ἐγκαταλείπω
enkataleípō
G1459 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To leave behind or abandon someone or something in a particular place; to forsake, neglect, or desert, usually with an implication of negative consequence, but occasionally with a neutral or positive sense of leaving something to remain. The primary lexical meaning is to leave behind, with contextual senses ranging from abandonment of persons or duties (e.g., deserting someone in need, forsaking an obligation) to leaving behind goods or survivors.
Semantic Range
to abandon, forsake, desert, leave behind, neglect, let remain, leave in a situation; (rarely) to spare or leave over; to fail to support or come to the aid of
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἐν (in, within), and καταλείπω (to leave behind, abandon), itself from κατά (down, intensive) and λείπω (to leave). Thus, ἐγκαταλείπω intensifies the idea of leaving behind, often with a focus on the person or thing left in a situation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb ἐγκαταλείπω is found in both secular and religious texts from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, including the Septuagint and the New Testament. In these sources, it most often refers to the act of abandoning a person, group, place, or duty—frequently with negative connotations, as in forsaking family, followers, or responsibilities (e.g., 2 Timothy 4:10, 16, Matthew 27:46 quoting Psalm 22:2/21:2 LXX). In some contexts, particularly in the LXX, it may be used for God 'forsaking' or 'not forsaking' his people, paralleling Hebrew עָזַב (azav, to leave, forsake). The sense is generally one of abandonment with negative consequences, though in rare instances, it can refer simply to leaving something behind to remain, not necessarily with intent to harm or neglect. English translations such as "forsake" or "abandon" typically capture the main usage, although "leave" may be too neutral in many biblical contexts. The compound form intensifies the idea compared to simple καταλείπω, emphasizing the act of desertion or leaving within a situation. Distinct from simple "departure" (as with ἀφίημι or ἀπολίπω), which may lack the nuance of desertion.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐν and καταλείπω; to leave behind in some place, i.e. (in a good sense) let remain over, or (in a bad sense) to desert:--forsake, leave.
Root Family
ἐγκαταλείπω (enkataleipō) — to leave, to abandon, to forsake
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1459-05 |
ἐνκαταλειπόμενοι | enkataleipomenoi | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
being abandoned | 1 | |
G1459-06 |
ἐνκαταλείψεις | enkataleipseis | V FUT ACT IND 2P SG |
you will abandon | you will abandon | 1 |
G1459-09 |
ἐνκατέλιπες | enkatelipes | V AOR ACT IND 2P SG |
you abandoned | 1 | |
G1459-03 |
ἐγκατέλιπές | egkatelipes | V AOR ACT IND 2P SG |
have you forsaken | you left behind | 1 |
G1459-08 |
ἐνκατέλιπεν | enkatelipen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he left behind | 1 | |
G1459-04 |
ἐνκαταλείπω | enkataleipo | V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG |
I will forsake | I may abandon | 1 |
G1459-02 |
ἐγκατέλιπεν | egkatelipen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
has forsaken | he/she/it abandoned | 1 |
G1459-10 |
ἐνκατέλιπον | enkatelipon | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
me; | they abandoned | 1 |
G1459-01 |
ἐγκαταλείποντες | egkataleipontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
those abandoning | 1 | |
G1459-07 |
ἐνκατελείφθη | enkateleiphthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was abandoned | was left behind | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1459-09 |
Matthew 27:46 | ἐνκατέλιπες | enkatelipes | V AOR ACT IND 2P SG |
you abandoned | |
G1459-03 |
Mark 15:34 | ἐγκατέλιπές | egkatelipes | V AOR ACT IND 2P SG |
have you forsaken | you left behind |
G1459-06 |
Acts 2:27 | ἐνκαταλείψεις | enkataleipseis | V FUT ACT IND 2P SG |
you will abandon | you will abandon |
G1459-07 |
Acts 2:31 | ἐνκατελείφθη | enkateleiphthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was abandoned | was left behind |
G1459-08 |
Romans 9:29 | ἐνκατέλιπεν | enkatelipen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he left behind | |
G1459-05 |
2 Corinthians 4:9 | ἐνκαταλειπόμενοι | enkataleipomenoi | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
being abandoned | |
G1459-02 |
2 Timothy 4:10 | ἐγκατέλιπεν | egkatelipen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
has forsaken | he/she/it abandoned |
G1459-10 |
2 Timothy 4:16 | ἐνκατέλιπον | enkatelipon | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
me; | they abandoned |
G1459-01 |
Hebrews 10:25 | ἐγκαταλείποντες | egkataleipontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
those abandoning | |
G1459-04 |
Hebrews 13:5 | ἐνκαταλείπω | enkataleipo | V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG |
I will forsake | I may abandon |