ἔνοχος

involved in, liable

Definition

The adjective ἔνοχος (enochos) fundamentally means 'held in' or 'subject to,' conveying a state of being liable or guilty before a law or authority. In the New Testament, it primarily describes being 'guilty' of a specific offense, such as being 'guilty of murder' (Matthew 5:21) or 'guilty of the body and blood of the Lord' (1 Corinthians 11:27). It also carries the sense of being 'subject to' or 'in danger of' a resulting penalty or condition, as seen in being 'subject to judgment' (Matthew 5:22) or 'subject to slavery' (Hebrews 2:15). This liability is typically governed by a dative or genitive case noun specifying the crime or punishment.

Biblical Usage

ἔνοχος is used 8 times in the New Testament, predominantly in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark within legal and judicial contexts. It appears in Jesus's teachings on the law's severity (Matthew 5:21-22), in pronouncements of guilt during trials (Matthew 26:66, Mark 14:64), and in the serious warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29). Its usage extends to apostolic writings, describing guilt in partaking of communion unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:27) and the universal guilt under the whole law (James 2:10). The pattern shows it is a strong, formal term for declaring culpability.

Etymology

Derived from the verb ἐνέχω (enechō), meaning 'to hold in' or 'to be entangled in.' The root idea is of being held or bound by something, which developed into the legal sense of being held accountable or liable. It is related to the concept of being caught or ensnared by an obligation or consequence.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it directly addresses human guilt, judgment, and liability under God's law. In Jesus's Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-22), He uses ἔνοχος to radicalize the law, showing that internal attitudes make one just as 'guilty' as external actions, highlighting the universal need for grace. In Hebrews 2:15, it describes humanity's state of being 'subject to slavery' by the fear of death, a condition from which Christ liberates believers. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by clarifying the serious, binding nature of guilt and the comprehensive scope of Christ's redemptive work to free us from being ἔνοχος.

In its Greco-Roman cultural setting, ἔνοχος was a common legal term used in courts and official decrees to declare someone legally liable or guilty, often with an implied consequence. This gives the biblical usage its weight; when Jesus or the Sanhedrin declares someone ἔνοχος, it carries the full force of a judicial verdict. The modern idea of 'feeling guilty' is more psychological, whereas the ancient concept was primarily a public, legal status of being held accountable and subject to penalty.

ὑπόδικος (hypodikos, G5267) — emphasizes being under judgment or answerable to a court. αἴτιος (aitios, G159) — focuses more on being the cause or responsible agent for something, rather than the state of liability.

Word Details

Scripture References