ἐνάλιος

enálios

G1724 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primarily, residing in or pertaining to the sea; marine or sea-dwelling. Used to describe entities (typically animals or objects) that exist within or are characteristic of the sea. The term is used both as an adjective ('marine') and substantivally ('marine creature; sea-being').

Semantic Range

marine, sea-dwelling, in the sea, belonging to the sea, a thing or creature in the sea

Root / Etymology

Composed of the preposition ἐν ('in') and ἅλς ('salt, sea'), forming an adjective meaning 'in the sea' or 'of the sea.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term ἐνάλιος is found in classical, Hellenistic, and later Greek literature, chiefly as an adjective for 'marine' or 'pertaining to the sea.' Its root meaning in Greek is broader than the typical English rendering 'thing in the sea,' as it refers to anything of or in the sea, not only animate creatures but also inanimate things. In the Septuagint and New Testament contexts, usage is rare but can denote all marine life or things belonging to the sea, corresponding to the Hebrew concept of sea creatures or sea-related objects. English translations often use 'creature of the sea,' 'sea animal,' or simply 'marine,' which may obscure the possible inclusion of inanimate sea phenomena. Classical sources use the term to distinguish marine from terrestrial or aerial entities; in mythological, poetic, and scientific contexts, ἐνάλιος can refer to sea monsters, deities, or marine phenomena. The semantic boundary with words like θαλάσσιος (thalássios, 'of the sea') is minimal, though θαλάσσιος may more frequently refer to general maritime associations, while ἐνάλιος may have a more specific 'in the sea' nuance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐν and ἅλς; in the sea, i.e. marine:--thing in the sea.

Root Family

ἐνάλιος (enalios) — in the sea, of the sea, marine, sea-dwelling

Root ἐν + ἅλς in the sea, of the sea, pertaining to the sea, marine

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1724-01 ἐναλίων enalion ADJ.S GEN N PL of sea creatures of sea-dwelling ones of sea creatures 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1724-01 James 3:7 ἐναλίων enalion ADJ.S GEN N PL of sea creatures of sea-dwelling ones of sea creatures