ζῴων τε βίον δένδρων τε φύσιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; διέρχεσθαι βίου τέλος uncertain in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; proverbial, ὁ ἐπὶ Κρόνου βίος 'the Golden Age', [Refs 5th c.BC+]: rarely in plural, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τίνες καὶ πόσοι εἰσὶ β.; [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. in Poets sometimes ={ζωή}, βίον ἐκπνέων [Refs 5th c.BC+]

3. lifetime, ἐς τὸν ἅπαντα ἀνθρώπων β. [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II. livelihood, means of living (in [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὸν βίον κτᾶσθαι, ποιεῖσθαι, ἔχειν ἀπό τινος, to make one's living off, to live by a thing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; β. πολύς[Refs…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

βίος

bios

a primary word; life, i.e. (literally) the present state of existence;

by implication, the means of livelihood:--good, life, living.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

βίος, ου, ὁ

n.m.

life, manner of life, livelihood

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

βίος bios 10x

life; means of living; sustenance, maintenance, substance, goods, Mk. 12:44, Lk. 8:14, 43; 15:12, 30; 21:4; 1 Tim. 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:4; 1 Jn. 2:16; 3:17*

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

βίος life, i. e. not animal life (ζωή), but a course of life, manner of living, Lat. vita, Od., etc.; in pl., τίνες καὶ πόσοι εἰσὶ βίοι; Plat.

in Poets = ζωή, βίον ἐκπνεῖν Aesch.; ἀποψύχειν Soph.

life-time, Hdt., Plat.

a living, livelihood, means of living, substance, Lat. victus, Hes., Soph., etc.; τὸν βίον ποιεῖσθαι ἀπό τινος to make one's living of a thing, Thuc., etc.

a life, biography, as those of Plut.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Noun-GSM — Noun · genitive · singular · masculine
genitive — of, from, belonging to.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

N-GSM Part of Speech: Noun Case: Genitive Number: Singular Gender: Masculine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lif (chayyim, nephesh, ruach, chayah; zoe, psuche, bios, pneuma):

I. THE TERMS

II. THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING

1. Popular Use of the Term

2. Complexity of the Idea

III. IN THE APOCRYPHA

IV. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. In the Synoptic Gospels

2. In the Fourth Gospel

3. In the Ac of the Apostles

4. In the Writings of Paul

5. In the Writings of John

6. In the Other Books of the New Testament

LITERATURE

I. The Terms.

Of the Hebrew terms, chayah is the verb which means "to live," "to have life," or the vital principle, "to continue to live," or "to live prosperously." In the Piel it signifies "to give life, or preserve, or quicken and restore life." The Hiphil is much like the Piel. The noun hayyim generally used in the plural is an abstract noun meaning "life," i.e. the possession of the vital principle with its energies and activities. Nephesh often means "living being" or "creature." Sometimes it has the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Life

Generally of physical life (Gen. 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also used figuratively (1) for immortality (Heb. 7:16); (2) conduct or manner of life (Rom. 6:4); (3) spiritual life or salvation (John 3:16, 17, 18, 36); (4) eternal life (Matt. 19:16, 17; John 3:15); of God and Christ as the absolute source and cause of all life (John 1:4; 5:26, 39; 11:25; 12:50).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the Bible, is either natural, Ge 3:17; spiritual, that of the renewed soul, Ro 8:6; or eternal, a holy and blissful immortality, Joh 3:36 Ro 6:23. Christ is the great Author of natural life, Col 1:16; and also of spiritual and eternal life; Joh 14:6 6:47. He has purchased these by laying down his own life; and gives them freely to his people, Joh 10:11,28. He is the spring of all their spiritual life on earth, Ga 2:20; will raise them up at the last day; and…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS

Breath of Ge 2:7

Called SPIRIT OF GOD Job 27:3

Tree of Ge 2:9; 3:22,24; Pr 3:18; 13:12; Re 2:7

→ (SACREDNESS OF, an inference from what is taught in the law concerning murder)

See HOMICIDE

Long life promised to obedient children Ex 20:12; De 5:16

To those who keep the commandments De 4:40; 22:7

Vanity of Ec 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7

Hated Ec 2:17

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
45%life
life45% · 5×livelihood18% · 2×living18% · 2×goods9% · 1×property9% · 1×

11 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 5 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
object67%adverbial22%subject11%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 9 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
Article the
ὅλοςall, the whole, ἡδονήpleasure, lust, αὐτός
ἡσύχιοςquiet, tranquil
καίand, even, also,
βίοςlife
what comes after →
αὐτός
πορεύομαιI travel, journey, g
συμπνίγωI choke utterly,
μετά
πόρνηa prostitute
ὅς
ἔχωI have, hold, po
διάγωI spend time, pass t
ἐν

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceβίος · 9× in the New Testament
Luke 1 John 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Mark
Across the New Testament5 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 22 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 54c. AD 40

ἐκ δὲ τῆς τούτων ζητήσεως τὸ φιλοσοφίας συνέστη γένος, οὗ τελειότερον ἀγαθὸν οὐκ ἦλθεν εἰς τὸν ἀνθρώπινον βίον.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.argc. AD 75–95

περὶ Σάρρας τῆς Ἁβράμου γυναικός, καὶ πῶς τὸν βίον κατέστρεψεν.

