ΕΚΛΟΓΗ
Ekloge (ἐκλογή), a term deeply embedded in Greek thought, evolved from the simple act of selection into a theological concept of paramount importance. In the New Testament and Patristic tradition, it describes God's sovereign act of choosing, distinguishing, and calling individuals for a specific purpose. Its lexarithmos (136) suggests a connection to the completeness and perfection of divine will.
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According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, «ἐκλογή» originally signifies "the act of picking out, choosing, selecting." It describes the selection of individuals for office, soldiers for a mission, or objects for a particular purpose. The word implies a conscious and deliberate act of discernment and preference from a set of possibilities.
In classical Greek literature, ἐκλογή is widely used in political and military contexts, referring to the election of magistrates or the choice of the best possible plan. In philosophy, it can denote the intellectual process of choosing between alternatives, such as in the ethical selection of the right path.
However, the word acquires its deeper theological dimension in the Septuagint (LXX) translation of the Old Testament, where it is used to render the concept of God's divine election of Israel as a "peculiar people." In the New Testament, and particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul, ἐκλογή becomes a central term for God's sovereign choice to save and call believers, irrespective of human works, underscoring the grace and irrevocability of the divine will.
Etymology
From the same root leg- derive many words related to selection, gathering, but also to speech and reason. The verb «λέγω» (to gather, to choose) is the direct source, as is «ἐκλέγω» (to choose out). Other cognate words include «λόγος» (originally "gathering," then "speech, reason"), «συλλογή» (act of gathering), «ἐκλεκτός» (the chosen one), and «διαλέγομαι» (to converse, to discuss). This word family highlights the inherent connection between the act of choosing and the organization of thought and speech.
Main Meanings
- The act of choosing, selection, discernment — The general meaning of selecting one or more from a group.
- Selection for office or service — The appointment of individuals to public positions or for military missions. (Xenophon, Cyropaedia)
- Picking out, gathering — The action of separating or collecting things.
- Preference, free choice — The preference for one thing or person over others, free will.
- Divine election, predestination — God's sovereign and irrevocable choice to call and save. (Old Testament, New Testament)
- The chosen body, the elect — The group or people chosen by God.
- Discernment, judgment — The ability to distinguish good from evil, right from wrong.
Word Family
leg- (root of the verb legō, meaning "to gather, to choose, to speak")
The Ancient Greek root leg- is fundamental to a wide range of concepts, primarily those of gathering, choosing, and speaking. This dual semantic scope—from the act of collecting and distinguishing to expression through speech—has given rise to a rich family of words. Ἐκλογή stems from the aspect of the root concerning selection and distinction from a group, while other words develop the aspect of speech and reason. Each member of the family illuminates a different facet of this multifaceted root, from the action of the verb to the quality of the adjective.
Philosophical Journey
The word ἐκλογή traverses a rich semantic journey, from mundane selection in classical antiquity to the central theological concept of divine election.
In Ancient Texts
Three significant passages highlight the evolution of the meaning of ἐκλογή, from secular choice in the classical era to the central theological concept of divine foreknowledge.
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΕΚΛΟΓΗ is 136, from the sum of its letter values:
136 decomposes into 100 (hundreds) + 30 (tens) + 6 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΕΚΛΟΓΗ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 136 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 1 | 136 → 1+3+6 = 10. The Decad, a symbol of completeness, perfection, and divine order, signifying the comprehensive and irrevocable nature of election. |
| Letter Count | 6 | 6 letters (E, K, L, O, G, H). The Hexad, a number of creation and balance, which can be connected to the divine act of choosing and establishing. |
| Cumulative | 6/30/100 | Units 6 · Tens 30 · Hundreds 100 |
| Odd/Even | Even | Feminine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | E-K-L-O-G-E | Enlightened Knowledge Leading to Ordered Grace and Holiness (An interpretive expansion connecting election to divine blessing and redemption). |
| Grammatical Groups | 3Φ · 1Η · 2Α | 3 vowels (E, O, H), 1 semivowel (L), 2 mutes (K, G). Their harmonious composition reflects the balance and structure inherent in choice. |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Sun ☉ / Leo ♌ | 136 mod 7 = 3 · 136 mod 12 = 4 |
Isopsephic Words (136)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon with the same lexarithmos (136) as ἐκλογή, but from different roots, offering interesting semantic parallels or contrasts.
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 30 words with lexarithmos 136. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1940.
- Bauer, W., Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W. — A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
- Lampe, G. W. H. — A Patristic Greek Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1961.
- Kittel, G., Friedrich, G. (eds.) — Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964-1976.
- Thucydides — History of the Peloponnesian War. Edited by H. S. Jones and J. E. Powell. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1942.
- Plato — Republic. Edited by J. Burnet. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1903.
- Septuagint — Vetus Testamentum Graecum Auctoritate Academiae Scientiarum Gottingensis editum. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1931-.
- Nestle-Aland — Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012.