ἔνταλμα G1778
commandments, precepts; human-origin regulations or traditions presented as authoritative
The noun ἔνταλμα denotes a commandment or precept, synonymous with ἐντολή but in NT usage specifically applied to human traditions wrongly elevated to divine authority. Jesus quotes Isaiah's indictment against those who 'teach as doctrines the commandments of men' (Matt 15:9, Mark 7:7), and Paul warns against regulations like 'Do not handle, Do not taste' (Col 2:22). The word carries a pejorative edge in biblical contexts—these are man-made rules masquerading as God's law.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7 both quote Isaiah 29:13 in Jesus' critique of Pharisees: 'in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men'—human traditions displacing divine Torah. Colossians 2:22 warns against ascetic regulations: 'according to human precepts and teachings'—man-made rules about food and conduct. The Spanish (mandamientos), French (commandement), and German (ἐντάλματα) use commandment language, though context reveals these as human, not divine, origin. The term functions as theological critique: when religious communities substitute their traditions for God's word, worship becomes vain. The prophetic edge is sharp—human ἐντάλματα corrupt true religion by obscuring divine ἐντολαί. 3×
AR["وَصايا", "وَصَايَا"]·ben["আদেশ", "আদেশসমূহ", "নিয়ম"]·DE["ἐντάλματα"]·EN["commandments"]·FR["commandement"]·heb["מִצְווֹת"]·HI["अअग्यअओन", "अअदेशोन", "मनुष्यों"]·ID["perintah"]·IT["entalmata"]·jav["dhawuh", "pranatan"]·KO["계명들", "계명들을", "명령들과"]·PT["mandamentos"]·RU["заповедям"]·ES["mandamientos"]·SW["amri"]·TR["buyrukları", "emirlerini"]·urd["احکام", "حکم", "حکموں"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἔνταλμα, ατος, τό, ={ἐντολή}, LXX+NT