Clement of RomeFirst Clement 62.1c. AD 96

Περὶ μὲν τῶν ἀνηκόντων τῇ θρησκείᾳ ἡμῶν καὶ τῶν ὠφελιμωτάτων εἰς ἐνάρετον βίον τοῖς θέλουσιν εὐσεβῶς καὶ δικαίως διευθύνειν, ἱκανῶς ἐπεστείλαμεν ὑμῖν, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 6th c. AD 4th c. AD 1st c. BC
P.Mich. 5 322 aTebtynis (Arsinoites)AD 46

τελευτήσωσι οἱ αὐτοὶ ὁμολογοῦντες τὴν τῶν αὐτῶν δύο κηδείαν καὶ περιστολὴν κατὰ ἀξίαν τοῦ βίου ἕκαστος κατὰ τὸ τρίτον. ἧς ἐπεγράψατο κύριος τῆς προγεγραμμένης Τετοσίρεως τῆς καὶ Διονυσίας τοῦ

P. Lond. 2 p. XXVIII no. 294 descr.Ptolemais Euergetis (Arsinoites)AD 117–AD 118

πάντα καὶ τὸν ἱματισμὸν καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ὅσα καθήκει γυναικὶ γαμετῇ κατὰ δύναμιν τοῦ βίου ἐνδημοῦντος καὶ ἀποδημοῦντος αὐτῆς δὲ τῆς Κρονίας ἄμεμπτον καὶ ἀκατηγόρητον ἑαυτὴν παρεχομένης ἐν τῇ

P.Mil.Vogl. 2 84Tebtynis (Arsinoites)AD 138

ὡς ὁ πατὴρ Κρονίων προφέρεται, ἐν πολλοῖς ἠδικῆσθαι ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τὸν βίον, ταῖς δὲ δυσὶ θυγατρᾶσι Ταορσενούφι καὶ Τεφορσάϊτι, χωρὶς οὗ προφέρεται κατεσκευακέναι αὐταῖς χρυσοῦ καὶ

No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
πραγματείαις,pragmateia affairs, G4230 Noun · dative · plural · feminine
1× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Timothy than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means business or occupation, like a job or career, as seen in 2 Timothy 2:4. It refers to a person's daily work or activities. This term is used to describe a person's profession or role in life.
Amplified meaning
business, occupations
Tyndale gloss
affairs
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

πραγματεία refers to careful application, hard work, or business dealings. It can denote occupations or affairs in general, as well as the treatment of subjects or philosophical arguments. In the New Testament, it specifically appears in 2 Timothy 2:4, where it relates to the pursuits of civil life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

πραγματία (Rec. -εία, as in cl.), -ας, ἡ

(< πραγματεύομαι),

[in LXX for חֵשֶׁל, etc.;]

careful application, hard work.

business, occupation: pl., II Ti 2:4.†

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

πραγματεία [T WH -ria; see I, ε7, -ας, 9, (πραγματεύομαι), prosecution of any affair; business, occupation: plur. with the addition of τοῦ βίου, pursuits and occupations pertaining to civil life, opp. to warfave [A. V. the affairs of this life], 2 Tim. ii.4. (In the same and other senses in Grk. writ. fr. [Hippocr.], Xen., Plato down.)

Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

πραγματία. With 2 Tim 2‘ ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματίαις, ‘‘the businesses which provide a livelihood,” cf. the designation for officials in P Leid Bi-19 (B.c. 164) (= I. ἢ: 10, UPZ i. 20%) δεόμεθα οὖν ὑμῶν... μὴ ὑπεριδεῖν ἡμᾶς παρελκομένας ὑπὸ τῶν πρὸς τα[ῖἴ]ς πραγματείαις, and similarly P Tebt I. 57° (B.c. 118). A wider meaning is found in PSI IV. 4351 (B.C. 258-7) ἀλλὰ περὶ πραγματείας ἧς Kal ὡμολογήκεις μοι, “Conly in the matter in which you had already given me assurance.” See further s.v. πραγματεύομαι.

Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

πραγματεία (pragmateia) — affairs.

πραγμᾰτ-εία,

Ionic dialectπρηγμᾰτίη, poetry πραγμᾰτίη [Refs 4th c.AD+]: ἡ:— prosecution of business, diligent study, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ μάταιος π. [λογισμῶν] this idle attention to argumentations, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μετὰ πολλῆς π. with a great deal of trouble, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]

II. occupation, business, ἡ π. αὐτῆς (i.e. τῆς ῥητορικῆς) ἅπασα.. εἰς τοῦτο τελευτᾷ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ τοῦ διαλέγεσθαι π. the business of dialectic, [Refs]; τοῦ πολιτικοῦ.. πᾶσα ἡ π. περὶ πόλιν [ἐστί] Arist [Refs]; ἡ δημηγορικὴ π. the business of oratory, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; πραγματεῖαι official duties, opposed to ἀρχαί, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; especially law-business, lawsuit, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: plural, affairs in general, κάτω βλέπειν εἰς ἀνθρώπων πραγματείας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; troubles, [Refs 4th c.BC+]…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

πραγματεῖαι

pragmateia

from 4231; a transaction, i.e. negotiation:--affair.

see GREEK for 4231

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

πραγματεία, ας, ἡ

n.f.

a business, an occupation

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

πραγματεία pragmateia 1x

an application to a matter of business; in NT business, affair, transaction, 2 Tim. 2:4*

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

πραγματεία πραγμα^τεία, ἡ, the careful prosecution of an affair, diligent study, hard work, Plat., Dem., etc.

occupation, business, Plat., Aeschin.:—in pl. affairs in general, dealings, Plat., etc.

the treatment of a subject, id. Plat.; a treatise, Arist.; an historical work, systematic history, Polyb., Luc.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Noun-DPF — Noun · dative · plural · feminine
dative — to, for, with — the one it is done to or by.
Agrees with anything else marked plural feminine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

N-DPF Part of Speech: Noun Case: Dative Number: Plural Gender: Feminine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
100%affairs
affairs100% · 1×

1 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 1 different way. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

Concordanceπραγματεία · 1× in the New Testament
2 Timothy
Across the New Testament1 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
The Shepherd of Hermas Philo of Alexandria Josephus
Philo of AlexandriaOn Drunkenness 202c. AD 40

καὶ περὶ αὐτῶν τούτων μέντοι καὶ βίων διαφορᾶς καὶ τελῶν πρὸς ἃ χρὴ τὰς πράξεις ἁπάσας ἀναφέρεσθαι καὶ μυρίων ἄλλων ὅσα τε ἡ λογικὴ καὶ ἠθικὴ καὶ φυσικὴ πραγματεία περιέχει γεγόνασι σκέψεις ἀμύθητοι, ὧν ἄχρι τοῦ παρόντος οὐδεμία παρὰ πᾶσι τοῖς…

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 12.245c. AD 75–95

ἐν γὰρ τῇ πρώτῃ μου πραγματείᾳ κεφαλαιωδῶς αὐτῶν ἐπιμνησθεὶς ἀναγκαῖον ἡγησάμην νῦν εἰς τὴν ἐπʼ ἀκριβὲς αὐτῶν ἐπανελθεῖν ὑφήγησιν.

