ἔλεγχος (elegchos)
elegchos
rebuke
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun elegchos carries the meaning of a proof or a test that leads to conviction. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Hebrews 11:1, where it defines faith as the "assurance" or "substance" of things hoped for. This usage highlights its role as the concrete evidence that makes spiritual realities present and real to the believer.
Its root verb, elegchō, often implies a rebuke or exposure of error, but here the noun focuses on the positive result: a settled conviction derived from proof. The word suggests that faith is not blind hope but a confident trust grounded in reliable evidence. Translators sometimes render it "assurance" or "title deed," capturing the sense of something that confirms ownership or reality.
This single occurrence connects faith to tangible certainty. Just as a legal document proves ownership, elegchos describes faith as the underlying reality that validates what is not yet seen. It frames belief as a firm grasp on divine promises, rooted in their proven truth rather than mere wishful thinking.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we look at the promises God has made, it is natural to feel a sense of uncertainty. The word elegchos offers a different perspective. It describes faith not as a vague wish, but as a solid foundation. In Hebrews 11:1, this term defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the proof of things not seen. This suggests that our trust is based on reliable evidence, even when we cannot yet see the outcome.
This understanding brings comfort to those waiting on God's timing. It means that what we hope for has a reality that already exists in God's character. Faith acts like a title deed, confirming our ownership of these promises before they are fully visible to us. We can rest in the confidence that God is faithful to His word.
As you face seasons of waiting, remember that your faith is grounded in truth. It is not blind belief, but a confident trust in who God is. This assurance allows us to walk forward with peace, knowing that the promises we hold are secure and real.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] conviction1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔλεγχος1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
This verse uniquely uses elegchos to define faith as the concrete evidence or assurance of spiritual realities, distinguishing it from mere hope.