ἐμπλοκή
emplokḗ
G1708 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Elaborate braiding or intertwining, especially of hair; the act or result of creating an intricate hairstyle by interweaving, plaiting, or twisting strands of hair. In extended contexts, can refer more generally to any form of interlacing or intricate entwining, such as with cords, threads, or ornamental work.
Semantic Range
ornamental braiding of hair, intricate plaiting, interlacing of threads or cords, entanglement, elaborate intertwining
Root / Etymology
From ἐμπλέκω (empléko), meaning 'to entwine, to interweave, to entangle.' ἐμπλοκή is a noun formation indicating the product or result of intertwining or the act itself.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἐμπλοκή can be used for any complex intertwining, but by the Roman period and in the New Testament (notably 1 Peter 3:3), it is specifically used for the elaborate braiding of hair, a fashionable practice among elite women in Greco-Roman society. The term stresses the ornamental, skillful aspect of the plaiting, sometimes with the addition of gold, pearls, or ribbons, as opposed to merely practical hair tying. Standard English translations often render it as 'plaiting' or 'braiding,' but these can understate its focus on ornamental intricacy. Related terms include πλέγμα ('plait, braid') and πλοκή ('twining, plait'), both emphasizing the interlacing action rather than the result.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐμπλέκω; elaborate braiding of the hair:--plaiting.
Root Family
πλεκ- (emplékō) — to interweave, to plait, to entwine
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1708-01 |
ἐμπλοκῆς | emplokes | N GEN F SG |
of braiding | of intricate braiding | of elaborate braiding | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1708-01 |
1 Peter 3:3 | ἐμπλοκῆς | emplokes | N GEN F SG |
of braiding | of intricate braiding | of elaborate braiding |