ἀνεκδιήγητος
anekdiēgētos
indescribable
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ἀνεκδιήγητος (anekdiēgētos) is translated as "indescribable." This adjective is derived from the prefix ἀν- (an-) indicating negation, the verb διαγιγνόσκω (diagignōskō) meaning "to declare" or "to speak out," and the suffix -τος (-tos) forming an adjective. Essentially, ἀνεκδιήγητος communicates the idea of something that cannot be explicitly described or put into words. There is only one occurrence of this word in the Bible, which emphasizes its rarity and specificity. The limited range of usage suggests that ἐκδιαγιγνόσκω was likely employed in a precise context, possibly in a poetic or contemplative passage, where the writer sought to convey a profound but abstract idea. The significance of ἀνεκδιήγητος lies in its ability to convey the limits of language in describing the nature of a given thing. In this sense, the word highlights the importance of acknowledging that some things cannot be fully captured by words.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence across the text