Greek word · G1696

ἐμμένω

emmenō

to abide in/by

To remain in or stay in a place. Figuratively, to abide by, stand by, keep to an agreement, oath, law or friendship. It is a standard Greek treaty and legal word.

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

What it means

ἐμμένω

[in LXX chiefly for קוּם ;]

1. to abide in: Acts 28:30.

2. to abide by, be true to: before ἐν; τ. πίστει, Acts 14:22; τ. διαθήκῃ, Hebrews 8:9 (LXX); with dative, τ. γεγραμμένοις (dative ptcp. as in legal formula; cf. Deiss., BS, 248; MM, Exp., xii): Galatians 3:10 (LXX).†

(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 8:9

Range of meaning

To remain in or stay in a place. Figuratively, to abide by, stand by, keep to an agreement, oath, law or friendship. It is a standard Greek treaty and legal word.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'continued not in', BSB 'did not abide by', NIV/NLT 'did not remain faithful to'. The Hebrew behind it is stronger: heferu, 'they broke, annulled' my covenant. The Greek describes failing to stay loyal over time. The Hebrew describes actively breaking the covenant.

Used elsewhere in the period

Classical Greek uses it for keeping to treaties and oaths ('to abide by the truce'). LXX Deut 27:26: 'Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the words of this law', quoted in Gal 3:10. Acts 14:22 uses it for 'continuing in the faith'.

From the study of Acts 14:22

Range of meaning

To stay in a place; to abide by, stand by or keep to an agreement, a law or a commitment; to persevere.

Against the English

'Continue in' (KJV, BSB, WEB), 'remain in' (YLT). Both are accurate. 'Continue' can sound like mild habit, while the Greek suggests holding one's ground and keeping faith.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint uses it for keeping covenant: Deut 27:26, 'Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the words of this law', quoted by Paul in Gal 3:10. Heb 8:9 uses it of Israel who 'did not continue in my covenant'. In papyri and inscriptions it is common for abiding by the terms of a contract.

From the study of Acts 28:30

Range of meaning
  1. To stay or remain in a place. 2) To persist in, hold fast to, or keep (a covenant, the law, the faith).
Against the English

KJV 'dwelt', BSB/WEB 'stayed', YLT 'remained'. All are fine. The supplied gloss 'abide in/by' belongs to the second sense, which does not apply here.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint Deuteronomy 27:26 ('who does not abide by all the words of this law'), quoted in Galatians 3:10. Acts 14:22 ('to continue in the faith'). Hebrews 8:9 (they 'did not continue in my covenant'). The place sense is common in ordinary Greek.

Where it appears

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 14:22 ἐμμένειν to continue

    strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

    Here: To stay put, not to drift or defect. The word was also used for keeping to an agreement or a law, so it suggests loyalty kept up under pressure.

  2. Acts 28:30 Ἐνέμεινεν He abided

    Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.

    Here: Literally 'remained in' a place. The aorist tense sums up the whole stay as one finished period: he stayed on, and then the stay came to an end. Elsewhere the verb can mean 'keep on in' the faith or the law (Acts 14:22; Galatians 3:10), but here it is about where he lived.

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 3:10 ἐμμένει does continue

    All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

    Here: "Abides by" or "stands by," the language of keeping faith with the terms of an agreement. The present tense pictures loyalty kept up over time, not a single act.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 8:9 ἐνέμειναν did continue

    It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide by My covenant, and I disregarded them, declares the Lord.

    Here: 'Did not stay in / did not stand by'. In Greek this was the normal way to talk about keeping to the terms of a treaty or oath. They did not stay loyal to the arrangement.

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