ἐνορκίζομαι (enorkizomai)
enorkizomai
to adjure
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb enorkizomai means to place someone under an oath or solemn charge. It carries the force of a binding command, urging the listener to take a serious vow. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in 1 Thessalonians 5:27, where Paul uses it to insist that his letter be read aloud to the entire congregation.
Its structure combines the prefix en-, meaning "in" or "upon," with the root for oath. This creates a vivid image of placing a person inside the sphere of an oath’s authority. The usage highlights the gravity of the message; Paul is not merely asking for attention but demanding that the community treat his instructions as divinely mandated.
Translators typically render this term as "adjure" or "charge," reflecting its legal and religious weight. By using such strong language, the text emphasizes that the communication of God’s word is a matter of utmost importance, requiring full and undivided attention from those who hear it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In a world where attention is often scattered, Paul’s single use of this rare word reminds us that God’s message demands our full presence. To adjure someone is to place them under a solemn charge, treating the words not as casual suggestions but as binding instructions from the Lord. This intensity reflects the value we should place on Scripture itself.
When you read your Bible, you are encountering this same weighty authority. The call to hear and obey is an invitation to align your life with divine truth. Let this awareness deepen your reverence for the text, knowing that every word carries the power to shape your heart and guide your steps in faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I adjure1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐνορκίζω1×
Key Verses
-
I Thessalonians 5:27
I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.
Paul uses this strong adjuration to ensure the entire community hears his letter, showing that communal obedience to apostolic teaching is a serious spiritual obligation.