ἐγκρατεύομαι (egkrateuomai)
egkrateuomai
to self-control
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb egkrateuomai describes the active practice of self-control, specifically in the context of physical discipline and restraint. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both within Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, where it carries a distinct athletic flavor. It is not merely an internal feeling of restraint but a deliberate exercise of governing one’s own body and desires.
Paul uses this term in 1 Corinthians 9:25 by drawing a direct parallel to athletes who train for a perishable crown. Just as competitors abstain from certain foods, wines, or comforts to win a temporary prize, believers are called to exercise similar discipline for an eternal reward. The word emphasizes the rigorous, almost physical effort required to maintain temperance in daily life.
It also appears in 1 Corinthians 7:9, where Paul advises those who cannot control their sexual urges to marry. Here, egkrateuomai highlights the capacity for continent living. While some possess this self-governance naturally or by grace, others require the structure of marriage to avoid passion. The term underscores that self-mastery is a vital virtue for Christian conduct.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Self-control is not about suppressing your humanity but directing it toward what truly lasts. Paul compares this discipline to an athlete training for a prize. The effort is real, and the restraint is deliberate. You are not left to manage your impulses alone; grace empowers you to govern your body and desires with purpose.
This virtue matters because it aligns your daily habits with eternal values. When you choose restraint over immediate gratification, you demonstrate that you value God’s calling above temporary comfort. It is a practical expression of faith, showing that you trust His promises more than your own urges. This kind of discipline brings freedom, not restriction.
Whether you find self-control natural or struggle with it daily, the path forward is clear. Seek the strength to master your passions rather than be mastered by them. In this pursuit, you join a long line of believers who have learned that true liberty comes from disciplined love for God and neighbor.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they have self-control,1×
- controls himself;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐγκρατεύονται,1×
- ἐγκρατεύεται·1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 9:25
Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
Paul uses athletic imagery to show that self-control is a rigorous, active discipline aimed at an eternal reward rather than a temporary prize.
-
I Corinthians 7:9
But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn with passion.
The word highlights the practical necessity of self-governance in sexual purity, offering marriage as a God-given structure for those who lack this specific restraint.