The Shepherd of HermasThe Shepherd of Hermas 2.3.1c. AD 140

σὺ δέ, Ἑρμᾶ, μεγάλας θλίψεις ἔσχες ἰδιωτικὰς διὰ τὰς παραβάσεις τοῦ οἴκου σου, ὅτι οὐκ ἐμέλησέν σοι περὶ αὐτῶν: ἀλλὰ παρενεθυμήθης καὶ ταῖς πραγματείαις σου συνανεφύρης ταῖς πονηραῖς:

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 2nd c. BC 6th c. AD 5th c. AD
P.Mich. 3 174ArsinoitesAD 144–AD 147

δὲ καὶ ἐκ τοῦ δημοσίου σιτοῦνται καθʼ ὃ οὐκ ἐξὸν αὐτοῖς καθόλου ἑτέρᾳ τινὶ πραγματείᾳ παρενχειρεῖν. τούτων εἷς τις Ἰσίδωρος Μαρεῖ ἀνὴρ πάνυ τολμήεις καὶ αὐθάδης τῷ τρόπῳ διʼ

P.Erl. 27Oxyrhynchos (?)AD 101–AD 200

ἐλευθέρα κα … νησε … … ε … ρ … … τερον … … πραγματεία … ἐσύλησάν με βαστάζοντες … τὰ πλεῖστα τῶν ἐμῶν … … ὑποθηκιμαῖα καὶ ἀν

P.Bad. 4 83 col. 1Ankyron (Herakleopolites)AD 200

ἄλλοι, ὧν τὰ ὀνόματα ἀκριβῶς οὐκ ἔχω δηλῶσαι, δ … ἡ ἐνθάδε … ίου πραγματεία συν … … … ας ταχείας … Διόσκορον τὸν κύριόν μου

No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
ἵναhina so that G2443 Conjunction
669× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in 2 Timothy as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word means 'in order that' or 'to', showing purpose or result, as seen in Acts 19:4 and Romans 11:31. It's used to express a goal or outcome. In Ephesians 1:17, it's used to describe a purpose.
Tyndale gloss
in order that/to
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἵνα is primarily a conjunction meaning 'in order that' or 'that,' indicating purpose or intention. It can also function as an adverb of place, meaning 'where' or 'whither.' In the New Testament, it appears in various contexts, often introducing clauses that express purpose, such as in Matthew 1:22. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings or usages.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἵνα,

adverb (poët., Hom., al.),

of place, where, whither.

of circumstance, when.

Conjunction,

prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Ac 19:4, Ro 11:31 (?), Ga 2:10, al.);

c. optat. (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph 1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; v. Burton, § 225, Rem., 2);

c. subjc.: after a pres., Mk 4:21, Lk 6:34, Jo 3:15, Ac 2:25,

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ἵνα, I. an adv. of Place. fr. Hom. down, esp. in the poets; a. where; in what place. b. to what place; whither. Of the former signification C. F. A. Fritzsche (on Mt. p. 836; differently in Fritzschiorum Opusce. p. 186 sqq-.) thought he had found two examples in bibl. Greek, and H. A. W. Meyer agrees with him. The first viz. iva μὴ φυσιοῦσθε, 1 Co. iv. 6, they explain thus: where (i. e. in which state of things viz. when ye have leatned from my example to think humbly of yourselves) the one is not exalted to the other’s disadvantage; the second, iva αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε, Gal. iv. 17, thus: where ye zealously court them; but see II. 1 d. below. “ iva I. a final Conjunction (for from local direction, indicated by the adverb, the transition was easy te mental direction or intention) denoting pur pose and end: to the intent that; to the end that, in order that; ἵνα pn, that not, lest; it is used…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἵνα (hina) — in order that/to.

ἵνα,

adverb,

I. of Place,

I.1. in that place, there, once in [Refs 8th c.BC+]

I.2. elsewhere relative, in which place, where,[Refs 8th c.BC+]: rarely in Attic dialect Prose, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἵ. ἡ Νίκη (i.e. ἐστίν) [Refs 8th c.BC+] [same place]; ἵν᾽ ἄν with subjunctive, wherever, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; as indirect interrogative, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

I.2. b after [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἔμαθε ἵ. ἦν κακοῦ in what a calamity, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἵν᾽ ἕσταμεν χρείας[Refs 5th c.BC+]

I.2. c with Verbs of motion, whither, [Refs 8th c.BC+]

II. of circumstance, γάμος.., ἵ. χρή at which, when, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἵ. μὲν ἐξῆν αὐτοῖς.., ἐνταῦθα.. when it was in their power, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.2. ={ἐάν}, uncertain in [Refs 8th c.BC+]

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἵνα

hina

probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the

demonstrative idea; compare 3588); in order that (denoting the purpose

or the result):--albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as,

(so) that, (for) to. Compare 3363.

see GREEK for 1438

see GREEK for 3588

see GREEK for 3363

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἵνα

Cj.

in order that, so that

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἵνα hina 663x

that, in order that, Mt. 19:13; Mk. 1:38; Jn. 1:22; 3:15; 17:1; ἵνα μή, that not, lest, Mt. 7:1; in NT equivalent to ὥστε, so that, so as that, Jn. 9:2; also, marking a simple circumstance, the circumstance that, Mt. 10:25; Jn. 4:34; 6:29; 1 Jn. 4:17; 5:3

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἵνα Adverb,

of Place,

demonstr. in that place, there, only in Il. 10. 127.

relat., = ὅπου, in which place, where, Hdt., etc.;—so, ἵνα τε Il.; ἵνα περ Hom.:—c. gen., ἵνα γῆς in whatever part of the land, Hdt.; ἔμαθε ἵνα ἦν κακοῦ in what a calamity, id. Hdt.; οὐχ ὁρᾷς ἵν᾽ εἶ κακοῦ Soph.

