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ἕνεκα

héneka

G1752 preposition

SILEX Entry

Definition

A preposition expressing causation, motivation, or purpose: 'because of,' 'for the sake of,' 'on account of.' Used to indicate the cause, reason, or motive that underlies an action or state. Can also introduce a purpose or intended outcome. The preposition typically governs the genitive case (and sometimes other cases in later Greek).

Semantic Range

because of, for the sake of, on account of, by reason of, for (cause), as a result of, with a view to

Root / Etymology

Possibly formed from the neuter plural ἕνεκεν (from ἕνεκα) or a variant thereof; direct etymological origin is uncertain and debated. Related to the older and more common ἕνεκεν, both standard in Koine and Hellenistic Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἕνεκα (sometimes spelled ἕνεκεν or ἕνεχεν) was a postpositional preposition predominantly governing the genitive, typically specifying cause or reason ('because of,' 'for the sake of'). In Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it often appears as a preposition governing the genitive, but forms sometimes vary, and overlap occurs with ἕνεκεν. Usage is consistent with standard expressions of motivation or purpose, often for actions taken for another person, for a stated benefit, or due to a particular cause. English translations such as 'for,' 'because of,' 'for the sake of,' or 'on account of' regularly render ἕνεκα, but none fully capture all contextual nuances—especially the sense of motivation for another's benefit. The word retains this motivating, purposeful connotation across Koine sources. The functional distinction between ἕνεκα and ἕνεκεν is minimal in the New Testament period. The word is not used for strict temporal cause (which would require διὰ with accusative) nor for means or agency (which uses different prepositions).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; on account of:--because, for (cause, sake), (where-)fore, by reason of, that.

Root Family

ἕνεκα (heneka) — cause, reason, sake, purpose

Root ἕνεκ- cause, reason, sake, purpose

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1752-03 ἕνεκεν eneken PREP GEN for the sake of because of because of 17
G1752-02 ἕνεκα eneka PREP GEN For these causes because of because of 4
G1752-01 εἵνεκεν eineken PREP GEN because of because of because of 4

Occurrences in Scripture

25 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1752-03 Matthew 5:10 ἕνεκεν eneken PREP GEN for the sake of because of because of
G1752-03 Matthew 5:11 ἕνεκεν eneken PREP GEN because-of because of because of
G1752-03 Matthew 10:18 ἕνεκεν eneken PREP GEN for the sake of because of because of
G1752-03 Matthew 10:39 ἕνεκεν eneken PREP GEN for because of because of
G1752-03 Matthew 16:25 ἕνεκεν eneken PREP GEN for the sake of because of because of
G1752-02 Matthew 19:5 ἕνεκα eneka PREP GEN for this because of because of
G1752-03 Matthew 19:29 ἕνεκεν eneken PREP GEN for the sake of because of for the sake of
G1752-03 Mark 8:35 ἕνεκεν eneken PREP GEN for because of for the sake of
G1752-03 Mark 10:7 ἕνεκεν eneken PREP GEN For this reason because of because of
G1752-03 Mark 10:29 ἕνεκεν eneken PREP GEN for-the-sake-of because of for the sake of
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