πλεονάζω (G4121) — Greek Lexicon

πλεονάζω

pleonázō

G4121 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To increase or become more, to be or become abundant; in transitive use, to cause something to increase, to make something abound. The word is used both for quantitative growth (in numbers, wealth, quality) and metaphorically (to excel, to overflow in virtue, grace, or positive qualities), depending on context. In the New Testament, it commonly expresses the ideas of growing in quantity or quality, excelling, or possessing something in great measure.

Semantic Range

to increase, to grow, to become abundant, to multiply, to be present in large amount, to cause to increase, to excel, to be in excess, to superabound

Root / Etymology

From the comparative πλείων ('more, greater'), ultimately from the root πλε- denoting increase or multiplicity. πλεονάζω is an intensive or iterative denominative verb formed with the -αζω suffix, conveying the sense of 'to make more' or 'to be more.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πλεονάζω originally referred to straightforward increase, multiplication, or augmentation in quantity (e.g., crops, population, resources). By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the Septuagint and New Testament, its semantic range extended to include metaphorical excess or abundance, especially in reference to intangible qualities such as grace, virtue, transgression, or thanksgiving. In the Pauline letters, πλεονάζω regularly describes an increase or overflow of spiritual realities (e.g., grace, faith, love), often with theological implications, though the core lexical meaning remains 'to increase' or 'abound.' English translations frequently render it as 'abound,' 'increase,' or 'be abundant,' but the term covers both transitive (causing to increase) and intransitive (becoming more) actions. πλεονάζω differs from synonyms such as περισσεύω, which often emphasizes overflowing or being more than sufficient, while πλεονάζω focuses on the aspect of increase and multiplicity.

Translation Consistency

primary "increase" 9 occurrences

"Increase" naturally covers both quantitative growth and qualitative/moral growth (abundance, excelling, overflowing) and works transitively or intransitively, so it best fits the typical New Testament uses of πλεονάζω while sounding natural in English.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πλείων; to do, make or be more, i.e. increase (transitively or intransitively); by extension, to superabound:--abound, abundant, make to increase, have over.

Root Family

πλεονάζω (pleonazō) — to be more, to increase, to make abundant

Root πλε- to be more, to increase, to make abundant

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4121-01`	ἐπλεόνασεν	epleonasen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	abounded	it increased	increased	2
`G4121-06`	πλεονάζοντα	pleonazonta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	abounding	increasing	increasing	2
`G4121-04`	πλεονάσῃ	pleonase	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	may increase	may increase	may increase	2
`G4121-05`	πλεονάζει	pleonazei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	abounds	is increasing	is increasing	1
`G4121-02`	πλεονάσαι	pleonasai	`V AOR ACT OPT 3P SG`	cause to increase	may he increase	may he increase	1
`G4121-03`	πλεονάσασα	pleonasasa	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	having abounded	having increased	having increased	1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4121-04`	Romans 5:20	πλεονάσῃ	pleonase	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	might abound	may increase	may increase
`G4121-01`	Romans 5:20	ἐπλεόνασεν	epleonasen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	abounded	it increased	it increased
`G4121-04`	Romans 6:1	πλεονάσῃ	pleonase	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	may increase	may increase	may increase
`G4121-03`	2 Corinthians 4:15	πλεονάσασα	pleonasasa	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	having abounded	having increased	having increased
`G4121-01`	2 Corinthians 8:15	ἐπλεόνασεν	epleonasen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	had more	it increased	increased
`G4121-06`	Philippians 4:17	πλεονάζοντα	pleonazonta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	increasing	increasing	increasing
`G4121-02`	1 Thessalonians 3:12	πλεονάσαι	pleonasai	`V AOR ACT OPT 3P SG`	cause to increase	may he increase	may he increase
`G4121-05`	2 Thessalonians 1:3	πλεονάζει	pleonazei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	abounds	is increasing	is increasing
`G4121-06`	2 Peter 1:8	πλεονάζοντα	pleonazonta	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N PL`	abounding	increasing	increasing

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