ἐνδείκνυμι
I show forth
Definition
The verb ἐνδείκνυμι means to show, demonstrate, or make something clearly known. In the New Testament, it often carries the sense of proving or displaying a quality, action, or truth. For example, it describes God demonstrating His wrath and power (Romans 9:22), or believers showing proof of their love (2 Corinthians 8:24). In other contexts, it means to point out or indicate something, as when God's law is shown to be written on human hearts (Romans 2:15).
Biblical Usage
This verb is used 11 times, primarily in Paul's letters (Romans, 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, the Pastoral Epistles). It appears in theological arguments about God's character—displaying wrath, mercy, and patience (Romans 9:17, 22)—and in practical exhortations for believers to demonstrate their faith and good works (Titus 2:10, 2 Corinthians 8:24). It is also used to indicate or point out evidence, as in 1 Timothy 1:16 and 2 Timothy 4:14.
Etymology
From ἐν (en, 'in' or 'to') and the root verb δείκνυμι (deiknymi, 'to show' or 'point out'). The compound suggests showing something forth, making it evident or manifest. Cognates include δείκνυμι itself and the noun δεῖγμα (deigma, 'example' or 'sample').
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it describes how God reveals His attributes—His wrath, power, and kindness—in history and through Christ (Romans 9:22, Ephesians 2:7). It also challenges believers to actively display the evidence of their transformed lives, making faith visible. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting the New Testament emphasis on both divine demonstration and human response.
In the Greco-Roman world, demonstrating or proving one's character or intentions was important in social and legal contexts. The term's use in the New Testament taps into this cultural value, applying it to both divine action and communal Christian witness.
δείκνυμι (deiknymi, G1166) — a more general term for 'to show' or 'point out', without the compound's emphasis on making something fully evident. φανερόω (phaneroō, G5319) — to make manifest or reveal, often focusing on bringing something hidden to light.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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