ἔγ-κλημα G1462
charge, accusation, formal complaint
This legal term denotes a formal accusation or charge brought against someone. In Acts 23:29 and 25:16, it appears in the Roman legal proceedings against Paul, referring to the specific charges brought by his accusers. The word belongs to the technical vocabulary of Greco-Roman jurisprudence, indicating written complaints that could lead to trial. Both occurrences emphasize the official, legal nature of the accusation.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Referring to formal legal charges in a Roman court context, this sense captures accusations requiring judicial investigation. Acts 23:29 describes the charge as unworthy of death, while 25:16 contrasts Roman justice (hearing the accused) with unfair condemnation. The lexical evidence shows this is technical legal vocabulary, used for written complaints initiating prosecution, making both instances in Acts particularly appropriate to their juridical setting. 2×
AR["اتِّهَامًا", "التُّهْمَةِ"]·ben["অভিযোগ", "অভিযোগের"]·DE["ἐγκλήματος", "ἔγκλημα"]·EN["charge"]·FR["accusation"]·heb["אַשְׁמָה"]·HI["दोषके।", "दोष।"]·ID["tuduhan,", "tuduhan."]·IT["accusa"]·jav["dakwaan,", "pandakwa."]·KO["고소를", "고소의"]·PT["acusação."]·RU["обвинении", "обвинения"]·ES["cargo"]·SW["mashtaka"]·TR["suçlamanın", "suçlaması"]·urd["الزام"]
Related Senses
H4941 1. justice, righteousness (134×)H4941 2. judgment, judicial decision (119×)H4941 3. ordinances, statutes (plural) (110×)H8199 1. to judge, adjudicate (98×)G2919 1. judge, pass judgment (76×)H8199 2. judge (person, office-holder) (61×)G2920 1. judgment / condemnation (48×)H7378 1. Qal: quarrel, contend, strive (42×)H4941 4. prescribed ordinance, regulation (34×)G1832 1. it is lawful, it is permitted (32×)G2917 1. judgment, condemnation (27×)G2919 2. be judged, stand trial (27×)H5360 1. vengeance, retribution (27×)H7378 2. Qal: plead, defend, litigate (22×)G2723 1. accuse, bring charges against (20×)G2923 1. judge (one who judges/decides) (19×)G2632 1. condemn, pass judgment against (18×)H1777 1. judge, adjudicate (18×)H1576 1. recompense, retribution (17×)H5359 1. vengeance, retribution (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἔγ-κλημα, ατος, τό, (ἐγκαλέω) accusation, charge, ἔ. τινι ἔχειν Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐγκλήματα ἔχειν τινός, ={ἐγκαλεῖν τι}, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἔ. ποιεῖν τι make a thing matter of complaint, Refs; ἐγκλήματα ποιεῖσθαι bring accusations, Refs; τὰ ἐ. τὰ ἔς τινας complaints respecting..,Refs 4th c.BC+; γίγνεται or ἐστὶ ἔγκλημά μοι πρός τινα I have ground of complaint respecting him, Refs 5th c.BC+; λύειν ἔ.…