Lexical Definition

‎ἐλέγχω‎ elénchō (el-eng'-kho) to rebuke ^G:V
of uncertain affinity

convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.

• to confute, admonish

Abbott-Smith

ἐλέγχω [in LXX chiefly for יָכַח hi. ;]
1. in Hom., to treat with contempt.
2. to convict: c. acc, Mt 18:15 (RV, show him his fault), Tit 1:9; seq. περί, Jo 8:46 16:8, Ju 15; pass., Ja 2:9.
3. to reprove, rebuke: I Ti 5:20, II Ti 4:2, Tit 1:13 2:15, Re 3:19; pass., seq. περί, Lk 3:19; ὑπό, He 12:5 (LXX).
4. to expose: Eph 5:11; pass., Jo 3:20, I Co 14:24 (RV reprove, mg. convict), Eph 5:13 (RV, as 1 Co, l.c., of. AR on Eph 5:11; MM, Exp., xii; cf. ἐξ-, δια-κατ-ελέγχομαι).†
SYN.: ἐπιτιμῶ, expressing simply rebuke, which may be un­deserved (Mt 16:22) or ineffectual (Lk 23:40), while ἐλ. implies rebuke which brings conviction (v. Tr., Syn., § iv)

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἐλέγχω,

[Refs 8th c.BC+]: future ἐλέγξω [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἤλεγξα [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, future ἐλεγχθήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἠλέγχθην [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἐλήλεγμαι [Refs] is falsa lectio in [Refs 5th c.BC+]: pluperfect ἐξ-ελήλεγκτο [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—disgrace, put to shame, μῦθον ἐ. treat a speech with contempt, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐ. τινά put one to shame, [Refs 8th c.BC+] —This usage is only _Epic dialect_

__II cross-examine, question, [ἐλέγχων φύλακα 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 260; τί ταῦτ᾽ ἄλλως ἐλέγχει; [prev. author] “OT” 333, compare 783; ἔλεγχ᾽, ἐλέγχου 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Ranae” 857; ἐ. τινὰ περί τινος [prev. author] “Pl.” 574; ἕνεκά τινος 4th c.BC: Antiphanes Comicus 207.10; τὰς ἀρχὰς βασάνοις χρώμενοι ἐλεγχόντων 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Leges” 946c ">Refs 5th c.BC+]: with accusative et infinitive, accuse one of doing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, to be convicted, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with participle, ἐλεγχθεὶς διαφθείρας [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 test, bring to the proof, ἀνδρῶν ἀρετὰν παγκρατὴς ἐλέγχει ἀλάθεια [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρᾶγμ᾽ ἐ. [Refs 4th c.BC+] (passive, τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἐλεγχθέν [Refs 5th c.BC+] (passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.3 prove, τοῦτο ἐ. ὡς.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]: absolutely, bring convincing proof, ὡς ἡ ἀνάγκη ἐ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; αὐτὸ τὸ ἔργον ἐ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.4 refute, confute, τινά or τι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χρυσὸς κληῖδας ἐλέγχει proves that they avail not, [Refs]
__II.4.b put right, correct, prove by a reductio ad impossibile, ὅσα ἔστιν ἀποδεῖξαι, ἔστι καὶ ἐλέγξαι τὸν θέμενον τὴν ἀντίφασιν τοῦ ἀληθοῦς [Refs 4th c.BC+]; παράδοξα ἐ. [Refs]
__II.5 get the better of, στρατιὰν ὠκύτατι ἐ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.6 expose, τινὰ ληροῦντα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; betray a weakness, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__II.7 decide a dispute, ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν δύο [LXX]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Gen.31.37}