ἐνέδρα

an ambush, plot, treachery, fraud

Definition

ἐνέδρα refers to an ambush or a plot, specifically a strategic trap set to capture or harm someone. In its primary sense, it denotes a military-style ambush, a planned surprise attack from a concealed position. The word also extends to more general treachery or fraud, implying a deceitful scheme intended to entrap. In the New Testament, its single occurrence in Acts 25:3 carries this sense of a malicious plot, where the Jewish leaders request a transfer of Paul to Jerusalem, planning to ambush and kill him along the way.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 25:3. It describes the specific, treacherous plot by Paul's opponents to kill him. The context is a legal and religious conflict, showing how the word applies to a premeditated, deceitful scheme within a narrative of persecution and judicial procedure. There is no pattern of usage across books, as it is a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once).

Etymology

Derived from the Greek preposition ἐν (en, meaning 'in') and the noun ἕδρα (hedra, meaning 'seat' or 'sitting place'). Literally, it means 'a sitting in' or 'a lying in wait,' vividly picturing attackers positioned in a hidden location. This root meaning clearly evolved into the concept of an ambush or a埋伏.

Semantic Range

While used only once, ἐνέδρα is theologically significant as it highlights the reality of spiritual opposition and persecution faced by early Christian leaders like Paul. It underscores the deceitful tactics sometimes employed against the gospel message and its messengers. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading of Acts 25:3 by emphasizing the deliberate, malicious intent behind the plot, contrasting human treachery with divine providence in protecting Paul for his testimony in Rome.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, ambushes (ἐνέδραι) were a recognized military tactic. The concept also had legal and social connotations, as plotting treachery was condemned. In the biblical context of Acts, the word reflects the intense, sometimes violent opposition the early church faced from certain Jewish authorities, who were resorting to covert, illegal plans outside proper judicial process.

ἐπιβουλή (epiboulē, G1917) — a plot or conspiracy, often with a broader, less physically concealed sense than an ambush. παγίς (pagis, G3803) — a snare or trap, more general and often used metaphorically for spiritual temptation or disaster.

Word Details

Scripture References