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ἐπενδύομαι

ependýomai

G1902 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To put on over something, to be clothed in addition or over; specifically, to be further clothed or to put on an outer garment over existing clothing. The term frequently denotes the act of being layered with additional attire, often metaphorically extended to refer to being endowed or equipped with something (such as a quality or new state).

Semantic Range

to put on over (of garments), to be clothed over, to be further equipped, to be given a new or additional covering (literal or metaphorical), to undergo a transformation via being clothed upon

Root / Etymology

From ἐπί (upon, over) and ἐνδύω (to put on, to clothe), thus literally 'to put on over'. The middle voice emphasizes the action as pertaining to oneself or one's own person.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Koine Greek, ἐπενδύομαι is used rarely and primarily in metaphorical or eschatological contexts (e.g., 2 Corinthians 5:2,4), where it describes a state of being covered or clothed further, particularly with reference to the future, immortal body rather than mere physical clothing. The root verb ἐνδύω (to put on, clothe) is far more common, but ἐπενδύομαι adds the nuance of additional or outer clothing, or the act of being further equipped. In Classical Greek and the Septuagint, ἐπενδύω only rarely appears, with the more common ἐπένδυμα referring to outer garments (John 21:7 for the noun). Standard English translations, such as 'to be clothed upon', often reflect the underlying metaphor of additional or superadded clothing but typically do not convey the full nuance of layering or transformation implied in the original Greek. There is no direct correspondence between ἐπενδύομαι and the basic act of putting on clothes (ἱματίζομαι) or dressing (περιβάλλω), as ἐπενδύομαι focuses on an additional layer or new state, especially in passages dealing with eschatological transformation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from ἐπί and ἐνδύω; to invest upon oneself:--be clothed upon.

Root Family

ἐπενδύομαι (ependýomai) — to put on, to clothe, to cover, to layer over

Root ἐνδύ- to put on, to clothe, to cover

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1902-01 ἐπενδύσασθαι ependusasthai V AOR MID INF to be clothed to clothe oneself over to clothe oneself over 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1902-01 2 Corinthians 5:2 ἐπενδύσασθαι ependusasthai V AOR MID INF to be clothed with to clothe oneself over to clothe oneself over
G1902-01 2 Corinthians 5:4 ἐπενδύσασθαι ependusasthai V AOR MID INF to be clothed to clothe oneself over to clothe oneself over
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