ἔνι (eni)
eni
there is
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word eni is a contracted form meaning "there is" or "it is possible." It functions as a verb indicating presence or availability, essentially stating that something has a place within a given context. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, making it a rare but distinct term for expressing existence or permission.
Its usage highlights specific theological boundaries and universal truths. For instance, Paul employs it in Galatians 3:28 to assert that distinctions like slave or free have no place in Christ, implying such divisions are not permitted in the new community. Similarly, James uses it in James 1:17 to describe how every good gift is present from above, emphasizing divine availability rather than human effort.
The term carries a sense of lawful possibility as much as simple existence. When Paul asks who can judge matters in 1 Corinthians 6:5, he uses eni to question whether such judgment has any legitimate place among believers. This nuance distinguishes it from general words for being; eni often implies that something is not just present, but appropriate or allowed within a specific framework.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word eni appears only four times in the New Testament, yet it carries a quiet weight about where we belong and what is truly available to us. It does not merely state that something exists; it often points to what is permitted or appropriate within God’s design. When Paul asks if there is wisdom among believers, he uses this term to highlight a gap in our current practice, inviting us to look for the good things God has already placed within our community.
In Galatians and Colossians, eni helps define the new reality of life in Christ. It declares that old divisions have no place here, not because we are ignoring differences, but because Christ’s presence makes those labels irrelevant. This word reminds us that our identity is found in who Jesus is, not in the social categories we once used to separate ourselves. We are invited to see one another through this new lens of unity.
James uses eni to point us upward, noting that every good gift comes from above. It suggests that what we need is already present in God’s character, steady and unchanging. This offers a gentle comfort: we do not have to chase after stability or worthiness. The resources for our lives are available from the Father, who remains constant even when circumstances shift around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- there is5×
- is there1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔνι6×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This verse uses eni to declare that social and religious divisions have no legitimate standing in the new community of Christ.
-
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow.
Here eni emphasizes the divine source of every good gift, highlighting God's consistent nature rather than human effort.
-
I Corinthians 6:5
I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?
Paul uses this term to question whether wisdom is actually present among believers, challenging the church to live up to its calling.