ἔνειμι (eneimi)
eneimi
be in
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb enei mi simply means to be inside or within something. It combines the preposition for "in" with the verb "to be," creating a straightforward description of location or presence. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Luke 11:41, where Jesus speaks about giving alms from what is within.
This single usage highlights its concrete sense. The phrase "what is within" refers to the inner person, suggesting that true purity comes from the heart rather than external rituals. Translators often render this as "that which is inside you," capturing the idea of internal reality. The word does not carry complex theological weight on its own but serves as a clear marker of interiority in this specific context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word eneimi simply means to be inside or within something. In Luke 11:41, Jesus uses this straightforward term to point toward our inner lives. He invites us to consider what resides in the heart before we worry about external appearances.
This focus on interiority offers a gentle reminder that true purity begins within. When we give from what is inside, our actions reflect a genuine care for others. It is an invitation to examine our motives with honesty and kindness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- being within1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐνόντα1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 11:41
But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.
This verse uses the word to direct attention to the inner person, suggesting that generosity from within leads to true cleanliness.