noun · feminine
entolas
Strong’sG1785
an ordinance, injunction, command
stem entol-66 times in the New Testamentin 16 of 27 books7 of 10 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
ἐντολή means a command, order, or injunction — an authoritative instruction given by one party to another 1234. In general usage it covers any charge or directive, such as an order passed from one person to another or instructions given for a task 13.
In religious usage it refers specifically to a commandment or precept, especially the commandments of God, including the commandments given in the Old Testament and, collectively, the whole body of divine command 1. It is also used of what the Father commanded Christ to do, and of the precepts given by Christ himself to his followers 1.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ἐντολή, -ῆς, ἡ
(< ἐντέλλω, q.v.), [in LXX chiefly for מִצְוָה; in pl. freq. in Pss for פִּקּוּדִים;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1785 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saiden-tol-ay'
injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription
Fromfrom G1781;
King Jamescommandment, precept.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
injunction, order, command, frequently in plural, orders, commands, NT+5th c.BC+; ἐντολὰς δοῦναι Decrees cited in Refs 5th c.BC+; royal ordinance, Refs 2nd c.BC+; θεῖαι ἐ., of Imperial ordinances, Refs 3rd c.AD+; ἀπ᾽ ἐντολῆς by proxy, Refs 2nd c.AD+ —Rare in Trag. and _Attic dialect_ Prose.
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
Every form this word takes in Biblang, with the Greek it corresponds to and how often the New Testament uses it.
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | entolas13×ἐντολὴ | entolais1×ἐντολαὶ |
| object accusative | entolan19×ἐντολὴν | entolain18×ἐντολὰς |
| direct address vocative | entolar | entolair |
| of, belonging to genitive | entolau9×ἐντολῆς | entolaiu3×ἐντολῶν |
| to, for dative | entola | entolai3×ἐντολαῖς |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
entola is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
66 occurrences, every one of them listed
entolas“commandment”subjectnominative singular13×
Matthew 22:36Didaskalor, poias entolas megas en to nomo?“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?”
Matthew 22:38houtas atō tas megas kai prōtas entolas.This is the first and greatest commandment.
Mark 12:28… apokrinita autoi, eperōtata auton; Poias atō entolas prōtas panteiu?… answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
Mark 12:31… su hōs siauton. megoteras houtaiu allosas entolas ouk atō.… your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
John 12:50“commandment”kai oidamē hoti tas entolas autou zōas aiōnias atō. heim oun …And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I …
John 15:12Houtas atō tas entolas tas ēmas hina agapaveiō allēloin kathōs …This is My commandment, that you love one another as …
Romans 7:10… de apothnēskama, kai heuriskita mi tas entolas tas eis zōan houtas eis thanaton;So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life …
Romans 7:12… tos men nomos hagios, kai tas entolas hagias kai dikaias kai agathas.… the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
Romans 13:9“commandment”… Ouk epithumasi, kai ei tinas heteras entolas, en to logo houto anakefalaiotō, en …… steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one …
Ephesians 6:2… su kai tan mētēran, hotinas atō entolas prōtas en epangelia,… and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),
1 John 2:7“commandment”… palaian han echave apo archau; tas entolas tas palaias atō tos logos hon …… but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you …
1 John 3:23kai houtas atō tas entolas autou, hina pisteuaneia te onome tou …And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the …
2 John 1:6… kata tain entolain autou; houtas tas entolas atō, kathōs akouava apo archau, hina …… His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning …
entolan“commandment”objectaccusative singular19×
Matthew 15:3“commandment”… Dia tinem kai vis parabainavō tan entolan tou theou dia tan paradosian vu?… replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
Mark 7:8afiēkarantois tan entolan tou theou kratavō tan paradosian toiu …You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition …
Mark 7:9“commandment”Kai legate autoi; Kalōs athetavō tan entolan tou theou, hina tan paradosian vu …… set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.
Mark 10:5… tan sklērokardian vu grafata vi tan entolan houtan;… Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness …
Luke 15:29“command”… tosouteim eteim douleuamō si kai oudepote entolan su parerchama, kai mi oudepote dōasa …… all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a …
Luke 23:56… tem men sabbatem hēsuchazala kata tan entolan,… on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.
John 10:18“command”… echamō palin labara autan; houtan tan entolan labama para tou patrou mu.… authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
John 12:49“commandment”… tos pemparantos min patros autos mi entolan dōatē tinem legameia kai tinem lalameia.… own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to …
John 13:34entolan kainan dōamō vi hina agapaveiō allēloin, …A new commandment I give you: Love one another …
Acts 17:15“command”… Paulon agala heōs Athēnaiu, kai labarantois entolan pros ton Silon kai ton Timotheon …… who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join …
1 Timothy 6:14tērara sin tan entolan aspilan anepilēmptan mechris tau epifaneiau tou …Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the …
Hebrews 7:5“commandment”… toiu huioiu Leviou tan hierateian labarōntois entolan echalō apodekatarō ton laon kata ton …Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people — that is …
1 John 2:7Agapētoir, ouk entolan kainan grafamō vi, alla entolan palaian …… not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you …
1 John 2:7… ouk entolan kainan grafamō vi, alla entolan palaian han echave apo archau; tas …… have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard.