= ὅποι, with Verbs of motion, whither, Od.; ὁρᾷς ἵν᾽ ἥκεις Soph.

of circumstance, when, at which, Od.

Final Conjunction, = ὅπως, that, in order that, Lat. ut, Hom.:

with subj.,

after principal tenses of ind., id. Hom., etc.

after historical tenses, in similes, where the aor. refers to any possible time, Od.

after opt. and ἄν, ἔδωκε μένος, ἵνα γένοιτο she gave him vigour, that he might become, Il.

with opt., after historical tenses, Hom., etc.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Conjunction
conjunction — it joins clauses, and never changes form.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

CONJ CONJunction or conjunctive particle

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

so (co', although the Hebrew might be pointed cewe'; Assyrian Sib'u; Septuagint Segor, Soa; Manetho, Seuechos; Latin Sevechus; Herodotus (ii. 137 ff), Sabakon): In all probability the "Sabaeo" of Herodotus, the Shabaka, who founded the Ethiopian dynasty, the XXVth of Egyptian kings. His date is given as 715-707 BC (Flinders Petrie, History of Egypt, III, 281 ff), but we may suppose that before his accession to the throne he was entitled to be designated king, as being actually regent. To this So, Hoshea, king of Israel, made an appeal for assistance to enable him to throw off the yoke of the Assyrian Shalmaneser IV (2Ki 17:3). But Hoshea's submission to So brought him no advantage, for Shalmaneser came up throughout all the land and laid siege to Samaria. Not long after the fall of Samaria, So ventured upon an eastern campaign, and…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

So

(Nubian, Sabako), an Ethiopian king who brought Egypt under his sway. He was bribed by Hoshea to help him against the Assyrian monarch Shalmaneser (2 Kings 17:4). This was a return to the policy that had been successful in the reign of Jeroboam I.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

"So, king of Egypt," is once mentioned in the Bible -- (2 Kings 17:4) So has been identified by different writers with the first and second kings of the Ethiopian twenty-fifth dynasty, called by Manetho, Sabakon (Shebek) and Sebichos (Shebetek).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

King of Egypt, made an alliance with Hoshea king of Israel, and promised him assistance; but was unable to prevent Shalmaneser king of Assyria from taking Samaria and subverting the kingdom, B. C. 721, 2Ki 17:4. See PHARAOH.

So is believed to have been the Servetus or Sabaco II of secular history, the second king of the Ethiopian or twenty-fifth dynasty, and the predecessor of Trihakah. A singular fact has been brought to light by the recent explorations at Nineveh, corroborating the Scripture record the more forcibly, because unexpected and direct. The Bible shows that Egypt and Assyria, though remote, were often in conflict during the height of the Assyrian ruins power, and that So was at war with Shalmaneser. After war comes the treaty of peace; and as the Bible prepares us to suppose such treaties were made, the Assyrian ruins…

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
56%that
that56% · 382×so that40% · 271×other renderings4% · 24×

677 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 10 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
adverbial8%object3%subject3%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 669 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
αὐτός
παρακαλέωI summon, entreaἐπιτιμάωI rebuke, chide,δίδωμιI offer, give
σύ
λαλέωI speak, sayδιάδίδωμιI offer, give
ἐγώ
δίδωμιI offer, giveὑπέρπερί
ἀλλάbut, except
αὐτόςκόσμοςthe world, univeἐγώ
εἰμίI am, exist
τίςIrgἐγώἱκανόςsufficient, wort
ἵναso that669×
what comes after →
μήNeg
Article theτὶςεἰς
Article the
γραφήa writing, passaχαράjoy, gladnessλόγοςa word, speech,
καίand, even, also, nam
Article theσύαὐτός
ἐν
αὐτόςἐγώὅς
εἰμίI am, exist
μετάεἷςoneἅγιοςset apart, holy,

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceἵνα · 669× in the New Testament
John Mark 1 Corinthians Luke 2 Corinthians Revelation Matthew Romans Ephesians Hebrews 1 John Acts

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament26 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 300 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 15c. AD 40

ἑκάστῃ δὲ τῶν ἡμερῶν ἀπένειμεν ἔνια τῶν τοῦ παντὸς τμημάτων τὴν πρώτην ὑπεξελόμενος, ἣν αὐτὸς οὐδὲ πρώτην, ἵνα μὴ ταῖς ἄλλαις συγκαταριθμῆται, καλεῖ, μίαν δ’ ὀνομάσας ὀνόματι εὐθυβόλῳ προσαγορεύει, τὴν μονάδος φύσιν καὶ πρόσρησιν ἐνιδών τε καὶ…

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.71c. AD 75–95

ἵνα καὶ τῆς πλινθίνης ἀφανισθείσης ὑπὸ τῆς ἐπομβρίας ἡ λιθίνη μείνασα παράσχῃ μαθεῖν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ ἐγγεγραμμένα δηλοῦσα καὶ πλινθίνην ὑπʼ αὐτῶν ἀνατεθῆναι.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.5c. AD 100

λογισάμενος οὖν τοῦτο, ὅτι ἐὰν μελήσῃ μοι περὶ ὑμῶν τοῦ μέρος τι μεταδοῦναι ἀφ̓ οὗ ἔλαβον, ὅτι ἔσται μοι τοιούτοις πνεύμασιν ὑπηρετήσαντι εἰς μισθόν, ἐσπούδασα κατὰ μικρὸν ὑμῖν πέμπειν, ἵνα μετὰ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν τελείαν ἔχητε τὴν γνῶσιν.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. BC 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD 6th c. AD
P.Edg. $1Alexandria259 BC–257 BC

καὶ θεῶν μὴ ὀκνήσῃς διελθὼν εἰς ἐμπόριον καὶ ἀγοράσας, οὐθὲν γὰρ ἄλλο ἡμᾶς ἐπικωλύει, ἵνα μὴ ὑστερήσωμεν τῆς ἐργασίας. τὰς δὲ τιμὰς τούτων λαβὲ παρὰ Ἀπολλοφάνους. τὸ γύναιον ἐπίτοκον

vestiges … ἵνα μηθὲν ἐν τούτοις ἀγνοηθῆι … … Ἑρμίαι τῶν διαδόχων καὶ ἐπιμελητῆι, παρὰ Δρύτωνος τοῦ

P.Bour. 11Pathyris89 BC

ἕκαστος τῶν παρὰ σοὶ σιτοποιησάμενος πυροῦ ἀρτάβην μίαν ἐν ἑτοίμωι ἔσται αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄρτος, ἵνα δὲ καὶ κριθὴ ὑπάρξηι ἐπιμε … … ηγησαιἐμμέτρως αἴτησαιἐμμε … … τησαι ἔρρωσο ἔτους

No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
τῷho the [one] G3588 Article · dative · singular · masculine
19,783× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in 2 Timothy as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Tyndale gloss
the/this/who
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The definite article — the commonest word in the Greek New Testament at 19,867 occurrences. Greek uses it more freely than English does and can drop it deliberately, so its presence and its absence both carry weight for a translator; but no single occurrence carries a message of its own. Here it simply gathers “the things” into one definite bundle.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ὁ, ἡ, τό,

the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article.

As demonstr. pron.

As freq. in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Ac 17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus).

Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: I Co 7:7, Ga 4:22; pl., Ac 14:4, 17:32, Phl 1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mt 16:14, Jo 7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁ δέ, He 7:21, 23.

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ὁ 435 ὁ tives of quantity, ὅλος, πᾶς, πολύς, see each in its own place. d. What has been said concerning adjectives holds true also of all other limitations added to substantives, as ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Ro. ix. 11; ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, Ro. xi. 27; 6 λόγος 6 τοῦ σταυροῦ, 1 Co. i. 18; ἡ εἰς Χριστὸν πίστις, Col. ii. 5; on the other hand, ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, 1 Th. i. 8; τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους, 2 Co. viii. 4; see many other exx. of each usage in W. 131 (124) sqq.; [B. 91 (80) sqq.]. e. The noun has the article before it when a demonstrative pronoun (υὗτος, ἐκεῖνος) belonging to it either precedes or follows [W. § 18, 4; B. § 127, 29-31]; as, ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, Jn. ix. 24 [οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρ. 1, Tr mrg. WH); Acts vi. 13; xxii. 26; ὁ λαὸς οὗτος, Mt. xv. 8; 6 vids σου οὗτος, Lk. xv. 30; plur. Lk. xxiv. 17, and numberless other exx.; οὗτος 6 ἄνθρωπος, Lk. xiv. 30; οὗτος ὁ…

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Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ὃ, ἡ τό. (1) Apart from connexion with μέν or δέ (see below) the demonstrative use of the art. in the NT is confined to a poetical quotation Ac 1778, but it is not uncommon in the papyri, e.g. P Par 45® (B.C. 153) (= Witkowski®, p. 85) τὰ (for ἃ) πράσεις (Δ πράσσεις), P Oxy VIII. 1160! (iii/iv A.D.) Ta (for ἃ) σεσύλληχα (for συνείληχα) δὲ κέρμα {ταν τηρῶ αὐτὰ εἰς τὴν δίκην, “1 am keeping for the trial the money that I have collected” (Ed.). For the distributive Opéev.. - 6 8€, as in 1 Cor7’, cf. P Lond 535 (B.c. 161) (=I. p. 19, U.P.Z. i. p. 239) kal τὰ μὲν ἡμῶν ἐληφότων εἰς τὴν γινομένην ἡμῖν συντάξειν, τὰ δ᾽ ἔτι διὰ τὴν τῶν ὑποτεταγμένων {(.. ... > παρελκομένων. (2) The use of the art. as a relative, of which there is no trace in the NT, may again be illustrated by the following papyrus citations from ¢c. A.D. 346—P Lond 414® (= II. Ῥ. 292) γεινῴσκιν oe θέλω περὶ τοῦ βρεουίου…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ὁ (ho) — the/this/who.

ὁ,

ἡ, τό, is, when thus written,

__A demonstrative Pronoun.

__B in Attic dialect, definite or prepositive Article.

__C in Epic dialect, the so-called postpositive Article, = relative Pronoun, ὅς, ἥ, ὅ.—The nominative masculine and feminine singular and plural, ὁ, ἡ, οἱ, αἱ, have no accent in codices and most printed books, except when used as the relative; but ὁ, ἡ, οἱ, αἱ differ only in writing from ὃ, ἣ, οἳ, α; the nominative forms of the article are said by Hdn.Gr.1.474 to be oxytone, and by [Refs 2nd c.AD+] in Aeolic dialect accusative to [Refs 8th c.BC+] genitive and dative dual τοῖιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]— In Doric dialect and all other dialects except Attic dialect and Ionic dialect the feminine forms preserve the old ᾱ instead of changing it to η, hence Doric dialect etc. ἁ, τάν, τᾶ; the genitive plural τάων contracts in many dialects to τᾶ; the genitive…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ὁ ἡ τό

ho

he hay, and the neuter

to to

in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be

supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one,

he, she, it, etc.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ὁ, ἡ, τό

Article

the

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ὁ ho 19x

the prepositive article, answering, to a considerable extent, to the English definite article; but, for the principle and facts of its usage, consult a grammar; ὁ μὲν ... ὁ δέ, the one ... the other, Phil. 1:16, 17; Heb. 7:5, 6, 20, 21, 23, 24; pl. some ... others, Mt. 13:23; 22:5, 6; ὁ δέ, but he, Mt. 4:4; 12:48; οἱ δέ, but others, Mt. 28:17; used, in a poetic quotation, for a personal pronoun, Acts 17:28

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ὁ the, that

ὁ, ἡ, τό, is

demonstr. Pronoun.

the definite Article.

in epic, the relative Pronoun, when it is written with the accent ὅ, ἥ, τό ῀ ὅς, ἥ, ὅ. Besides the common forms, note epic gen. sg. τοῖο for τοῦ; pl. nom. τοί, ταί; gen. fem. τάων [α^], dat. τοῖσι, τῇς and τῇσι; dual gen, and dat. τοῖιν:— in Trag. we find τοὶ μέν . . , τοὶ δέ . . , for οἱ μέν . . , οἱ δέ . . ; dat. pl. also τοῖσι, ταῖσι: the dual has commonly but one gender, τώ for τά, τοῖν for ταῖν.

