Greek word · G1336

διηνεκής

diēnekēs

perpetual

Continuous, unbroken, uninterrupted. The phrase eis to diēnekes means 'continually', 'perpetually' or 'for all time'.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

δι-ηνεκής, -ές

(διήνεγκα, aorist of διαφέρω) [in Sm.: Psa.48:15, 89:30 ;]

unbroken, continuous: adverbially, εἰς τὸ δ., continually (for exx., see Deiss., BS, 251), Hebrews 7:3 10:1, 12 10:14†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hebrews 10:1

Range of meaning

Continuous, unbroken, uninterrupted. The phrase eis to diēnekes means 'continually', 'perpetually' or 'for all time'.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT 'continually', attached to the offering. BSB folds it into 'year after year'. Some modern versions drop it or attach it differently.

Used elsewhere in the period

The phrase appears in the New Testament only in Hebrews: Melchizedek 'remains a priest perpetually' (7:3); Christ 'offered one sacrifice for sins for all time' and sat down (10:12); 'by one offering he has perfected for all time those being sanctified' (10:14). It is also found in Hellenistic Greek writers such as Josephus and Appian.

From the study of Hebrews 10:12

Range of meaning

From διηνεκής, "carried through, continuous, unbroken". The phrase means "continually, without interruption, for all time". The New Testament uses it only in Hebrews (7:3; 10:1, 12, 14).

Against the English

"For ever" (KJV/WEB) and "for all time" (BSB) are both fair. English word order, though, has to tie the phrase either to "offered" or to "sat down", while the Greek can be read either way.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in Hellenistic Greek, for example in Appian and in Greek papyri, for something that goes on without a break. Hebrews 10:1 uses it of sacrifices offered "continually" year after year. Hebrews 10:14 uses it of believers "perfected for all time".

From the study of Hebrews 10:14

Range of meaning

Continuous, uninterrupted, unbroken. In the phrase eis to diēnekes it means "perpetually, for all time, without a break". It is common in ordinary Greek, including papyri and historians, for something lasting or continuous.

Against the English

"For ever" (KJV, WEB) and "for all time" (BSB, ESV) are both fine. YLT's "to the end" is literal-sounding but can mislead, suggesting "until some final point" or "completely" rather than "without interruption".

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament the word occurs only in Hebrews: 7:3 (Melchizedek "remains a priest perpetually"), 10:1 (the same sacrifices offered "continually" year after year), 10:12 (Christ offered one sacrifice for sins / sat down "for all time"), 10:14.

Where it appears

Hebrews · 4

  1. Hebrews 7:3 διηνεκές.¶ all time.

    Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

    Here: 'Without interruption, continually.' His priesthood never lapses and never passes to a successor. The only other places it occurs in the New Testament are in Hebrews (10:1, 12, 14).

  2. Hebrews 10:1 διηνεκὲς continuous

    For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

    Here: 'Continually, without a break.' It probably goes with 'they offer' (endless repetition). Some read it with 'never able... to perfect' (never able to perfect for all time). See debates.

  3. Hebrews 10:12 διηνεκὲς perpetuity

    But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.

    Here: "Carried straight through", without a break. Depending on how the sentence is divided, it says either that the one sacrifice is valid for all time or that he sat down to stay.

  4. Hebrews 10:14 διηνεκὲς all time

    because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.

    Here: "Without interruption, permanently." The result of the one offering never runs out and never needs topping up. The same phrase describes the endless repeated sacrifices in 10:1 and Christ's lasting session in 10:12, and the contrast is deliberate.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.