πλουτέω
ploutéō
G4147 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be or become wealthy, to have riches; denotes the state of possessing material abundance or prosperity (literally). In extended usage, may signify being rich or abounding in something other than material wealth, such as virtue, knowledge, or spiritual blessings (figuratively), depending on context.
Semantic Range
to possess wealth, to acquire or amass riches, to abound in resources, to be rich in a non-material attribute (such as virtue, knowledge, or spiritual blessings), to be made rich, to flourish
Root / Etymology
From πλουτός ('wealth, riches') with the verb-forming ending -έω, indicating the act of possessing or acquiring wealth. Directly related to πλουτίζω ('to make rich, enrich').
Historical & Contextual Notes
πλουτέω was widely used in classical Greek for possessing or acquiring wealth, both in literal financial terms and more abstract senses (cf. Plato, Aristophanes). In the Septuagint and New Testament, the literal sense most often refers to material prosperity (e.g., possessions, land), but the verb can also denote non-material abundance (e.g., spiritual gifts or blessings, as in 1 Corinthians 1:5). In moral or philosophical contexts, a contrast is sometimes drawn between 'riches' and true virtue or wisdom (cf. Hellenistic Jewish writings). English translations often render πλουτέω as 'to be rich' or 'to become rich,' but such translation may mask figurative uses where material wealth is not at issue. In comparison with related terms: πλουτίζω means 'to enrich; to cause to be rich,' while πλοῦτος refers to 'wealth' itself. The verb does not carry inherently positive or negative connotations; the context determines whether wealth is seen as desirable, neutral, or dangerous.
Translation Consistency
πλουτέω most often carries the sense of coming into wealth or being made rich (and by extension 'becoming rich in' virtues or blessings). "Become" is a natural, flexible English verb that renders both the change-of-state and resultant state readings and easily forms the necessary inflections (becomes, became, becoming). Alternatives like "be" are too generic and "have" or "abound" shift the focus away from the typical sense of coming to possess richness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πλουτίζω; to be (or become) wealthy (literally or figuratively):--be increased with goods, (be made, wax) rich.
Root Family
πλουτέω (plouteō) — to be rich, to become wealthy, to abound
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G4149 | πλοῦτος | being rich |
Word Forms
9 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4147-08 |
πλουτῶν | plouton | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
is rich | being rich | being rich | 2 |
G4147-04 |
πλουτεῖν | ploutein | V PRS ACT INF |
to be rich | to be rich | to be rich | 2 |
G4147-01 |
ἐπλούτησαν | eploutesan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
were made rich | they became rich | they became rich | 2 |
G4147-07 |
πλουτήσητε | ploutesete | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
might become rich | you may become rich | you may become rich | 1 |
G4147-03 |
πεπλούτηκα | peplouteka | V PRF ACT IND 1P SG |
have become wealthy | I have become rich | I have become rich | 1 |
G4147-09 |
πλουτοῦντας | ploutountas | V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL |
the rich | those being rich | those being rich | 1 |
G4147-06 |
πλουτήσῃς | plouteses | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG |
you may be rich | you may become rich | you may become rich | 1 |
G4147-02 |
ἐπλουτήσατε | eploutesate | V AOR ACT IND 2P PL |
you have become rich | you were becoming rich | you have become rich | 1 |
G4147-05 |
πλουτήσαντες | ploutesantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
were made rich | having become rich | having become rich | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
12 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4147-09 |
Luke 1:53 | πλουτοῦντας | ploutountas | V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL |
the rich | those being rich | those being rich |
G4147-08 |
Luke 12:21 | πλουτῶν | plouton | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
rich | being rich | being rich |
G4147-08 |
Romans 10:12 | πλουτῶν | plouton | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
is rich | being rich | being rich |
G4147-02 |
1 Corinthians 4:8 | ἐπλουτήσατε | eploutesate | V AOR ACT IND 2P PL |
you have become rich | you were becoming rich | you have become rich |
G4147-07 |
2 Corinthians 8:9 | πλουτήσητε | ploutesete | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
might become rich | you may become rich | you may become rich |
G4147-04 |
1 Timothy 6:9 | πλουτεῖν | ploutein | V PRS ACT INF |
to get rich | to be rich | to be rich |
G4147-04 |
1 Timothy 6:18 | πλουτεῖν | ploutein | V PRS ACT INF |
to be rich | to be rich | to be rich |
G4147-03 |
Revelation 3:17 | πεπλούτηκα | peplouteka | V PRF ACT IND 1P SG |
have become wealthy | I have become rich | I have become rich |
G4147-06 |
Revelation 3:18 | πλουτήσῃς | plouteses | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG |
you may be rich | you may become rich | you may become rich |
G4147-01 |
Revelation 18:3 | ἐπλούτησαν | eploutesan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
were made rich | they became rich | they became rich |