ἐνδύνω
endýnō
G1744 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To slip in, to enter stealthily; in contexts, to insinuate oneself, to come or go in without being noticed, sometimes with the connotation of entering by stealth or craft. Can carry figurative senses of surreptitious behavior or seeping in under cover.
Semantic Range
to slip in, to intrude stealthily, to enter unnoticed, to insinuate oneself, to creep in, to submerge (figurative), to secrete oneself
Root / Etymology
Likely derived from the preposition ἐν (in, into) and δύνω (to sink, to go down). Related in form to ἐνδύω (to put on), but the semantic development here aligns with the verb δύνω as used for motion into or under. Etymology suggests a nuance of moving inward/outward or submerging. Not ultimately related to ἔννομος. Root formation possibly influenced by analogy with other verbs of ingress.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb ἐνδύνω is rare in extant Greek literature and appears primarily in later or biblical Koine sources. In Jude 1:4 (the New Testament's only example), it is used figuratively to refer to certain people who 'have crept in unnoticed' among a community, emphasizing stealth and concealment. Its meaning overlaps with περισέρχομαι (to come in secretly) and παρεισδύω (to slip in alongside), but ἐνδύνω puts more emphasis on the manner of entry as sinking or gliding in, and is closer to the literal meaning of 'to sink into' or 'go down into.' Standard English translations often render it as 'crept in unnoticed' or 'secretly slipped in,' which captures the basic sense but loses the metaphor of sinking/submersion implied by the root. No evidence supports a connection to ἔννομος ('lawful'). Usage is limited but can be compared with similar verbal forms in the Septuagint and non-biblical Koine sources for the motif of secret ingress.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἔννομος and δύνω; to sink (by implication, wrap (compare ἐνδύω) on, i.e. (figuratively) sneak:--creep.
Root Family
ἐνδύνω (endýnō) — to sink, to go down, to enter, to slip in
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1744-01 |
ἐνδύνοντες | endunontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
who creep into | slipping in | slipping in | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1744-01 |
2 Timothy 3:6 | ἐνδύνοντες | endunontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
who creep into | slipping in | slipping in |