οἰκοδομέω (G3618) — Greek Lexicon

οἰκοδομέω

oikodoméō

G3618 verb

SILEX Entry

Root οἰκοδομ- to build, to construct, to strengthen, to establish

Definition

To build or construct a structure, especially a house or building; by extension in literary and metaphorical contexts, to strengthen, establish, or promote growth, especially in reference to communities, individuals, or ideas. In the New Testament and related literature, often used metaphorically of building up moral, spiritual, or communal cohesion.

Semantic Range

to build (a house or structure), to construct, to strengthen (a group, individual, community), to build up morally or spiritually, to promote growth, to establish or confirm

Root / Etymology

From οἶκος (house) + δέμω (to build, lay), hence literally 'to build a house'. The verb οἰκοδομέω follows regular Greek verbal derivation with -έω.

Historical & Contextual Notes

οἰκοδομέω appears in both literal and metaphorical senses throughout Hellenistic and Koine Greek. In classical Greek, the term primarily refers to the physical act of building (especially houses), but in the Septuagint and the New Testament, it frequently expands to metaphorical applications, including the 'building up' or strengthening of individuals or communities, often in moral, intellectual, or spiritual dimensions. In early Christian literature, this metaphor became central for describing the formation and strengthening of groups (e.g., the 'church' or assembly). The English translation 'edify' is derived from Latin and was introduced in early English Bible versions; while it captures the metaphorical sense, the underlying Greek is broader, encompassing both construction and development. The verb is related to the noun οἰκοδομή ('building, construction'). It contrasts with words like καταστρέφω (to destroy or tear down) and builds a conceptual link between tangible construction and intangible growth.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as οἰκοδομή; to be a house-builder, i.e. construct or (figuratively) confirm:--(be in) build(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.

Root Family

οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeō) — to build, to construct, to strengthen, to establish

Word Forms

21 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G3618-19`	ᾠκοδόμησεν	okodomesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	built	he built	5
`G3618-01`	οἰκοδομεῖ	oikodomei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	edifies	he/she/it builds up	4
`G3618-17`	οἰκοδομοῦντες	oikodomountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	builders	those building	4
`G3618-05`	οἰκοδομεῖτε	oikodomeite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	build	you (pl.) are building up	4
`G3618-06`	οἰκοδομῆσαι	oikodomesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to build	to build	3
`G3618-10`	οἰκοδομήσω	oikodomeso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will build	I will build	3
`G3618-15`	οἰκοδομῶν	oikodomon	`V PRS ACT PTCP VOC M SG`	buildest	building	2
`G3618-14`	οἰκοδομῶ	oikodomo	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I build	I may build	2
`G3618-08`	οἰκοδόμησεν	oikodomesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	built	he/she built	1
`G3618-09`	οἰκοδομήσετέ	oikodomesete	`V FUT ACT IND 2P PL`	will-you-build	you will build	1
`G3618-16`	οἰκοδομουμένη	oikodomoumene	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	being built up	being built up	1
`G3618-04`	οἰκοδομεῖται	oikodomeitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is edified	is being built up	1
`G3618-03`	οἰκοδομεῖσθε	oikodomeisthe	`V PRS PASS IND 2P PL`	are being built up	you are being built	1
`G3618-02`	οἰκοδομεῖν	oikodomein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to build	to build up	1
`G3618-18`	οἰκοδομοῦντι	oikodomounti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	building	to the one building	1
`G3618-07`	οἰκοδομήσαντι	oikodomesanti	`V AOR ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	who built	to the one having built	1
`G3618-13`	οἰκοδομηθήσεται	oikodomethesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	be emboldened	will be built up	1
`G3618-11`	οἰκοδομῆσθαι	oikodomesthai	`V PRF PASS INF`	it was built	to have been built	1
`G3618-21`	ᾠκοδόμουν	okodomoun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they were building	they were building	1
`G3618-20`	ᾠκοδόμητο	okodometo	`V PLPF PASS IND 3P SG`	was built	had been built	1
`G3618-12`	οἰκοδομήθη	oikodomethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	was built	was built	1

