ἐνέχω

I am angry with, entangle

Definition

The verb ἐνέχω (enechō) carries two primary meanings in the New Testament. First, it means 'to have a grudge against' or 'to be angry with,' describing a state of holding hostility or resentment toward someone, as seen when Herodias held a grudge against John the Baptist (Mark 6:19). Second, in the middle or passive voice, it means 'to be entangled' or 'to be held in,' depicting a state of being caught or ensnared. This sense is used metaphorically in Galatians 5:1, where believers are warned not to be entangled again in a 'yoke of slavery' to the law.

Biblical Usage

ἐνέχω is used only three times in the New Testament, each in a distinct context. In Mark 6:19, it describes Herodias's personal, vengeful anger. In Luke 11:53, it depicts the scribes and Pharisees 'lying in wait' or 'pressing hard' against Jesus with hostile questions, showing a more active, confrontational hostility. In Galatians 5:1, the middle voice is used metaphorically for spiritual entanglement in legalism. The usage thus spans personal emotion, interpersonal conflict, and spiritual condition.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐν (en, 'in') and the verb ἔχω (echō, 'to have' or 'to hold'), the compound word literally means 'to hold in.' This basic sense of being held within something developed into the figurative meanings of being held by anger (holding a grudge) or being held fast by an entangling situation.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant for its contrast between two forms of bondage. In Galatians 5:1, Paul uses the 'entangled' sense to warn against the spiritual slavery of legalism, contrasting it with the freedom found in Christ. The 'grudge' sense in the Gospels highlights the destructive, entrapping nature of personal hatred and unforgiveness, which stands opposed to the gospel ethic of reconciliation and love. Understanding the Greek clarifies the link between internal hostility and external spiritual enslavement.

In the Greco-Roman world, holding a grudge (ἐνέχω) was often tied to concepts of honor and shame, where a perceived slight demanded a hostile response to maintain social standing. The metaphor of 'entanglement' would resonate in an agricultural society familiar with yokes for animals and in a legal context where one could be 'held' by obligations or debts. The warning in Galatians subverts the cultural honor of strict law-keeping by redefining it as a form of slavery.

ὀργίζομαι (orgizomai, G3710) — denotes a more general 'be angry' without the specific nuance of a sustained, held grudge. | ἐμπλέκω (emplekō, G1707) — means 'to entangle' or 'involve,' often in a more literal or complex weaving sense, whereas ἐνέχω implies being held fast by what entangles.

Word Details

Scripture References