Greek · G2026 · unreviewed

ἐποικοδομέω

To build up/upon

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ἐποικοδομέω G2026
Pronunciation epoikodoméō

What does ἐποικοδομέω (epoikodoméō) mean in the Bible?

ἐποικοδομέω (epoikodoméō) is a Greek word meaning "to build up/upon". ἐπ-οικοδομέω, -ῶ in NT, always metaphorically, of the spiritual life regarded as a building (Cremer, 449); __1.

Full entry for ἐποικοδομέω (G2026) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to build up/upon
Extended definition

Spiritual growth metaphorically portrayed as construction: building upon foundation or building up believers into God's temple.

in NT, always metaphorically, of the spiritual life regarded as a building (Cremer, 449);

1to build upon: 1Co.3:10 3:12 3:14; pass., Eph.2:20.
2to build up: Col.2:7, 1Pe.2:5 (T, οἰκοδ- WH, Rec.), Ju 20.
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Present Aorist
Voices
Active Passive
Indicative states a fact or reality
Present Active 1 Cor 3:10 · 1 Cor 3:12
Aorist Active 1 Cor 3:14
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Aorist Passive Eph 2:20
Present Passive Col 2:7
Present Active Jude 1:20
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 6 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 1 ongoing 3 participle 2
Tense
present 4 aorist 2
Voice
active 5 passive 1
Mood
indicative 4 participle 2

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Biblical Occurrences
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources