Bible Lexicons

ἐντολή, ἐντολῆς, ἡ (ἐντέλλω or ἐντέλλομαι, which see), from Pindar and Herodotus down; the Sept. often for מִצְוָה, in the Psalms the plural ἐντολαί also for פִּקְּוּדִים; an order, command, charge, precept;

1. universally, a charge, injunction: Luke 15:29; ἐντολήν λαμβάνειν παρά τίνος, John 10:18; πρός τινα, Acts 17:15; λαβεῖν ἐντολάς περί τίνος, Colossians 4:10; that which is prescribed to one by reason of his office, ἐντολήν ἔχειν followed by infinitive, Hebrews 7:5; ἐντολήν διδόναι τίνι, John 14:31 L Tr WH; with τί εἴπῃ added, of Christ, whom God commanded what to teach to men, John 12:49; ἡ ἐντολή αὐτοῦ, of God, respecting the same thing, John 12:50.

2. a commandment, i. e. a prescribed rule in accordance with which a thing is done;

a. universally, ἐντολή σαρκικῇ (σαρκίνη G L T Tr WH), a precept relating to lineage, Hebrews 7:16; of the Mosaic precept concerning the priesthood, Hebrews 7:18; of a magistrate's order or edict: ἐντολήν διδόναι, ἵνα, John 11:57.

b. ethically; α. used of the commandments of the Mosaic law: ἡ ἐντολή τοῦ Θεοῦ, what God prescribes in the law of Moses, Matthew 15:3 (and R G in Matthew 15:6); Mark 7:8f; especially of particular precepts of this law as distinguished from ὁ νόμος (the law) their body or sum: Matthew 22:36, 38; Mark 10:5; Mark 12:28ff; Romans 7:8-13; Romans 13:9; Ephesians 6:2; Hebrews 9:19; κατά τήν ἐντολήν, according to the precept of the law, Luke 23:56; plural, Matthew 4:19); ; Mark 10:19; (Luke 18:20); τηρεῖν τάς ἐντολάς, Matthew 19:17; πορεύεσθαι ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς, Luke 1:6; ὁ νόμος τῶν ἐντολῶν, the law containing the precepts, Ephesians 2:15 (see δόγμα, 2). β. of the precepts of Jewish tradition: ἐντολαί ἀνθρώπων, Titus 1:14. γ. universally, of the commandments of God, especially as promulgated in the Christian religion: 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:21; 1 John 5:3; ἐντολήν διδόναι, 1 John 3:23; ἐντολήν ἔχειν, ἵνα, 1 John 4:21; ἐντολήν λαβεῖν παρά τοῦ πατρός, 2 John 1:4; τήρησις ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ, 1 Corinthians 7:19; τηρεῖν τάς ἐντολάς αὐτοῦ, 1 John 2:3; 1 John 3:22, 24; 1 John 5:2 (here L T Tr WH ποιῶμεν), 3; or τοῦ Θεοῦ, Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12; ποιεῖν τάς ἐντολάς αὐτοῦ, Revelation 22:14 R G; περιπατεῖν κατά τάς ἐντολάς αὐτοῦ, 2 John 1:6; of those things which God commanded to be done by Christ, John 15:10b; of the precepts of Christ relative to the orderly management of affairs in religious assemblies, 1 Corinthians 14:37 R G L Tr WH; of the moral precepts of Christ and his apostles: ἐντολήν διδόναι, ἵνα, John 13:34; ἐντολήν γράφειν, 1 John 2:7f; (2 John 1:5); τάς ἐντολάς τηρεῖν, John (John 14:15); a; ἔχειν τάς ἐντολάς καί τηρεῖν αὐτάς, habere in memoria et servare in vita (Augustine), John 14:21; αὕτη ἐστιν ἡ ἐντολή ἵνα, John 15:12, cf. 1 John 3:23. ἡ ἐντολή, collectively, of the whole body of the moral precepts of Christianity; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Peter 2:21; 2 Peter 3:2 (thus ἡ ἐντολή τοῦ Θεοῦ, Polycarp, ad Phil. 5 [ET]).