Greek word · G1707

ἐμπλέκω

emplekō

to entangle/involve

To weave in, entwine; passive, to be entangled or caught up in something, as in a net, thicket or set of affairs.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐμ-πλέκω

[in LXX: Proverbs 28:18 (נָפַל), 2Ma.15:17 * ;]

to weave in, entwine; pass., metaphorically, to be involved, entangled in: 2 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 2:20.†

(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 2 Peter 2:20

Range of meaning

To weave in, entwine; passive, to be entangled or caught up in something, as in a net, thicket or set of affairs.

Against the English

"Entangled" (KJV, BSB, WEB) is accurate. The NLT's "get tangled up" also keeps the picture.

Used elsewhere in the period

In 2 Tim 2:4 a soldier does not get "entangled" in civilian affairs. Greek writers such as Polybius use it for getting caught up in wars or business, and it is used for animals caught in nets.

From the study of 2 Timothy 2:4

Range of meaning

Literally to weave or twine in. Figuratively, to get entangled or caught up in something, so that you are bound by it and cannot move freely.

Against the English

"Entangle" is a good match. The BSB's "refrains from entangling himself" turns a statement of fact into a habit of self-restraint, which is a fair paraphrase. The NLT's "get tied up in" keeps the picture.

Used elsewhere in the period

The only other New Testament use is 2 Peter 2:20, of people "again entangled" in the world's defilements and "overcome" by them. Commentators often cite Epictetus, the Stoic teacher (Discourses 3.22.69). Describing the ideal Cynic philosopher as a man wholly at God's service, he says such a man must be undistracted and not "entangled" (same verb) in relationships and private duties.

Where it appears

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 2:4 ἐμπλέκεται entangles himself

    A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.

    Here: A picture of being woven into or caught up in something, like a net or a snare. The form can mean "entangles himself" or "gets entangled". Either way it is an ongoing state that ties a person down.

2 Peter · 1

  1. 2 Peter 2:20 ἐμπλακέντες having been entangled

    If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.

    Here: "Having been entangled": a passive picture of being caught as in a net or snare. It fits the letter's language of baiting and luring (2:14, 18).

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