στέγω (G4722) — Greek Lexicon

στέγω

stégō

G4722 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To cover, keep something covered, especially as a means of protection or concealment; by extension, to bear up under, endure, or tolerate, often in the sense of exercising patience or forbearance, especially in the face of difficulty. The primary meaning is to provide cover, with figurative extensions to concepts of enduring, protecting, or tolerating.

Semantic Range

to cover (as with a roof or shelter), to protect from exposure, to bear (emotionally or physically), to endure, to forbear, to exercise restraint by withholding speech or reaction

Root / Etymology

From the root στέγ-, related to στέγη (roof, covering). The term is built on the concept of physical covering, which is then applied metaphorically to endurance and forbearance in speech and action.

Historical & Contextual Notes

στέγω is rare in classical Greek, where it predominantly means 'to cover' as with a roof, or occasionally 'to hold back' (e.g. holding back one's emotions or words). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in the New Testament, the word acquires a more abstract sense of 'enduring,' 'forbearing,' or 'bearing with' someone or something, usually involving patience under provocation or suffering. The figurative use, particularly in Pauline contexts (e.g., 1 Corinthians 13:7), moves beyond mere patience toward the idea of ‘bearing up under’ burdens, offenses, or hardships, sometimes with the nuance of protecting another from exposure (as with faults). English Bible translations have often rendered it as 'bear,' 'endure,' 'forbear,' or 'suffer,' but the underlying shade of meaning—protective concealment or guarding against exposure—can be missed. Not to be confused with more general terms for suffering or patience, such as ὑπομένω (to endure) or ἀνέχομαι (to tolerate), στέγω emphasizes sheltering or protective restraint.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from στέγη; to roof over, i.e. (figuratively) to cover with silence (endure patiently):--(for-)bear, suffer.

Root Family

στέγ- (stégē) — to cover, to shelter

Root στέγ- to cover, to shelter, to protect, to endure

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G4721	στέγη	roof covering

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4722-01`	στέγει	stegei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	bears	covers over	covers over	1
`G4722-02`	στέγομεν	stegomen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we endure	we are covering over	we endure	1
`G4722-03`	στέγων	stegon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	enduring	covering	enduring	1
`G4722-04`	στέγοντες	stegontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	enduring	covering	enduring	1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4722-02`	1 Corinthians 9:12	στέγομεν	stegomen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we endure	we are covering over	we endure
`G4722-01`	1 Corinthians 13:7	στέγει	stegei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	bears	covers over	covers over
`G4722-04`	1 Thessalonians 3:1	στέγοντες	stegontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	enduring	covering	enduring
`G4722-03`	1 Thessalonians 3:5	στέγων	stegon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	enduring	covering	enduring

← G4721 Greek Lexicon G4723 →