◄ 2135. eunouchos ►
Lexicon eunouchos: Eunuch Original Word: εὐνοῦχος Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: eunouchos Pronunciation: yoo-noo'-khos Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-noo'-khos) Definition: Eunuch Meaning: (a) a chamberlain, keeper of the bed-chamber of an eastern potentate, eunuch, (b) a eunuch, castrated person, or one who voluntarily abstains from marriage. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance eunuch. From eune (a bed) and echo; a castrated person (such being employed in Oriental bed-chambers); by extension an impotent or unmarried man; by implication, a chamberlain (state-officer) -- eunuch. see GREEK echo HELPS Word-studies 2135 eunoúxos – properly, "alone in bed" (i.e. without a marriage partner) – literally, a castrated (emasculated) man; a eunuch; " 'a chamberlain, keeper of the bed-chamber' of an Eastern potentate, 'a eunuch' " (Souter); (figuratively) someone who abstains from marriage (sexual relations) to be solely devoted to God – as in Mt 19:12 where 2135 (eunoúxos) refers to someone who voluntarily chooses a life of sexual abstinence (see also LXX: Est 2:14,15; Is 56:3,4). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin from euné (a bed) and echó Definition a eunuch NASB Translation eunuch (5), eunuchs (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2135: εὐνοῦχος εὐνοῦχος, εὐνούχου, ὁ (from εὐνή a bed, and ἔχω), the Sept. סָרִיס; from Herodotus down; properly, a bed-keeper, bed-guard, superintendent of the bedchamber, chamberlain, in the palace of oriental monarchs who support numerous wives; the superintendent of the women's apartment or harem, an office held by eunuchs; hence, a. an emasculated man, a eunuch: Matthew 19:12b. But eunuchs in oriental courts held other offices of greater or less importance, like the oversight of the treasury, held by the Ethiopian eunuch mentioned in Acts 8:27, 34, 36, 38f; cf. Gesenius, Thesaurus, ii., p. 973; (B. D. under the word ). b. one naturally incapacitated — either for marriage, Matthew 19:12a; or for begetting children, Wis. 3:14, cf. Grimm, exgt. Hdb. at the passage c. one who voluntarily abstains from marriage: Matthew 19:12c. Fischer, De vitiis lexamples N. T. etc., p. 485ff treats of the word more fully. Topical Lexicon Word Origin: Derived from εὐνή (eunē, meaning "bed") and ἔχω (echō, meaning "to have" or "to hold"). The term originally referred to a "bedkeeper" or "chamberlain," often a castrated male who was in charge of a harem or held a position of trust in a royal household. Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 5631: סָרִיס (saris) • A eunuch or officer. This term is used in the Old Testament to describe officials in royal courts, such as in the stories of Joseph (Genesis 37:36) and Daniel (Daniel 1:3). The concept of eunuchs in the Bible serves as a metaphor for spiritual dedication and the breaking down of social barriers in the kingdom of God. The inclusion of eunuchs in the narrative underscores the transformative power of the gospel and the call to a life of service and devotion. Usage: The term εὐνοῦχος is used in the New Testament to describe both literal eunuchs and those who choose celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. It appears in contexts discussing physical eunuchs as well as metaphorical or spiritual eunuchs. Context: The term εὐνοῦχος appears in the New Testament in a few key passages. In Matthew 19:12, Jesus speaks of eunuchs in three categories: those who were born that way, those who were made eunuchs by others, and those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. This passage highlights the concept of celibacy as a voluntary choice for spiritual purposes. In Acts 8:27-39, the Ethiopian eunuch is a significant figure. He is described as a high-ranking official in charge of the treasury of the queen of the Ethiopians. His encounter with Philip the evangelist, where he is baptized after understanding the prophecy of Isaiah, demonstrates the inclusivity of the gospel message, reaching even those who were traditionally marginalized. The role of eunuchs in ancient societies often involved positions of trust and authority, as they were seen as loyal servants who posed no threat to the royal lineage. This historical context provides insight into the social and cultural implications of the term as used in biblical texts. Forms and Transliterations ευνουχοι ευνούχοι εὐνοῦχοι ευνούχοις ευνούχον ευνουχος ευνούχος εὐνοῦχος ευνούχου ευνούχους ευνούχω ευνούχων eunouchoi eunoûchoi eunouchos eunoûchos Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Matthew 19:12 N-NMP GRK: εἰσὶν γὰρ εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες ἐκ NAS: For there are eunuchs who were born KJV: there are some eunuchs, which INT: there are indeed eunuchs who from [the] Matthew 19:12 N-NMP GRK: καὶ εἰσὶν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνουχίσθησαν NAS: womb; and there are eunuchs who KJV: there are some eunuchs, which INT: and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs Matthew 19:12 N-NMP GRK: καὶ εἰσὶν εὐνοῦχοι οἵτινες εὐνούχισαν NAS: by men; and there are [also] eunuchs who KJV: and there be eunuchs, which have made INT: and there are eunuchs who made eunuchs of Acts 8:27 N-NMS GRK: ἀνὴρ Αἰθίοψ εὐνοῦχος δυνάστης Κανδάκης NAS: and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official KJV: of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority INT: a man an Ethiopian a eunuch one in power [under] Candace Acts 8:34 N-NMS GRK: δὲ ὁ εὐνοῦχος τῷ Φιλίππῳ NAS: The eunuch answered Philip KJV: And the eunuch answered Philip, INT: moreover the eunuch to Philip Acts 8:36 N-NMS GRK: φησιν ὁ εὐνοῦχος Ἰδοὺ ὕδωρ NAS: water; and the eunuch said, KJV: water: and the eunuch said, See, INT: says the eunuch Behold water Acts 8:38 N-NMS GRK: καὶ ὁ εὐνοῦχος καὶ ἐβάπτισεν NAS: as well as the eunuch, and he baptized KJV: Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized INT: and the eunuch and he baptized Acts 8:39 N-NMS GRK: οὐκέτι ὁ εὐνοῦχος ἐπορεύετο γὰρ NAS: away; and the eunuch no longer KJV: Philip, that the eunuch saw him INT: no longer the eunuch he went indeed Strong's Greek 2135 8 Occurrences εὐνοῦχοι — 3 Occ. εὐνοῦχος — 5 Occ.