To increase
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15, where the local argument determines whether the emphasis is doctrinal, ethical, pastoral, or ministry-related. The companion therefore treats To Increase as a passage-governed word study rather than a detached lexical slogan.
Reader summary
Full entry for πλεονάζω (G4121) · Open the biblical lexicon
15, where the local argument determines whether the emphasis is doctrinal, ethical, pastoral, or ministry-related. The companion therefore treats To Increase as a passage-governed word study rather than a detached lexical slogan.
The BSB source-word alignment has 9 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include cause you to increase (1), continue to grow [in them] (1), had no excess (1), increased (1), is increasing (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Romans 5:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Romans (3), 2 Corinthians (2), 1 Thessalonians (1), 2 Peter (1).
G4121 is represented in this Pauline-focused companion by the reviewed display gloss "to increase." In Paul's letters, the term appears in passages such as Rom. 5. 20, 1Thess. 3. 12, 2Cor. 4. 15, where the local argument determines whether the emphasis is doctrinal, ethical, pastoral, or ministry-related. The companion therefore treats To Increase as a passage-governed word study rather than a detached lexical slogan.
It gives teachers a compact way to notice the term, compare several Pauline settings, and move toward application only after the immediate context has set the boundary. The aim is disciplined clarity: the Greek term can sharpen reading, but it does not replace the grammar, flow, and theological burden of the passage itself.
G4121 appears in Pauline contexts that require close attention to the passage. This companion uses three local anchors to keep the word to increase tied to Paul's argument and pastoral aim.
The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
Rom.5.20 anchors G4121 in a local Pauline context where to increase must be read from the argument of the passage rather than from a bare word list.
And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
1Thess.3.12 shows another Pauline setting for the same term, helping teachers compare usage without forcing every occurrence to carry the same emphasis.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow, to the glory of God.
2Cor.4.15 gives a further control text so doctrine and application remain passage-governed and not driven by the gloss alone.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. To superabound or overflow excessively; often of grace or spiritual qualities multiplying beyond ordinary measure
To superabound or overflow excessively; often of grace or spiritual qualities multiplying beyond ordinary measure
(πλέον), [in LXX for עֲדַף, רָבָה, etc. ;]
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
9 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
I abound, increase
Read verseI abound, increase
Read verseI abound, increase
Read verseI abound, increase
Read verseI abound, increase
Read verseI abound, increase
Read verseI abound, increase
Read verseI abound, increase
Read verseI abound, increase
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
How this verb appears across 7 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
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)
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 9 lexical occurrence verses.
πλεονάζω is built from this root:
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
G4121 helps teachers slow down where English readers may move too quickly. The word can illuminate Paul's reasoning, but only when it is held inside the sentence, paragraph, and letter. Across Rom.5.20, 1Thess.3.12, 2Cor.4.15, the pastoral value is not novelty. It is the steady discipline of asking how the word serves Paul's gospel logic, church instruction, moral warning, or ministry encouragement in context.
Rom.5.20
To increase is the reviewed display gloss for G4121. In this Pauline-focused companion, local STEP TAGNT evidence shows about 8 Pauline use(s), with common forms including V-AAS-3S 2, V-AAI-3S 2, V-AAP-NSF 1. Treat these form signals as support for reading the passage, not as a replacement for context.
The Pauline use of G4121 should be joined to larger biblical theology only through the cited passages and their own contexts. This keeps to increase from becoming a free-floating doctrinal shortcut.
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain