To be (or become) wealthy (literally or figuratively)
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Πλουτέω means to be rich or become rich, and Paul repeatedly redefines the wealth that matters before God. In 1 Corinthians 4, “already you have become rich” is biting irony aimed at a triumphal church that imagines it reigns while the apostles suffer.
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Full entry for πλουτέω (G4147) · Open the biblical lexicon
Πλουτέω means to be rich or become rich, and Paul repeatedly redefines the wealth that matters before God. In 1 Corinthians 4, “already you have become rich” is biting irony aimed at a triumphal church that imagines it reigns while the apostles suffer.
The BSB source-word alignment has 12 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include to be rich (2), [and] gained their wealth (1), [and] gives richly (1), [the] rich {away} (1), have grown wealthy (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 1:53. Its strongest book concentrations include Revelation (5), 1 Timothy (2), Luke (2), 1 Corinthians (1).
Πλουτέω means to be rich or become rich, and Paul repeatedly redefines the wealth that matters before God. In 1 Corinthians 4, “already you have become rich” is biting irony aimed at a triumphal church that imagines it reigns while the apostles suffer. First Timothy 6 commands materially wealthy believers not to set hope on uncertain riches but to become rich in good works, generosity, and readiness to share.
Second Corinthians 8 places all Christian enrichment under the grace of Jesus Christ, who though rich became poor for His people so that they might become rich through His poverty. The verb cannot be reduced to money, nor does it promise financial increase. Gospel riches are received in Christ and expressed through humble generosity.
Paul uses πλουτέω literally and theologically, exposing imagined spiritual wealth and directing believers toward riches in Christ and generous good works.
Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!
Paul's irony dismantles Corinthian triumphalism by contrasting their imagined reign with apostolic weakness, hunger, dishonor, and labor.
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
The wealthy become rich in good works by generous sharing, transferring hope from unstable possessions to the God who richly provides.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Christ's movement from riches to poverty grounds generous grace; the resulting enrichment is saving participation in Him, not a promise of material prosperity.
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. Wealth accumulation used metaphorically for spiritual abundance or self-sufficiency before God.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
12 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
I become rich
Read verseI become rich
Read verseI become rich
Read verseI become rich
Read verseI become rich
Read verseI become rich
Read verseI become rich
Read verseI become rich
Read verseI become rich
Read verseI become rich
Read verseI become rich
Read verseI become rich
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 12 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 1 selected witness from 12 lexical occurrence verses.
πλουτέω 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.
Richness can describe a bank account, an illusion of spiritual arrival, or the abundance believers receive through Christ. Paul forces hearers to distinguish them. Corinth's claim to be rich is exposed by the cross-shaped apostolic life they despise. Timothy must teach those with possessions to enjoy God's gifts without trusting them, and to convert material capacity into generous service.
The Corinthians learn generosity from Christ, whose self-giving poverty enriches His people with grace. None of these texts teaches that faithful giving purchases greater wealth. Instead, πλουτέω reorders hope and use. Material resources are uncertain gifts entrusted for good. Spiritual riches are found in Christ, not in religious self-importance. Churches display that wealth through liberality, gratitude, and solidarity with those in need.
Teachers should resist both resentment of possessions and adoration of them, calling every believer toward the abundance of grace and good works.
1Cor.4.8
Πλουτέω is the verb related to πλοῦτος, wealth or riches. It may describe possessing wealth, becoming rich, or abounding in a quality. Complements and context identify whether the richness is material, ironic, ethical, or grounded in divine grace.
The law teaches Israel to receive provision gratefully and remember the Giver, while wisdom warns against trusting riches. Christ embodies self-giving grace, and His church is called to abound in generosity while awaiting imperishable treasure.