ἐντέλλω G1781
To command, enjoin, give authoritative orders; used in the middle voice for issuing directives.
Entellomai (the middle voice of entellō) carries the weight of authoritative command. In the NT it appears when God, Jesus, or Moses issues binding directives. Satan quotes Psalm 91 — 'He will command his angels concerning you' (Matt 4:6; Luke 4:10) — and Jesus instructs his disciples to teach all that he has commanded (Matt 28:20). The word also covers Mosaic commandments cited in legal debate (Matt 19:7; Mark 10:3). Unlike weaker verbs of asking or requesting, entellomai implies authority that expects obedience. The translation evidence — Spanish 'mandar,' French 'commander,' German 'gebieten' — consistently reflects this authoritative register.
Senses
1. command, give orders — To issue an authoritative command or directive that expects compliance. Used of divine commands (Matt 4:6, God commanding angels; Acts 13:47, the Lord's commission), of Jesus' instructions to his followers (Matt 17:9; 28:20), and of Mosaic legal prescriptions cited in debate (Matt 19:7; Mark 10:3). The middle voice (entellomai) emphasizes personal authority in the giving of orders. Spanish 'mandar,' French 'commander,' and German 'gebieten' all preserve the note of binding authority. 15×
AR["آمُرُ", "أَمَرَ", "أَمَرَكُمْ", "أَوصانا", "أَوصَيتُ", "أَوْصَا", "أَوْصَاهُمْ", "أَوْصَى", "يُوصي", "يُوصِي"]·ben["-সেই", "আজ্ঞা-করেছেন", "আজ্ঞা-দিয়েছি", "আজ্ঞা-দিয়েছেন", "আজ্ঞা-দেবেন", "আদেশ-দিই", "আদেশ-দিয়েছেন", "আদেশ-দিল", "আদেশ-দিলেন", "আদেশ-দেবেন", "তিনি-আজ্ঞা-দিলেন"]·DE["gebieten", "gebietet"]·EN["I-command", "I-commanded", "command", "commanded", "gave-orders", "has-commanded", "having-commanded", "he-commanded", "he-will-command"]·FR["commander"]·heb["יְצַוֶּה", "מְצַוֶּה", "צִוִּיתִי", "צִוָּה"]·HI["अअदेश-दिय", "आज्ञा-दी", "आज्ञा-दी-है", "आज्ञा-दी।", "आज्ञा-देगा", "आज्ञा-देता-हूँ", "प्रेरितों-को"]·ID["Aku-perintahkan", "Dia-akan-memerintahkan", "berpesan.", "memerintahkan", "setelah-memberi-perintah", "telah-diperintahkan"]·IT["comandare", "eneteilato"]·jav["Kawula-dhawuhaken", "badhé-dhawuhaken", "badhé-ndhawuhi", "dhawuh", "dhawuhaken", "ingkang-Kula-dhawuhaken", "mesengi", "mrentahaken", "paring-dhawuh", "sampun-dhawuh", "sampun-ngutus", "sampun-paring-dhawuh", "sasampunipun-paring-piwulang"]·KO["명령하셨다", "명령하실-것이다", "명령하였느냐", "명령하였다", "명령했다", "명하셨다", "명하셨듯이", "명하셨으니", "명하였으니", "명한다", "명할-것이다", "명했느냐", "명했다", "사도들-에게"]·PT["deu-ordens", "mando", "ordenará", "ordenou", "tendo-ordenado"]·RU["заповедал", "заповедую", "повелев", "повелит", "приказал"]·ES["ha-mandado", "habiendo-mandado", "mandará", "mando", "mandé", "mandó", "ordenará"]·SW["akamwamuru", "aliagiza", "alituamuru", "alivyoniamuru", "aliwaagiza", "ametuamuru", "atawaagiza", "baada-ya-kuwaagiza", "kutoa", "niliyowaamuru", "ninawaamuru", "ninayowaamuru"]·TR["buyurdu", "buyurdum", "buyuruyorum", "emredecek", "emredip", "emretti"]·urd["حکم دیا", "حکم دیتا ہوں", "حکم-دیا", "حکم-دیا-ہے", "حکم-دے-کر", "حکم-دے-گا"]
Matt 4:6, Matt 17:9, Matt 19:7, Matt 28:20, Mark 10:3, Mark 13:34, Luke 4:10, John 8:5, John 14:31, John 15:14, John 15:17, Acts 1:2 (+3 more)
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐντέλλω, enjoin, command, active only in Refs 5th c.BC+:— mostly in middle, τινί τι Refs 5th c.BC+; in a will, φίλοις ταῦτα ἐντέλλομαι Refs 2nd c.AD+: with dative person et infinitive, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐντείλασθαι ἀπὸ γλώσσης command by word of mouth, Refs 5th c.BC+: so in perfect, ἐντέταλται LXX+2nd c.BC+:—passive, τὰ ἐντεταλμένα commands, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II invest with legal powers, authorize to act, ἐ. σοι καὶ ἐπιτρέπω Refs 4th c.AD+