ἐκλεκτός

ἐκ-λεκτός, -ή, -όν

(ἐκλέγω), [in LXX for בָּחַר (so prob. in Es 28,16, Ord 17,3, for MT בָּחַן), בָּרִיא, etc. ;]

1. choice, select (cl., rarely; Thuc., Plat., al.), hence, eminent: Rom 16,13 (cf. Ezk 27,24).

2. As in Inscr. (MM, Exp., xii), chosen; esp. as in LXX, of Israel, elect, chosen of God (Es 65,9, Sl 105,43, al.); so in NT;

(a) of Christ: Luk 23,35 (cf. Es 42,1); figuratively, λίθος, 1 Pet 2,4-6 (LXX);

(b) of holy angels: 1 Tim 5,21

(with) of Christians: Matt 24,22, 24, Mark 13,20, 22; 13,27, 2 Tim 2,10, 1 Pet 1,1; τ. θεοῦ, Luk 18,7, Rom 8,33, Kol 3,12, Tit 1,1; τ. Χριστοῦ, Matt 24,31 ἐ. κυρία, 2 Joh 1; ἀδελφή, 2 Joh 13; γένος, 1 Pet 2,9 (LXX); κλητοὶ καὶ ἐ. κ. πιστοί, Åb 17,14 opposite to κλητός (not so in Epp.; see Lft. on Kol 3,12), Matt 20,16 (T, WH, txt., R, omit) Matt 22,14 (Cremer, 405, 775).†