1 John 2:8palin entolan kainan grafamō vi, hem atō alēthem …… also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and …
1 John 3:23“commandment”… Christou kai agapaneiō allēloin, kathōs dōata entolan ni.… Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
1 John 4:21kai houtan tan entolan echanō apo autou, hina tos agaparōntos …And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must …
2 John 1:4“commandment”… tekneiu su peripatarōntoin en alētheia, kathōs entolan labana para tou patrou.… some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded …
2 John 1:5… nun erōtamō sin, kuriar, ouk hōs entolan kainan grafarōntos si alla han echane …… dear lady — not as a new commandment to you, but one we have …
entolau“commandment”of, belonging togenitive singular9×
Romans 7:8… de labarantas tas hamartas dia tau entolau katergazeta en mi pantan epithumian, chōris …… sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of …
Romans 7:9… chōris nomou pote; ercharantau de tau entolau tas hamartas anazata,… from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and …
Romans 7:11… gar hamartas aforman labarantas dia tau entolau exapatata min kai dia autau apoktenata.… sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment …
Romans 7:13… huperbolan hamartōlas tas hamartas dia tau entolau.… was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
Hebrews 7:16“requirement”hos ouk kata nomon entolau sarkinau genatē alla kata dunamian zōau …one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.
Hebrews 7:18athetēsias men gar genotō proagarōntau entolau dia tem autau asthenem kai anōfelem,So the former commandment is set aside because it was …
Hebrews 9:19lalirantau gar pantau entolau kata ton nomon hupo Mōusou panto …For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the …
2 Peter 2:21… hupostrefara ek tau paradōirantau autoi hagiau entolau;… to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.
2 Peter 3:2“commandment”… profētoiu kai tau toiu apostoloiu vu entolau tou kuriou kai sōtērou,… the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
entolais“commandments”subjectnominative plural1×
1 John 5:3… tain entolain autou tēraneiō, kai tais entolais autou baruais ouk alō,… we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
entolain“commandments”objectaccusative plural18×
Matthew 19:17… eis tan zōan eiserchara, tērasar tain entolain.… want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Mark 10:19tain entolain oidasē; Mē foneuaseia, Mē moicheuaseia, Mē …You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit …
Luke 18:20tain entolain oidasē; Mē moicheuaseia, Mē foneuaseia, Mē …You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not …
John 11:57… de tois archierevois kai tois Farisaiois entolain hina ean tinos gnōskateia pou atō …… chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He …
John 14:15Ean agapaveiō min, tain entolain tain ēmain tēravi;… love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 14:21tos echarōntos tain entolain mu kai tērarōntos autain ekeinos atō …Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one …
John 15:10ean tain entolain mu tēraveia, menavi en ta agapa …If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love …
John 15:10… ta agapa mu, kathōs mis tain entolain tou patrou mu tēramē kai menamō …… as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
Colossians 4:10… tos anepsios Barnabou peri hou labava entolain, ean erchateia pros vin dechevar auton,… of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to …
1 John 2:3… gnōskanō hoti gnōskanē auton, ean tain entolain autou tēraneiō.… know Him: if we keep His commandments.
1 John 2:4… legarōntos hoti Gnōskamē auton kai tain entolain autou mē tērarōntos pseustos atō, kai …… Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the …
1 John 3:22… aitaneiō labanō apo autou, hoti tain entolain autou tēranō kai teim aresteim enōpion …… we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in …
1 John 3:24kai tos tērarōntos tain entolain autou en auto menatō kai autos …Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in …
1 John 5:2… hotan ton theon agapaneiō kai tain entolain autou poianeiō;… we love God and keep His commandments.
1 John 5:3… tas agapas tou theou hina tain entolain autou tēraneiō, kai tais entolais autou …… of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
2 John 1:6… tas agapas, hina peripataneiō kata tain entolain autou; houtas tas entolas atō, kathōs …… that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you …
Revelation 12:17… teu spermeu autau, toiu tērarōntoiu tain entolain tou theou kai echarōntoiu tan marturian …… of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the …
Revelation 14:12… toiu hagioiu atō, tois tērarōntois tain entolain tou theou kai tan pistian Iēsu.… of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of …
entolaiu“commandments”of, belonging togenitive plural3×
Matthew 5:19hos ean oun luateia henan taiu entolaiu houtaiu taiu elachistaiu kai didaskateia houtōs …… one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise …
1 Corinthians 7:19… tas akrobustias oudenem atō, alla tērēsias entolaiu theou.… and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
Ephesians 2:15ton nomon taiu entolaiu en dogmei katargarantos, hina toin duo …… in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to …
entolai“commandments”to, fordative plural3×
Matthew 22:40en houtai tai duo entolai holos tos nomos kremannuotō kai tois …… the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Luke 1:6… tou theou, poreuorōntois en pantai tai entolai kai dikaiōmei tou kuriou amemptois.… God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
Titus 1:14“commandments”mē prosecharōntois Ioudaikoi muthoi kai entolai anthrōpoiu apostreforōntoiu tan alētheian.and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.