ἐγκαταλείπω
enkataleípō
G1459 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To leave behind or abandon someone or something in a particular place; to forsake, neglect, or desert, usually with an implication of negative consequence, but occasionally with a neutral or positive sense of leaving something to remain. The primary lexical meaning is to leave behind, with contextual senses ranging from abandonment of persons or duties (e.g., deserting someone in need, forsaking an obligation) to leaving behind goods or survivors.
Semantic Range
to abandon, forsake, desert, leave behind, neglect, let remain, leave in a situation; (rarely) to spare or leave over; to fail to support or come to the aid of
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἐν (in, within), and καταλείπω (to leave behind, abandon), itself from κατά (down, intensive) and λείπω (to leave). Thus, ἐγκαταλείπω intensifies the idea of leaving behind, often with a focus on the person or thing left in a situation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb ἐγκαταλείπω is found in both secular and religious texts from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, including the Septuagint and the New Testament. In these sources, it most often refers to the act of abandoning a person, group, place, or duty—frequently with negative connotations, as in forsaking family, followers, or responsibilities (e.g., 2 Timothy 4:10, 16, Matthew 27:46 quoting Psalm 22:2/21:2 LXX). In some contexts, particularly in the LXX, it may be used for God 'forsaking' or 'not forsaking' his people, paralleling Hebrew עָזַב (azav, to leave, forsake). The sense is generally one of abandonment with negative consequences, though in rare instances, it can refer simply to leaving something behind to remain, not necessarily with intent to harm or neglect. English translations such as "forsake" or "abandon" typically capture the main usage, although "leave" may be too neutral in many biblical contexts. The compound form intensifies the idea compared to simple καταλείπω, emphasizing the act of desertion or leaving within a situation. Distinct from simple "departure" (as with ἀφίημι or ἀπολίπω), which may lack the nuance of desertion.
Translation Consistency
Most P2 renderings use forms of "abandon/abandoned," and ἐγκαταλείπω primarily carries the notion of leaving behind with negative force (forsaking/deserting). "Abandon" naturally covers the typical semantic range (abandon, forsake, desert, leave behind) while remaining clear and consistent across contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐν and καταλείπω; to leave behind in some place, i.e. (in a good sense) let remain over, or (in a bad sense) to desert:--forsake, leave.
Root Family
λειπ- (enkataleípō) — to leave, to abandon, to remain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1587 | ἐκλείπω | of having ceased |
| G1952 | ἐπιλείπω | will fall short |
| G2640 | κατάλειμμα | |
| G3005 | λεῖμμα | remnant |
| G3062 | λοιποί | the remaining things |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1459-01 |
ἐγκαταλείποντες | egkataleipontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
forsaking | those abandoning | abandoning | 1 |
G1459-02 |
ἐγκατέλιπεν | egkatelipen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
has forsaken | he/she/it abandoned | abandoned | 1 |
G1459-03 |
ἐγκατέλιπές | egkatelipes | V AOR ACT IND 2P SG |
have you forsaken | you left behind | have you forsaken | 1 |
G1459-04 |
ἐνκαταλείπω | enkataleipo | V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG |
I will forsake | I may abandon | I will forsake | 1 |
G1459-05 |
ἐνκαταλειπόμενοι | enkataleipomenoi | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
forsaken | being abandoned | being abandoned | 1 |
G1459-06 |
ἐνκαταλείψεις | enkataleipseis | V FUT ACT IND 2P SG |
you will abandon | you will abandon | you will abandon | 1 |
G1459-07 |
ἐνκατελείφθη | enkateleiphthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was abandoned | was left behind | was abandoned | 1 |
G1459-08 |
ἐνκατέλιπεν | enkatelipen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
had left | he left behind | left behind | 1 |
G1459-09 |
ἐνκατέλιπες | enkatelipes | V AOR ACT IND 2P SG |
have you forsaken | you abandoned | you abandoned | 1 |
G1459-10 |
ἐνκατέλιπον | enkatelipon | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
me; | they abandoned | they abandoned | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1459-09 |
Matthew 27:46 | ἐνκατέλιπες | enkatelipes | V AOR ACT IND 2P SG |
have you forsaken | you abandoned | you abandoned |
G1459-03 |
Mark 15:34 | ἐγκατέλιπές | egkatelipes | V AOR ACT IND 2P SG |
have you forsaken | you left behind | have you forsaken |
G1459-06 |
Acts 2:27 | ἐνκαταλείψεις | enkataleipseis | V FUT ACT IND 2P SG |
you will abandon | you will abandon | you will abandon |
G1459-07 |
Acts 2:31 | ἐνκατελείφθη | enkateleiphthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was abandoned | was left behind | was abandoned |
G1459-08 |
Romans 9:29 | ἐνκατέλιπεν | enkatelipen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
had left | he left behind | left behind |
G1459-05 |
2 Corinthians 4:9 | ἐνκαταλειπόμενοι | enkataleipomenoi | V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
forsaken | being abandoned | being abandoned |
G1459-02 |
2 Timothy 4:10 | ἐγκατέλιπεν | egkatelipen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
has forsaken | he/she/it abandoned | abandoned |
G1459-10 |
2 Timothy 4:16 | ἐνκατέλιπον | enkatelipon | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
me; | they abandoned | they abandoned |
G1459-01 |
Hebrews 10:25 | ἐγκαταλείποντες | egkataleipontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
forsaking | those abandoning | abandoning |
G1459-04 |
Hebrews 13:5 | ἐνκαταλείπω | enkataleipo | V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG |
I will forsake | I may abandon | I will forsake |