DEMONSTR. PRONOUN:

joined with a Subst., not as the Art., but like Lat. ille, ὁ Τυδείδης Tydeus's famous son, Il.; Νέστωρ ὁ γέρων Nestor— that aged man, id. Il.; τιμῆς τῆς Πριάμου for honour, namely that of Priam, id. Il.

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art-DSM — Article · dative · singular · masculine
dative — to, for, with — the one it is done to or by.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

T-DSM Part of Speech: definite arTicle Case: Dative Number: Singular Gender: Masculine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wun.

See NUMBER.

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
64%the
the64% · 13160×<the>28% · 5846×those3% · 597×other renderings4% · 788×other renderings1% · 294×

20,685 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 83 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
subject34%adverbial32%object24%predicate5%indirect object4%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 19,783 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
αὐτόςεἰμίI am, existἐγώ
ἐν
καίand, even, also,αὐτόςArticle the
εἰς
αὐτόςεἰσέρχομαιI go in, come inἔρχομαιI come, go
αὐτός
λέγωI say, speakδέbut, on the otheπρός
εἰμίI am, exist
οὗτοςσύἐγώ
the [one]19783×
what comes after →
θεόςGod, a god
Article theκαίand, even, also,ἐγώ
δέbut, on the other ha
λέγωI say, speakἸησοῦςJesusἀποκρίνομαιI answer, reply
ἸησοῦςJesus
λέγωI say, speakκαίand, even, also,Article the
κύριοςlord, Lord, master,
ἐγώἸησοῦςJesusArticle the
πατήρfather, Father, ance
ἐγώσύαὐτός

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordance · 19,783× in the New Testament
Matthew Acts Luke John Revelation Mark Romans 1 Corinthians Hebrews 2 Corinthians Ephesians 1 John

40 inflected forms — one of the commonest words in the New Testament. Full distribution →

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 1c. AD 40

Τῶν ἄλλων νομοθετῶν οἱ μὲν ἀκαλλώπιστα καὶ γυμνὰ τὰ νομισθέντα παρ’ αὐτοῖς εἶναι δίκαια διετάξαντο, οἱ δὲ πολὺν ὄγκον τοῖς νοήμασι προσπεριβαλόντες ἐξετύφωσαν τὰ πλήθη μυθικοῖς πλάσμασι τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἐπικρύψαντες.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.argc. AD 75–95

τοῦ κόσμου σύστασις καὶ διάταξις τῶν στοιχείων.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.1c. AD 100

Χαίρετε, υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες, ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος ἡμᾶς, ἐν εἰρήνῃ.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 1st c. AD 3rd c. BC 6th c. AD
P.Stras. 2 89Pathyris100 BC

r βασιλεύοντος Πτολεμαίου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βερενίκης τῆς ἀδελφῆς θεῶν Φιλομητόρων ἔτους ιε, ἐφʼ ἱερέων καὶ ἱερειῶν

P.Adl. 11Pathyris99 BC

ιζ Θῶυθ κη ἀπέδοτο Πετεσοῦχος Φίβιος καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τὸ ὕπαρχον αὐτοῖς ἥμισυ περιστερῶνος τοῦ ὄντος ἐν τῶι ἀπὸ βορρᾶ μέρει Παθύρεως χαλκοῦ Γ. ἐπρίατο Ὧρος Νεχούτου.

P.Grenf. 2 35Pathyris99 BC

βασιλευόντων Πτολεμαίου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βερενίκης τῆς ἀδελφῆς θεῶν φιλομητόρων ἔτους ιϛ, ἐφʼ ἱερέων καὶ ἱερειῶν

No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
στρατολογήσαντιstratologeō having enlisted him G4758 Verb · aorist · active · participle · dative · singular · masculine
1× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Timothy than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To enlist means to gather or select someone as a warrior for the army, as seen in 2 Timothy 2:4. This term is used to describe choosing to be a soldier. It involves selecting and preparing for battle.
Amplified meaning
chose, recruited
Tyndale gloss
to enlist
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

στρατολογέω is built from στρατός (army) and λέγω (to say). It means to enlist or levy soldiers, with a specific reference in the New Testament to 2 Timothy 2:4. The entries consistently emphasize the act of gathering or selecting troops.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

*† στρατολογέω, -ῶ

(< στρατός, λέγω),

to levy a troop, enlist soldiers: II Ti 2:4 (Diod., Plut., al.).†

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

στρατολογέω, τῶ: to be a orparodoyos (and this fr. στρατός and λέγω), to gather (collect) an army, to enlist soldiers: ὁ στρατολογήσας, [he that enrolled (him) as a soldier}, of the commander, 2 Tim. ii. 4. (Diod., Dion. Hal., Joseph., Plut., al.)

Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

στρατολογέω, “Senlist in the army,’’ in NT only in 2 Tim 24. Τὸ the exx. in LS8 add Jos. Be//. ν. 9. 4 βοηθὸν ἐστρατολόγησε. , OTPHVLAw

Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

στρατολογέω (stratologeō) — to enlist.

στρᾰτο-λογέω,

(λέγω (B)) levy an army, enlist soldiers, [Refs 1st c.BC+]:—passive, ἐκ συμμάχων στρατολογηθέντων [Refs 1st c.BC+]

Strong's Greek Dictionary

στρατολογέω

stratologeo

from a compound of the base of 4756 and 3004 (in its original sense);

to gather (or select) as a warrior, i.e. enlist in the army:--choose

to be a soldier.

see GREEK for 4756

see GREEK for 3004

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

στρατολογέω

v.