Occurrences in Scripture

40 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G3618-19`	Matthew 7:24	ᾠκοδόμησεν	okodomesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`		he built
`G3618-19`	Matthew 7:26	ᾠκοδόμησεν	okodomesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`		he built
`G3618-10`	Matthew 16:18	οἰκοδομήσω	oikodomeso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`		I will build
`G3618-19`	Matthew 21:33	ᾠκοδόμησεν	okodomesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`		he built
`G3618-17`	Matthew 21:42	οἰκοδομοῦντες	oikodomountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`		those building
`G3618-05`	Matthew 23:29	οἰκοδομεῖτε	oikodomeite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`		you (pl.) are building up
`G3618-06`	Matthew 26:61	οἰκοδομῆσαι	oikodomesai	`V AOR ACT INF`		to build
`G3618-15`	Matthew 27:40	οἰκοδομῶν	oikodomon	`V PRS ACT PTCP VOC M SG`		building
`G3618-19`	Mark 12:1	ᾠκοδόμησεν	okodomesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	built	he built
`G3618-17`	Mark 12:10	οἰκοδομοῦντες	oikodomountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	builders	those building
`G3618-10`	Mark 14:58	οἰκοδομήσω	oikodomeso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will build	I will build
`G3618-15`	Mark 15:29	οἰκοδομῶν	oikodomon	`V PRS ACT PTCP VOC M SG`	buildest	building
`G3618-20`	Luke 4:29	ᾠκοδόμητο	okodometo	`V PLPF PASS IND 3P SG`	was built	had been built
`G3618-18`	Luke 6:48	οἰκοδομοῦντι	oikodomounti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	building	to the one building
`G3618-11`	Luke 6:48	οἰκοδομῆσθαι	oikodomesthai	`V PRF PASS INF`	it was built	to have been built
`G3618-07`	Luke 6:49	οἰκοδομήσαντι	oikodomesanti	`V AOR ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	who built	to the one having built
`G3618-19`	Luke 7:5	ᾠκοδόμησεν	okodomesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	built	he built
`G3618-05`	Luke 11:47	οἰκοδομεῖτε	oikodomeite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you build	you (pl.) are building up
`G3618-05`	Luke 11:48	οἰκοδομεῖτε	oikodomeite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	build	you (pl.) are building up
`G3618-10`	Luke 12:18	οἰκοδομήσω	oikodomeso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will build	I will build
`G3618-06`	Luke 14:28	οἰκοδομῆσαι	oikodomesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to build	to build
`G3618-02`	Luke 14:30	οἰκοδομεῖν	oikodomein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to build	to build up
`G3618-21`	Luke 17:28	ᾠκοδόμουν	okodomoun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they were building	they were building
`G3618-17`	Luke 20:17	οἰκοδομοῦντες	oikodomountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	builders	those building
`G3618-12`	John 2:20	οἰκοδομήθη	oikodomethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	was built	was built
`G3618-08`	Acts 7:47	οἰκοδόμησεν	oikodomesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	built	he/she built
`G3618-09`	Acts 7:49	οἰκοδομήσετέ	oikodomesete	`V FUT ACT IND 2P PL`	will-you-build	you will build
`G3618-16`	Acts 9:31	οἰκοδομουμένη	oikodomoumene	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	being built up	being built up
`G3618-06`	Acts 20:32	οἰκοδομῆσαι	oikodomesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to build up	to build
`G3618-14`	Romans 15:20	οἰκοδομῶ	oikodomo	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I build	I may build
`G3618-01`	1 Corinthians 8:1	οἰκοδομεῖ	oikodomei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	edifies	he/she/it builds up
`G3618-13`	1 Corinthians 8:10	οἰκοδομηθήσεται	oikodomethesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	be emboldened	will be built up
`G3618-01`	1 Corinthians 10:23	οἰκοδομεῖ	oikodomei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	edify	he/she/it builds up
`G3618-01`	1 Corinthians 14:4	οἰκοδομεῖ	oikodomei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	edifies	he/she/it builds up
`G3618-01`	1 Corinthians 14:4	οἰκοδομεῖ	oikodomei-2	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	edifies	he/she/it builds up
`G3618-04`	1 Corinthians 14:17	οἰκοδομεῖται	oikodomeitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is edified	is being built up
`G3618-14`	Galatians 2:18	οἰκοδομῶ	oikodomo	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I build	I may build
`G3618-05`	1 Thessalonians 5:11	οἰκοδομεῖτε	oikodomeite	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	build up	you (pl.) are building up
`G3618-03`	1 Peter 2:5	οἰκοδομεῖσθε	oikodomeisthe	`V PRS PASS IND 2P PL`	are being built up	you are being built
`G3618-17`	1 Peter 2:7	οἰκοδομοῦντες	oikodomountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	builders	those building

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