Original Word: οἰκοδομέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: oikodomeó
Pronunciation: oy-ko-do-MEH-o
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kod-om-eh'-o)
Definition: To build, to construct, to edify
Meaning: I erect a building, build; fig. of the building up of character: I build up, edify, encourage.

Word Origin: From οἶκος (oikos, meaning "house") and δόμος (domos, meaning "building" or "structure").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H1129 (בָּנָה, banah) - to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue

Usage: The verb οἰκοδομέω primarily means "to build" or "to construct" in a physical sense, such as building a house or a structure. In the New Testament, it is also used metaphorically to refer to spiritual edification or the building up of the church and individual believers. This dual usage highlights both the physical act of construction and the spiritual act of strengthening and encouraging the faith of others.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek culture, building was a significant activity, reflecting both practical needs and artistic expression. The construction of homes, temples, and public buildings was central to community life. In the Jewish context, the concept of building was deeply tied to the Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of God's presence among His people. The New Testament writers, particularly Paul, often used the metaphor of building to describe the growth and development of the Christian community, emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation in Christ.

3618 oikodoméō (from 3624 /oíkos, "a house" and domeō, "to build") – properly, to build a house (home, edifice); (figuratively) to edify – literally, "build someone up," helping them to stand (be strong, "sturdy").

Word Origin
from oikodomos
Definition
to build a house
NASB Translation
build (13), builders (4), building (2), built (10), edified (1), edifies (3), edify (1), rebuild (4), strengthened (1).

STRONGS NT 3618: οἰκοδομέω

οἰκοδομέω, οἰκοδομῶ; imperfect ᾠκοδόμουν; future οἰκοδομήσω; 1 aorist ᾠκοδόμησα (ὀικοδόμησα Tr WH in Acts 7:47; see Tdf. at the passage; Proleg., p. 120; WHs Appendix, p. 161; Lob. ad Phryn., p. 153; Winers Grammar, § 12, 4; Buttmann, 34 (30)); passive (present ὀικοδομοῦμαι (infinitive οἰκοδομεῖσθαι, Luke 6:48 Treg.); perfect infinitive οἰκοδομῆσθαι (Luke 6:48 T WH)); pluperfect 3 person singular ᾠκοδόμητο; 1 aorist ὠκοδομήθην (ὀικοδομήθην, T WH in John 2:20); 1 future ὀικοδομηθήσομαι; (οἰκοδόμος, which see); from Herodotus down; the Sept. for בָּנָה; to build a house. erect a building;

a. properly, α. to build (up from the foundation): absolutely, Luke 11:48 G T WH Tr text ; οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, a substantive, the builders (cf. Winers Grammar, § 45, 7; Buttmann, § 144, 11), Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11 Rec.; 1 Peter 2:7, from Psalm 117:22 (); ἐπ' ἀλλότριον θεμέλιον, to build upon a foundation laid by others, i. e. (without a figure) to carry on instruction begun by others, Romans 15:20; οἰκοδομεῖν τί, Galatians 2:18; πύργον, Matthew 21:33; Mark 12:1; Luke 14:28; ἀποθήκας, Luke 12:18; ναόν, Mark 14:58; passive John 2:20 (on the aorist cf. 2 Esdr. 5:16); οἶκον, passive, 1 Peter 2:5 ((here T ἐποικον), cf. Winer's Grammar, 603 (561), and add ὀικούργειν τά κατά τόν οἶκον, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 1, 3 [ET]); (οἰκίαν, Luke 6:48 (cf. Winer's Grammar, the passage cited)); συναγωγήν or οἶκον τίνι, for the use of or in honor of one, Luke 7:5; Acts 7:47, 49 (Genesis 8:20; Ezekiel 16:24); οἰκίαν ἐπί τί, Matthew 7:24, 26; Luke 6:49; πόλιν ἐπ' ὄρους, Luke 4:29. β. contextually equivalent to to restore by building, to rebuild, repair: τί, Matthew 23:29; Matthew 26:61; Matthew 27:40; Mark 15:29; Luke 11:47 and R (L brackets Tr marginal reading) in 48.

b. metaphorically, α. equivalent to to found: ἐπί ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρα οἰκοδομήσω μου τήν ἐκκλησίαν, i. e. by reason of the strength of thy faith thou shalt be my principal support in the establishment of my church, Matthew 16:18. β. Since both a Christian church and individual Christians are likened to a building or temple in which God or the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:9, 16ff; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21), the erection of which temple will not be completely finished till the return of Christ from heaven, those who, by action, instruction, exhortation, comfort, promote the Christian wisdom of others and help them to live a correspondent life are regarded as taking part in the erection of that building, and hence, are said οἰκοδομεῖν, i. e. (dropping the figure) to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness: absolutely, Acts 20:32 L T Tr WH; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 10:23; τινα, ; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; passive to grow in wisdom, piety, etc., Acts 9:31; 1 Corinthians 14:17; universally, to give one strength and courage, dispose to: εἰς τήν πίστιν, Polycarp, ad Philip. 3, 2 [ET] (yet here to be built up into (in) etc.); even to do what is wrong (A. V. embolden), εἰς τό τά εἰδωλόθυτα ἐσθίειν, 1 Corinthians 8:10 (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 39, 3 N. 3). This metaphorical use of the verb Paul, in the opinion of Fritzsche (Ep. ad Romans, iii., p. 205f), did not derive from the figure, of building a temple, but from the O. T., where "בָּנָה and הָרַס with an accusative of the person (to build one up and to pull one down) denote to bless and to ruin; to prosper and to injure, anyone"; cf. Psalm 27:5 (); Jeremiah 24:6; Jeremiah 40:7 (). (Compare: ἀνοικοδομέω, ἐποικοδομέω, συνοικοδομέω.)

