The Greek verb entellomai means to command, to give orders, or to charge someone with a task or instruction. It is used of God's commands, Christ's commissions, and significant divine mandates throughout the New Testament.
Entellomai is the verb of solemn divine commission. In Matthew 28:20, Christ charges His disciples to teach nations 'to obey everything I have commanded (entellomai) you' — the Great Commission concludes with entellomai. John 15:14 defines friendship with Jesus through obedience: 'You are my friends if you do what I command (entellomai).' Hebrews 9:20 quotes Moses at Sinai: 'This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded (entellomai) you to keep.' The force of entellomai is more formal and weighty than ordinary instruction — it carries the weight of binding authority. In Acts 13:47, God's entellomai commissions Paul and Barnabas to be 'a light for the Gentiles.' Every great divine commission is an entellomai.