I enlist troops

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

στρατολογέω stratologeō 1x

to collect or gather an army, enlist troops, 2 Tim. 2:4*

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

στρατολογέω στρα^το-λογέω, λέγω to levy soldiers: Pass., Plut.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-AAP-DSM — Verb · aorist · active · participle · dative · singular · masculine
dative — to, for, with — the one it is done to or by.
Agrees with anything else marked singular masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-AAP-DSM Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Aorist Voice: Active Mood: Participle Case: Dative Number: Singular Gender: Masculine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
100%having enlisted him
having enlisted him100% · 1×

1 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 1 different way. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

Concordanceστρατολογέω · 1× in the New Testament
2 Timothy
Across the New Testament1 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
No [one] serving as a soldier entangles himself in the of this life affairs, so that the [one] having enlisted him he may please.
ἀρέσῃ.areskō he may please. G700 Verb · aorist · active · subjunctive · third person · singular
17× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Timothy than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To please or be agreeable is the meaning of aresko, used in the Bible to describe actions that are pleasing to others, such as in Matthew 14:6 and Romans 8:8.
Amplified meaning
so that, with the purpose of, be agreeable to, satisfy
Tyndale gloss
to please
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

ἀρέσκω is a Greek verb meaning 'to please' or 'to serve.' It is often used in the New Testament to express the idea of accommodating oneself to others' desires or interests, as seen in passages like Romans 15:1 and 1 Corinthians 10:33. The word can also imply being agreeable or satisfactory, and it has a range of uses from personal relationships to public resolutions.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἀρέσκω,

[in LXX chiefly for טוֹב;]

to please (Hom., Hdt., al.): c. dat. pers., Mt 14:6, Mk 6:22, Ro 8:8 15:2, I Th 2:15 4:1, I Co 7:32, 33, 34, Ga 1:10, II Ti 2:4; seq. ἐνώπιον (= Heb. בּעֵנֵי, Bl., § 37, 1; 40, 7), Ac 6:5.

In late Gk., esp. in Inscr., to render service to (v. M, Th., ICC, I Co., 7:32, 33, 34; Cremer, 640 f.); Ro 15:1, 3,

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Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ἀρέσκω ; impf. ἤρεσκον ; fut. apéow; 1 aor. pera; (APQ [see dpa init.]); [fr. Hom. down]; a. to please: τινί, Mt. xiv. 6; Mk. vi. 22; Ro. viii. 8; xv. 2; 1 Th. ii. 15; iv. 1; 1 Co. vii. 32-34; Gal. i. 10; 2 Tim. ii. 4; ἐνώπιόν τινος, after the Hebr. .)}3, Acts vi. 5, (1 K. iii. 10; Gen. xxxiv. 18, ete.). b. to strive to please; to accommodate one’s self to the opinions, desires, interests of others: τινί, 1 Co. x. 33 (πάντα πᾶσιν ἀρέσκω) ; 1 ΤῊ. ii. 4. ἀρέσκειν ἑαυτῷ, to please one’s self and therefore to have an eye to one’s own interests: Ro. xv. 1, 3.

Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ἀρέσκω. For the idea of service in the interests of others which underlies several of the NT occurrences of this verb (« Th 25, Rom 15, 1 Cor 10%), we may compare its use in monumental inscriptions to describe those who have proved themselves of use to the commonwealth, as OG/S 641 (A.D. 246-7) ᾿Ιούλιον Αὐρήλιον. . . οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ κατελθόντες . . . ἀνέστησαν ἀρέσαντα αὑτοῖς, τειμῆς χάριν, ib. 646135 (iii/A.p.) Σεπτίμ[ιον Οὐορώδην] . . . ἀναλώσαντα καὶ ἀρέσαντα τῇ τε αὐτῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ. For ἃ wider sense see the interesting petition of a Jew of Alexandria in the 26th year of Augustus, who, after describing himself as μεταλαβὼν καθ᾽ ὃ δυνατὸν καὶ τῷ πατρὶ [τῆ]ς ἀρεσκούσης παιδείας, goes on to state that he runs the risk τῆς ἰδίας πατρίδος στερηθῆναι (BGU IV. 1140°*), In PSI 94° (ii/A.p.) a woman writes gratefully ὅτι ἤρεσε καὶ τῷ παιδὶ ἡ ποδίς, καὶ προσεδρεύει is τὰ μαθήματα: cf. BGU…

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Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἀρέσκω (areskō) — to please.

ἀρέσκω [ᾰ],

imperfect ἤρεσκον[Refs 5th c.BC+]: future ἀρέσω[Refs 4th c.BC+] (συν-) [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: aorist ἤρεσα[Refs 5th c.BC+]., etc., Epic dialect ἄρεσσα[Refs 3rd c.BC+], infinitive ἀρέσαι[Refs 8th c.BC+]: perfect ἀρήρεκα[Refs 1st c.AD+]:—middle, future ἀρέσομαι[Refs 4th c.BC+], Epic dialect ἀρέσσομαι[Refs 8th c.BC+]aorist ἠρεσάμην, Epic dialect ἀρ-[Refs 8th c.BC+], Epic dialect participle ἀρεσσάμενος[Refs 8th c.BC+]: aorist passive in middle sense, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, aorist ἠρέσθην[Refs 1st c.AD+]

I. of person only, make good, make amends, ἂψ ἐθέλω ἀρέσαι[Refs 8th c.BC+]:—middle, ταῦτα δ᾽ ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσόμεθ᾽ εἴ τι κακὸν νῦν εἴρηται[Refs 8th c.BC+]; σπονδὰς θεοῖς ἀρέσασθαι make full drink-offerings to the gods, [Refs 6th…

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Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἀρέσκω

aresko

probably from 142 (through the idea of exciting emotion); to be

agreeable (or by implication, to seek to be so):--please.

see GREEK for 142

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἀρέσκω

v.

