Greek · G4121 · unreviewed

πλεονάζω

To increase

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πλεονάζω G4121

Pronunciation pleonázō

What does πλεονάζω (pleonázō) mean in the Bible?

πλεονάζω (pleonázō) is a Greek word meaning "to increase". πλεονάζω (πλέον), [in LXX for עֲדַף, רָבָה, etc.

Full entry for πλεονάζω (G4121) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to increase

Extended definition

To superabound or overflow excessively; often of grace or spiritual qualities multiplying beyond ordinary measure

(πλέον), [in LXX for עֲדַף, רָבָה, etc. ;]

IIntrans.

1Of persons;

ato abound in (Arist.);

bto superabound: 2Co.8:15 (LXX).

2Of things, to abound, superabound: Rom.5:20 6:1, 2Co.4:15, Php.4:17, 2Th.1:3, 2Pe.1:8.

IITrans. (Num.26:54, Psa.71:21; not cl, see Lft., Notes, 48 f.), to make to abound: 1Th.3:12 (cf. ὑπερ-πλεονάζω).

Synonymsπερισσεύω, q.v

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Aorist Present

Voices

Active

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 2×

Aorist Active Rom 5:20 · Rom 6:1 2×

Indicative states a fact or reality 3×

Aorist Active Rom 5:20 · 2 Cor 8:15 2×

Present Active 2 Thess 1:3 1×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 3×

Present Active Phil 4:17 · 2 Pet 1:8 2×

Aorist Active 2 Cor 4:15 1×

Optative wish or remote possibility 1×

Aorist Active 1 Thess 3:12 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 7 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 2 ongoing 1 subjunctive 2 participle 2

Tense

aorist 5 present 2

Voice

active 7

Mood

indicative 3 participle 2 subjunctive 2

NT Occurrences

Romans 5:20 πλεονάσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Romans 5:20 ἐπλεόνασεν aorist active indicative completed Romans 6:1 πλεονάσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive 2 Corinthians 4:15 πλεονάσασα aorist active participle participle 2 Corinthians 8:15 ἐπλεόνασεν aorist active indicative completed Philippians 4:17 πλεονάζοντα present active participle participle 2 Thessalonians 1:3 πλεονάζει present active indicative ongoing

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Biblical Witnesses

Romans 5:20 abounded pleonázō Subjunctive · Aorist Active

sin increased, but grace superabounded even more in response

Romans 6:1 abound pleonázō Subjunctive · Aorist Active

rhetorical question about whether sin should increase for grace to multiply

2 Corinthians 4:15 abound pleonázō Participle · Aorist Active

grace extends to more people, causing thanksgiving to increase and abound

1 Thessalonians 3:12 abound pleonázō Optative · Aorist Active

transitive use, prayer that the Lord make love increase and overflow abundantly

2 Thessalonians 1:3 grows exceedingly pleonázō Indicative · Present Active

faith and love of believers increase and multiply abundantly over time

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Philippians 4 — Rejoicing, Peace, Contentment, and Gospel Partnership in Christ Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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