ἐνδόμησις

endómēsis

G1739 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An inner structure, inner construction, or the act/process of constructing something internally. The term primarily denotes the building or housing found within another structure or space, emphasizing what is internal rather than external.

Semantic Range

interior structure, internal building, inner housing, internal construction

Root / Etymology

Formed from ἐν ('in, within') and δόμησις (from the base of δέμω, 'to build'). δόμησις itself refers to the act of building or construction, so ἐνδόμησις specifies what has been built or is situated within. The word is not attested in earlier Greek outside of biblical and related Hellenistic Jewish contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἐνδόμησις is a rare term and is attested in the Septuagint at Ezekiel 41:15, where it refers to internal structures or architectural features within the temple. It is a technical term in architectural description, lacking broader metaphorical or extended senses in extant Greek literature. In the context of Hellenistic architecture and descriptions of sacred spaces, it indicates inner rooms, chambers, or constructions as opposed to exterior structures. English translations often simply render the term as 'building,' but the Greek emphasizes the internal aspect. Not in widespread use outside the biblical tradition, suggesting it is either a technical neologism or a term specialized for translation of Hebrew architectural vocabulary.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of ἐν and a derivative of the base of δῆμος; a housing in (residence), i.e. structure:--building.

Root Family

δέμ- (endómēsis) — to build, to construct

Root δέμ- to build, to construct

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1739-01 ἐνδώμησις endomesis N NOM F SG building inner construction inner construction 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1739-01 Revelation 21:18 ἐνδώμησις endomesis N NOM F SG building inner construction inner construction