I please, serve

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἀρέσκω areskō 17x

to please, Mt. 14:6; to be pleasing, acceptable, Acts 6:5; to consult the pleasure of any one, Rom. 15:1, 2, 3; 1 Cor. 10:33; to seek favor with, Gal. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἀρέσκω *ἄρω to make good, make up, ἂψ ἀρέσαι to make amends, Il.:—Mid., ταῦτα ἀρεσσόμεθα this will we make up among ourselves, Hom.

Mid. to appease, conciliate, αὐτὸν ἀρεσσάσθω ἐπέεσσιν Od.

after Hom., c. dat. pers. to please, satisfy, flatter, Hdt., attic; ταῦτα ἀρέσκει μοι Hdt.;—so, in Mid., id. Hdt.

in attic also c. acc. pers., οὐ γάρ μ᾽ ἀρέσκει γλῶσσά σου Soph.; τουτί μ᾽ οὐκ ἀρ. Ar.: hence, in Pass., to be pleased, satisfied with a thing, c. dat. rei, Hdt., Thuc.

ἀρέσκει is used, like Lat. placet, to express the resolution of a public body, ταῦτα ἤρεσέ σφι ποιέειν Hdt.:—so in Mid., Thuc.

part. ἀρέσκων, ουσα, ον, grateful, acceptable, Soph., Thuc.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-AAS-3S — Verb · aorist · active · subjunctive · third person · singular
aorist active subjunctive — a completed action, viewed as a whole.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-AAS-3S Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Aorist Voice: Active Mood: Subjunctive Person: third Number: Singular

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
24%please
please24% · 4×pleased18% · 3×he may please18% · 3×pleasing12% · 2×should please6% · 1×she may please6% · 1×please?6% · 1×i were pleasing6% · 1×other renderings6% · 1×

17 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 9 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
verb100%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 17 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
μέσοςmiddle, in the mπεριπατέωI walk, conduct
πῶς
κόσμοςthe world, univeκύριοςlord, Lord, mast
ἄνθρωποςa man, one of the hu
ζητέωI seek, search fἔτιstill, yet, evenὡςas, like as, how
ἑαυτοῦ
μήNegοὐNeg
ὀρχέομαιI dance
καίand, even, also,
ἀρέσκωhe may please.17×
what comes after →
Article the
ἩρῴδηςHerodλόγοςa word, speech, κύριοςlord, Lord, mast
ἀλλάbut, except
καθώςjust as, asθεόςGod, a god
οὐNeg
δύναμαιI am powerful, a
εἰς
Article the
μήNeg
ζητέωI seek, search f

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceἀρέσκω · 17× in the New Testament
1 Corinthians Romans 1 Thessalonians Galatians 2 Timothy Acts Matthew Mark
Across the New Testament8 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 20 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
The Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch Josephus Philo of Alexandria Clement of Rome
Philo of AlexandriaAllegorical Interpretation of Genesis 3.188c. AD 40

ὀρθῶς οὖν τῇ ἡδονῇ λέγεται, ὅτι ὁ νοῦς σου τηρήσει τὸ κεφάλαιον καὶ ἡγεμονικὸν δόγμα, καὶ σὺ τηρήσεις αὐτοῦ, τοῦ νοῦ, τὰς ἐπιβάσεις καὶ ἐφιδρύσεις τῶν ἀρεσκόντων, αἷς αἱ πτέρναι κατὰ λόγον εἰκάσθησαν.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 5.140c. AD 75–95

τῷ δʼ οὐκ ἤρεσεν ἡ γνώμη παρʼ ἀλλοφύλοις ἀνδράσι ξενοῦσθαι, Χαναναίων γὰρ ἦν ἡ πόλις, ἀλλὰ προελθόντας εἴκοσι στάδια εἰς οἰκείαν ἠξίου κατάγεσθαι πόλιν, καὶ κρατήσας τῇ γνώμῃ παρῆν εἰς Γαβὰν φυλῆς τῆς Βενιαμίτιδος ἤδη ὀψίας οὔσης.

Clement of RomeSecond Clement 13.1c. AD 96

ἐξαλείψωμεν ἀφ̓ ἡμῶν τὰ πρότερα ἁμαρτήματα καὶ μετανοήσαντες ἐκ ψυχῆς σωθῶμεν, καὶ μὴ γινώμεθα ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι μηδὲ θέλωμεν μόνον ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἔξω ἀνθρώποις ἐπὶ τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ, ἵνα τὸ ὄνομα δἰ ἡμᾶς μὴ βλασφημῆται.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
6th c. AD 8th c. AD 2nd c. AD 4th c. AD 1st c. AD
BGU 4 1141Alexandria15 BC–14 BC

τὸ ἀφαρπάσαι τι, ἀλλὰ ἡ σὴ ψυχὴ ἐπίσταται, ὅτι ὡς δοῦλος ἐπʼ ἐλευθερίᾳ θέλει ἀρέσαι οὕτω καὶ ἐγὼ τὴν φιλίαν σου θέλων ἄμεμπτον ἐμαυτὸν ἐτήρησα οἵαν γὰρ ὕβριν μοι

PSI 1 82OxyrhynchitesAD 65

κιν … … ν … … … τοῦ διεληλυθότος ἑνδεκάτου ἔτους, ὡς καὶ ἤρεσεν, τῶι ὑπάρχοντι ἡμῖν περὶ Ψ … ας ἀμπελῶνι τὰς λοιπὰς ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς δέκα· γίνονται

O.Did. 323DidymoiAD 125–AD 140

δὲ ἰατρικὴν ζητεῖς, οὐκ ἔνι ὧδε. κόμισαι ἐπὶ λόγῳ τοῦτο τὸ ἀκόνιον. ἄν σοι ἀρέσῃ, πέμψον μοι ὅτι ἀρέσκει καὶ μεῖζον σοι πέμψω. περὶ τοῦ λιβάνου, ἔπεμψα εἰς Κομπασι

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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