ἐντυγχάνω (entugchanō)
entugchanō
to call on
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb entugchanō describes the act of coming into someone’s presence to speak, often with a specific purpose in mind. It moves beyond simple greeting to imply a serious conversation or petition. In the New Testament, it carries the weight of intercession, where one person approaches another—often God or a human authority—to plead a case or offer prayer.
This word appears five times in Scripture, highlighting its role in spiritual advocacy. Romans 8:27 and 25:24 show believers engaging in this deep communication, while Acts 25:24 depicts a formal legal appeal before King Agrippa. Hebrews 7:25 uses it to describe Jesus’ ongoing intercession for humanity, emphasizing that His work is not a one-time event but a continuous presence before God.
The term combines the idea of being "in" with "meeting," suggesting an intimate and purposeful encounter. Unlike generic requests, entugchanō implies a relational dynamic where the petitioner seeks to influence or be heard by the recipient. This nuance helps explain why it is used for both human legal appeals and divine prayer, underscoring the seriousness of approaching another with a heartfelt plea.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word entugchanō invites us into a relationship where our deepest needs are brought before God with confidence. It is not merely a casual request, but a serious coming into someone’s presence to speak on their behalf. When we pray, we join this ancient practice of intercession, trusting that our words carry weight because they are heard by One who knows the heart.
For those feeling overwhelmed, this term offers comfort. Jesus lives forever to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). He stands before God not as a distant judge, but as a advocate who understands our weakness. This means we do not need to find the perfect words or earn our way in; we simply draw near, knowing our Savior is speaking for us.
Even when we struggle to pray, the Spirit helps us. Romans 8:27 reminds us that the Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to God’s will. This shared burden lifts the pressure off our shoulders. We can rest in the knowledge that our prayers are held and presented with purpose, woven into God’s greater plan for our good.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to intercede1×
- they pleaded1×
- is interceding1×
- he pleads1×
- He intercedes1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐντυγχάνει3×
- ἐνέτυχόν1×
- ἐντυγχάνειν1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 7:25
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
This verse highlights the permanence of Jesus' intercession, showing that His advocacy is continuous because He lives forever.
-
Romans 8:34
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Here the word emphasizes Christ's current position at God's right hand as the active defender against any condemnation.
-
Romans 8:27
He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.
This occurrence shows the Spirit’s role in intercession, aligning our unspoken needs with the will of God who searches hearts.
-
Acts 25:24
Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
This secular usage demonstrates the word's original sense of a formal legal appeal or petition before an authority figure.