ἐμπλοκή

a plaiting, braiding

Definition

ἐμπλοκή refers to the act or result of plaiting, braiding, or intertwining, specifically in the context of hair. In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically in 1 Peter 3:3 to describe elaborate hairstyles, which the author contrasts with the inner spiritual adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit. The word carries the literal sense of an intricate, woven arrangement, but in its biblical usage, it symbolizes external, worldly ornamentation that can distract from godly character.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only once in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 3:3. It is used in a specific ethical exhortation directed to Christian wives, warning against placing primary emphasis on external adornment like braided hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothing. The context is a call to prioritize inner, spiritual beauty over outward, cultural displays of status or wealth.

Etymology

Derived from the verb ἐμπλέκω (emplekō, G1707), meaning 'to weave in, entwine, or braid.' It is a compound word from ἐν (en, 'in') and πλέκω (plekō, 'to weave, plait'). The noun form ἐμπλοκή directly denotes the product or action of this weaving, emphasizing an intricate, intertwined structure.

Semantic Range

Theologically, this word highlights the biblical tension between external appearance and internal character. In 1 Peter 3:3-4, it serves as a metaphor for worldly values that Christians are called to transcend. The admonition against 'braiding of hair' is not a prohibition against grooming, but a principle against valuing transient, cultural displays of status over the imperishable beauty of a heart submitted to God. It underscores the New Testament theme that God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and that a believer's true identity and worth are found in Christ, not in external conformity to societal standards.

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, elaborate braided hairstyles, often interwoven with gold threads and jewels, were a sign of wealth, social status, and luxury, particularly among upper-class women. Peter's reference would have been immediately understood as a critique of using expensive, time-consuming adornment to draw attention and signify one's place in the social hierarchy. The instruction redirects focus from this culturally prestigious display to the counter-cultural value of a gentle spirit, which holds greater worth before God.

κόσμος (kosmos, G2889) — In 1 Peter 3:3, this is used for 'adornment' in general, a broader term for orderly arrangement or ornamentation. πλέγμα (plegma, G4117) — Another word for a braid or plait, used in a similar context in 1 Timothy 2:9.

Word Details

Scripture References