Original Word: ἔσω
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: esó
Pronunciation: eh'-so
Phonetic Spelling: (es'-o)
Definition: inside, within, inwardly
Meaning: within, inside, with verbs either of rest or of motion; prep: within, to within, inside.

within, inward.

From eis; inside (as preposition or adjective) -- (with-)in(-ner, -to, -ward).

see GREEK eis

Word Origin
adverb from eis
Definition
within
NASB Translation
inner (2), inner man (1), inside (2), within (1).

STRONGS NT 2080: ἔσω

ἔσω, adverb (from ἐς, for εἴσω (fr. Homer on) from εἰς; cf. Winers Grammar, 52; (Buttmann, 72 (63); Rutherford, New Phryn., p. 432));

1. to within, into: Matthew 26:58; Mark 14:54; with the genitive Mark 15:16 (Winer's Grammar, § 54,6).

2. within: John 20:26; Acts 5:23; ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος, the internal, inner man, i. e. the soul, conscience (see ἄνθρωπος, 1 e.), 2 Corinthians 4:16 L T Tr WH; Romans 7:22; Ephesians 3:16; οἱ ἔσω, those who belong to the Christian brotherhood (opposed to οἱ ἔξω (which see in ἔξω, 1 a.)), 1 Corinthians 5:12.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek preposition ἐν (en), meaning "in" or "within."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of "inside" or "within" in Hebrew is often represented by words such as תּוֹךְ (tôk, Strong's Hebrew 8432), which means "midst" or "middle," and לֵב (lēb, Strong's Hebrew 3820), which refers to the "heart" or "inner man." These terms similarly emphasize the importance of the internal over the external in Hebrew thought, paralleling the Greek usage of ἔσω.

Usage: The word ἔσω appears in the New Testament to describe physical locations as well as metaphorical or spiritual states. It is used to emphasize the internal aspect of a person or place, often highlighting a contrast with the external.

Context: The Greek adverb ἔσω is utilized in the New Testament to convey the concept of being "inside" or "within." It is employed in both literal and figurative contexts. For instance, in Matthew 23:26, Jesus admonishes the Pharisees to clean the "inside" of the cup and dish, symbolizing the need for inner purity over mere external appearances: "Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well." (BSB)

In a spiritual sense, ἔσω is used to describe the inward transformation that is expected of believers. In 2 Corinthians 4:16, Paul speaks of the renewal of the inner self: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day." (BSB) Here, ἔσω emphasizes the ongoing spiritual renewal that occurs within a believer, contrasting with the physical decay of the body.

The term also appears in contexts where it denotes the inner part of a structure or location, such as the inner sanctuary or the heart of a person. This dual usage underscores the importance of both physical and spiritual interiors in biblical teaching.

εσω έσω ἔσω eso esō éso ésōInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts