ἐμπλέκ-ω G1707
to become entangled or enmeshed in something; to be caught up in complications that hinder freedom
The word pictures getting caught in a net or snare, with metaphorical application to spiritual and moral entanglements. Paul warns Timothy that a soldier must not become entangled in civilian affairs (2 Tim 2:4), while Peter describes the tragedy of those who, having escaped sin's defilements, become entangled again and overcome (2 Pet 2:20). The German 'verwickelt' (complicated, entangled) and Spanish 'enredado' capture the sense of being caught in something restricting.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To become entangled, entwined, or caught up in something that restricts or binds. In 2 Tim 2:4, Paul uses it of a soldier avoiding entanglement in civilian pursuits to please his commander. In 2 Pet 2:20, it describes being overcome again by the defilements one had escaped. The lexical background traces to weaving or plaiting in, suggesting thorough enmeshment. Cross-linguistic renderings emphasize the passive state of being trapped or complicated. 2×
AR["مُتَوَرِّطينَ", "يَشْتَبِكُ"]·ben["জড়িয়ে-পড়ে"]·DE["verwickelt"]·EN["entangles-himself", "having-been-entangled"]·FR["ἐμπλέκεται", "ἐμπλακέντες"]·heb["מִסְתַּבֵּךְ", "נִסְבְּכִים"]·HI["उलझत", "फँसकर"]·ID["terlibat"]·IT["emplakentes", "empleketai"]·jav["kegubet"]·KO["얽히면", "얽히지-않는다"]·PT["se-envolve", "tendo-sido-enredados"]·RU["запутавшись", "не-связывается"]·ES["habiendo-sido-enredados", "se-enreda"]·SW["anajishughulisha", "wamenaswa"]·TR["düşüp", "karışmaz"]·urd["پھنس-کر", "پھنستا"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐμπλέκ-ω, Epic dialect ἐνιπλέκω, perfect ἐμπέπλεχα Refs 5th c.BC+, variant in Hp.[same place]: future passive ἐμπλᾰκήσομαι LXX:—plait or weave in, entwine, χεῖρα ἐ. entwine one's hand in another's clothes, so as to hold him, Refs 5th c.BC+; τῇ καλλίστῃ τέχνῃ τοὔνομα ἐ. connect the name with.., Refs 5th c.BC+; ποίῃ ἐνιπλέξω σε (i.e. ἀοιδῇ); Refs 3rd c.BC+:—passive, to be entangled in a thing,…