ἔνθεν (enthen)
enthen
hence
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adverb enthen simply means "from here" or "thence." It points to a starting point, whether that is a physical location or a logical beginning. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, where it helps describe movement away from a specific place.
Its core function is directional. When Jesus speaks of things coming "from here," he indicates origin. The word carries no heavy theological weight on its own; instead, it serves as a clear marker of space or sequence. It tells the reader exactly where an action begins before moving forward.
This brevity highlights its practical use in narrative. Translators render it as "hence" or "from there," keeping the focus on the journey rather than the destination. In these few verses, it anchors the story in a concrete reality, showing that the words and actions of Jesus are rooted in specific, observable places.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word enthen points simply to a starting place or origin. It grounds stories in real geography, showing that Jesus’ actions happened in specific towns and landscapes. This clarity helps readers visualise the scenes as they unfold.
In Matthew 17:20, Jesus uses the idea of moving something 'from here' to illustrate the power of faith. The focus is not on magic but on the origin of trust. When we ask for help, we bring our requests from where we are right now.
Understanding this small word reminds us that God meets us in our actual circumstances. We do not need to be elsewhere to experience His work. Our current location is the starting point for prayer and change.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from here2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔνθεν2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 17:20
He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Jesus uses 'from here' to show that faith starts in the present moment, even when obstacles seem immovable.
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Luke 16:26
Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’
The phrase marks a fixed boundary, emphasising that the consequences of our choices are rooted in where we stand.