Greek word · G1650

ἔλεγχος, ἐλεγμός

elenchos, elegmos

rebuke

In classical Greek: cross-examination, testing, refutation, proof. Socrates' method of questioning is called the elenchos. In legal and everyday Greek: proof or evidence that settles a case. In the Greek Old Testament: reproof, rebuke, correction (often in Proverbs and Job).

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἔλεγχος, -ου, ὁ

(ἐλέγχω) [in LXX: frequently in Pr, Jb (יָכַח) יָכַח) Wisdom of Solomon 5:1-23, Sirach 3:1-31, etc. ;]

a proof, test: Hebrews 11:1.†

(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 11:1

Range of meaning

In classical Greek: cross-examination, testing, refutation, proof. Socrates' method of questioning is called the elenchos. In legal and everyday Greek: proof or evidence that settles a case. In the Greek Old Testament: reproof, rebuke, correction (often in Proverbs and Job). This use explains the supplied gloss 'rebuke.'

Against the English

KJV 'evidence', WEB 'proof' and NLT 'evidence' keep the outward sense: faith demonstrates. ESV, NASB and YLT 'conviction', NIV 'assurance' and BSB 'certainty' lean toward the inner state of being convinced. Today 'conviction' can just mean a strongly held opinion, which is weaker than the Greek.

How it drifted

English 'conviction' has moved from 'being proved guilty or convinced by evidence' toward 'a personal belief held strongly.' The Greek word is about what produces conviction: a test or proof.

Used elsewhere in the period

This is its only certain use in the New Testament. Related is the verb elenchō ('expose, convict, prove wrong'), as in John 16:8 and Ephesians 5:11. Aristotle and the orators use elenchos for conclusive proof. Philo calls the conscience an elenchos inside a person, an inner examiner that exposes and convicts.

Similar words

Where it appears

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 11:1 ἔλεγχος [the] conviction

    Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

    Here: A proof or test that settles a question and convinces. Faith works like a demonstration that unseen realities are real. The 'rebuke' sense listed in the source data is common in the Greek Old Testament but does not fit here.

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