μεγαλύνω (G3170) — Greek Lexicon

μεγαλύνω

megalýnō

G3170 verb

SILEX Entry

Root μεγαλυν- to make great, to enlarge, to exalt

Definition

To make great, to increase in extent, reputation, or status; to exalt or praise highly. The primary lexical meaning is 'to make or declare great,' with senses ranging from literal physical or numerical increase to the figurative sense of extolling or highly praising someone or something. In some contexts, it denotes increasing the honor or status of a person or entity; in others, it is used for rendering something prominent or publicly glorified.

Semantic Range

to make larger (physically or metaphorically), to increase, to exalt or promote, to extol, to praise highly, to declare or show greatness, to make prominent

Root / Etymology

Derived from the adjective μέγας (great, large), with the verb-forming suffix -ύνω. The root conveys the notion of greatness or increase, and the verb form applies this to an action, i.e., 'to make great.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, μεγαλύνω is used both in literal and figurative senses: to increase size, number, or power, and to elevate a person's status or reputation. In the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew verbs (e.g., גָּדַל gadal) that mean 'to make great' or 'to exalt.' In the New Testament, the verb most often appears in contexts of praise or glorification, especially of God (e.g., Luke 1:46, 'my soul magnifies the Lord'). While the base sense can be literal (to increase or enlarge), the prominent sense in Koine Greek, especially in Jewish and early Christian texts, is the public acknowledgment of greatness—hence 'to extol, praise, glorify.' English translations traditionally render it 'magnify' or 'exalt,' but these can obscure its broader use for any kind of increase or making prominent. The term overlaps with δοξάζω (to glorify), but δοξάζω emphasizes bestowing honor, whereas μεγαλύνω retains a focus on greatness or making greatness known.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μέγας; to make (or declare) great, i.e. increase or (figuratively) extol:--enlarge, magnify, shew great.

Root Family

μεγαλύνω (megalynō) — to make great, to enlarge, to exalt

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G3170-01`	ἐμεγάλυνεν	emegalunen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	had shown great	made great	2
`G3170-06`	μεγαλυνθῆναι	megalunthenai	`V AOR PASS INF`		to be made great	1
`G3170-04`	μεγαλυνόντων	megalunonton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	magnifying	of those exalting	1
`G3170-05`	μεγαλύνουσι	megalunousi	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`		they make great	1
`G3170-03`	μεγαλύνει	megalunei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	magnifies	makes great	1
`G3170-07`	μεγαλυνθήσεται	megalunthesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be magnified	will be made great	1
`G3170-02`	ἐμεγαλύνετο	emegaluneto	`V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG`	was magnified	was being made great	1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G3170-05`	Matthew 23:5	μεγαλύνουσι	megalunousi	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`		they make great
`G3170-03`	Luke 1:46	μεγαλύνει	megalunei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	magnifies	makes great
`G3170-01`	Luke 1:58	ἐμεγάλυνεν	emegalunen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	had shown great	made great
`G3170-01`	Acts 5:13	ἐμεγάλυνεν	emegalunen	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	magnified	made great
`G3170-04`	Acts 10:46	μεγαλυνόντων	megalunonton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	magnifying	of those exalting
`G3170-02`	Acts 19:17	ἐμεγαλύνετο	emegaluneto	`V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG`	was magnified	was being made great
`G3170-06`	2 Corinthians 10:15	μεγαλυνθῆναι	megalunthenai	`V AOR PASS INF`		to be made great
`G3170-07`	Philippians 1:20	μεγαλυνθήσεται	megalunthesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be magnified	will be made great

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