STRONGS NT 3618: οἰκοδόμοςοἰκοδόμος, ὀικοδομου, ὁ (οἶκος, δέμω to build; cf. οἰκονόμος), a builder, an architect: Acts 4:11 L T Tr WH. (Herodotus, Xenophon, Plato, Plutarch, others; the Sept..)

build, edify, embolden.

From the same as oikodome; to be a house-builder, i.e. Construct or (figuratively) confirm -- (be in) build(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.

see GREEK oikodome

καὶ οικοδομει οικοδομεί οἰκοδομεῖ οικοδομειν οικοδομείν οἰκοδομεῖν οικοδομείς οικοδομείσθαι οικοδομεισθε οικοδομείσθε οἰκοδομεῖσθε οικοδομειται οικοδομείται οἰκοδομεῖται οικοδομειτε οικοδομείτε οἰκοδομεῖτε οικοδομηθη οικοδομηθή οἰκοδομήθη οικοδομηθήναι οικοδομηθής οικοδομηθήσεσθε οικοδομηθησεται οικοδομηθήσεται οἰκοδομηθήσεται οικοδομηθηση οικοδομηθήση οικοδομηθήσονται οικοδομηθήσονταί οικοδομηθήτω οικοδομησαι οικοδομήσαι οἰκοδομῆσαι οικοδομήσαντες οικοδομησαντι οικοδομήσαντι οἰκοδομήσαντι οικοδομήσας οικοδομήσατε οικοδομησάτω οικοδομησάτωσαν οικοδομήσει οικοδομήσεις οικοδομησεν οἰκοδόμησεν οικοδομησετε οικοδομήσετε οικοδομήσετέ οἰκοδομήσετέ οικοδομήση οικοδομήσης οικοδομήσητε οικοδομησθαι οἰκοδομῆσθαι οικοδομήσομεν οικοδόμησον οικοδόμησόν οικοδομήσουσι οικοδομήσουσιν οικοδομησω οικοδομήσω οἰκοδομήσω οικοδομήσωμεν οικοδομούμεν οικοδομούμεναι οικοδομουμενη οικοδομουμένη οἰκοδομουμένη οικοδομούμενον οικοδομουντες οικοδομούντες οἰκοδομοῦντες οικοδομουντι οικοδομούντι οἰκοδομοῦντι οικοδομούντων οικοδομούσι οικοδομούσιν οικοδομω οικοδομώ οἰκοδομῶ οικοδομων οικοδομών οἰκοδομῶν οἰκοδόμων ωκοδομήθη ωκοδόμηκα ωκοδομήκατέ ωκοδομημέναι ωκοδομημένον ωκοδομημένος ωκοδόμηνται ωκοδόμησα ωκοδόμησά ωκοδομήσαί ωκοδομήσαμεν ωκοδόμησαν ωκοδόμησάν ωκοδόμησας ωκοδομήσατε ωκοδομήσατέ ωκοδόμησε ωκοδομησεν ωκοδόμησεν ᾠκοδόμησεν ωκοδόμηται ωκοδομητο ωκοδόμητο ᾠκοδόμητο ωκοδομουν ωκοδόμουν ᾠκοδόμουν ωκοδόμουσαν kai oikodomei oikodomeî oikodomein oikodomeîn oikodomeisthe oikodomeîsthe oikodomeitai oikodomeîtai oikodomeite oikodomeîte oikodomesai oikodomêsai oikodomēsai oikodomē̂sai oikodomesanti oikodomēsanti oikodomḗsanti oikodomesen oikodomēsen oikodómesen oikodómēsen ōikodómēsen oikodomesete oikodomēsete oikodomḗseté oikodomeso oikodomēsō oikodomḗso oikodomḗsō oikodomesthai oikodomêsthai oikodomēsthai oikodomē̂sthai oikodomethe oikodomēthē oikodomḗthe oikodomḗthē oikodomethesetai oikodomethḗsetai oikodomēthēsetai oikodomēthḗsetai oikodómeto ōikodómēto oikodomo oikodomô oikodomō oikodomō̂ oikodomon oikodomôn oikodomōn oikodomō̂n oikodómon oikodómōn oikodomoumene oikodomoumenē oikodomouméne oikodomouménē oikodómoun ōikodómoun oikodomountes oikodomoûntes oikodomounti oikodomoûnti okodomesen ōkodomēsen okodometo ōkodomēto okodomoun ōkodomounInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts