ἐνεδρεύω (enedreuō)
enedreuō
to ambush
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb enedreuō means to lie in wait for someone, often with the intent to ambush or trap them. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both times highlighting a sudden shift from public teaching to secret plotting. In Luke 11:54, the scribes and Pharisees begin to act aggressively toward Jesus, seeking to catch him in something he might say so they could accuse him. Later, in Acts 23:21, a group of Jews pledge not to eat or drink until they have killed Paul, having conspired to ambush him on the way.
Its root suggests hiding or lying in wait, derived from a term for an ambush. The sources note that while it primarily describes physical danger, it can also imply deception or entrapment through words. Translators typically render it as "lie in wait" or "ambush," capturing the element of surprise and malice. This word underscores the growing hostility against Jesus and his followers, moving from debate to deadly intent.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word enedreuō describes those who hide their hostility behind a mask of civility, waiting for a moment to strike. In Luke 11:54, religious leaders pretended to seek wisdom while actually plotting to trap Jesus in His words. This reveals how dangerous hidden agendas can be, turning fellowship into a battlefield where trust is weaponized.
Paul faced a similar threat in Acts 23:21, where a violent conspiracy sought to ambush him before he could reach Jerusalem. These accounts remind us that faithfulness often invites opposition from those who prefer darkness over light. Yet God’s protection remains steadfast against such secret plots.
When you encounter hidden hostility or unfair criticism, remember that Jesus and Paul were also targets of such schemes. You are not alone in facing unseen struggles. God sees the heart and defends the righteous, turning even dangerous ambushes into opportunities for His glory to shine through.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- watching1×
- Lie in wait1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐνεδρεύουσιν1×
- ἐνεδρεύοντες1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 11:54
lying in wait for him, and seeking to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him.
This verse shows the word describing how religious leaders used polite questions as a trap to find grounds for accusing Jesus.
-
Acts 23:21
Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”
Here the word highlights a violent conspiracy where forty men swore an oath to ambush and kill Paul before he arrived in Jerusalem.