ἔλεγξις (elegxis)
elegxis
rebuke
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun elegxis refers to a sharp rebuke or refutation that exposes error. Derived from the verb eleghō, which means to convict or prove wrong, this term carries the weight of an authoritative correction intended to reveal truth.
In Scripture, it appears only once, in 2 Peter 2:16, describing Balaam’s mule speaking against his madness. The text calls this act a "rebuke," highlighting how even an animal can deliver a divine reproof when human wisdom fails. This single usage underscores the word's power to silence false teaching through undeniable evidence.
Translators often render it as "reproof" or "conviction," emphasizing its function as a corrective force rather than mere criticism. It serves as a reminder that truth has a way of breaking through deception, even in unexpected ways.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word elegxis points to a sharp correction that exposes error, bringing hidden truth into the open. In 2 Peter 2:16, we see this power in action when Balaam’s donkey speaks to stop his madness. This single verse reminds us that God can use unexpected means to rebuke wrong paths and reveal what is true.
For your faith life, this word offers comfort. When you face confusion or deception, trust that truth has a way of breaking through. You do not need to force every issue into the light; God’s correction often comes in ways that silence error and guide you back to the right path.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- reproof1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔλεγξιν1×
Key Verses
-
II Peter 2:16
but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A speechless donkey spoke with a man’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet.
This verse uniquely shows elegxis as a divine rebuke delivered through an animal, highlighting how God can use unexpected means to stop madness and expose error.