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

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.