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G1794 · Greek · New Testament
ἐντυλίσσω
entylissō
Verb
to wrap up, to roll together, to fold

Definition

Entylissō (ἐντυλίσσω) means to wrap up or fold together — to roll something in a cloth. It appears in Matthew 27:59 (Joseph wrapping Jesus' body) and John 20:7 (the napkin folded in the empty tomb). The word carries both burial and resurrection significance.

Usage & Theological Significance

The distinction between eneilēō (Mark's wrapping verb) and entylissō (Matthew's and John's) is minor but textually interesting. John 20:7 specifically notes the head cloth was "entylissōed in a place by itself" — neatly folded, separately placed. This detail is not accidental: a folded napkin in ancient dining customs reportedly signaled the diner was returning. Whether or not that custom applies here, the careful arrangement of burial cloths signals an unhurried, ordered departure — not a panicked theft, but a sovereign exit from death.

Key Verses

Matthew 27:59 Joseph took the body, wrapped [entylissō] it in a clean linen cloth.
Luke 23:53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.
John 20:7 He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped [entylissō] around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb.
Revelation 19:14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

Word Study

The resurrection account's careful mention of burial cloths serves an apologetic function: the empty tomb is not explained by theft (a thief would not fold the cloths) but by resurrection. The entylissō-ed cloth left behind is physical testimony. Ancient readers of John's Gospel would have caught the significance: the cloths that once wrapped death are now trophies of life's victory over it.

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External Resources

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