ἔνεδρον
ambush
Definition
The Greek word ἔνεδρον (enedron) specifically means an 'ambush' or 'lying in wait.' It refers to a concealed position or trap set to surprise and capture or attack someone. In the New Testament, it appears only in Acts 23:16, describing the plot to kill the Apostle Paul. The term carries the sense of a planned, hidden attack with malicious intent, not a spontaneous act of violence.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 23:16. It describes the specific plot ('ambush') that more than forty men had formed, swearing an oath to kill Paul. The context is one of conspiracy and planned violence within a religious and political conflict, highlighting the danger Paul faced from his opponents in Jerusalem.
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,' which perfectly captures the concept of an ambush where attackers are positioned and concealed.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is not theologically loaded, its single biblical occurrence in Acts 23:16 is significant for understanding the nature of opposition to the gospel. It illustrates the real, physical danger faced by early Christian leaders like Paul. The foiling of this ambush through divine providence (his nephew hearing of the plot) underscores God's protection in fulfilling His mission to bring Paul to Rome (Acts 23:11). It reminds readers that spiritual warfare can involve tangible, human conspiracies, yet God remains sovereign over all plots against His purposes.
In the 1st-century Roman world, ambushes were a recognized military and bandit tactic. The concept would have been immediately understood as a treacherous and cowardly form of attack, often associated with brigands or political conspiracies. The plot in Acts 23 leverages this cultural understanding to convey the severity and secrecy of the threat against Paul.
ἐνέδρα (enedra, G1747) — A virtually identical noun form also meaning 'ambush,' used in Luke 11:54. The distinction is minimal, primarily grammatical (gender/declension).
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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