ἐποικοδομ-έω G2026
To build upon a foundation; to erect or edify upon something already laid, used metaphorically for spiritual growth.
A construction metaphor meaning to build upon a foundation already in place. Every New Testament occurrence is figurative: Paul warns the Corinthians that while he laid the foundation of Christ, each builder must take care how they build upon it — with gold, silver, and precious stones or with wood, hay, and straw (1 Cor 3:10–14). Ephesians 2:20 declares that believers are 'built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.' Colossians 2:7 speaks of being 'rooted and built up in him.' The Spanish 'edificar encima' and French 'batir sur' both preserve the layered image: this is not building from scratch but constructing upward on what God has already established.
Senses
1. build upon, build up on a foundation — To build upon an existing foundation — used exclusively in metaphorical and spiritual contexts in the NT to describe the work of edification on the groundwork that God or his apostles have already laid. Paul's extended building metaphor in 1 Corinthians 3:10–14 is the locus classicus: he laid the foundation and others build upon it, but the quality of each person's work will be tested by fire. Ephesians 2:20 presents the church as built upon the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone. Colossians 2:7 urges believers to be 'built up in him.' The Spanish 'edificar encima' and German 'aufbauen' both capture the upward, layered quality of the construction — growth upon a sure and already-given base. 7×
amh["እየገነባችሁ"]·AR["بانون", "بَناهُ", "مَبنِيّينَ", "يَبْني-عَلى", "يَبْني-عَلَيْهِ"]·ben["গঠিত-হয়ে", "নির্মাণ-করছে।", "নির্মাণ-করে", "নির্মাণ-করে।", "নির্মাণ-করেছে,", "নির্মাণকারী", "নির্মিত-হয়ে"]·ces["budujíce"]·dan["opbyggende"]·DE["aufbauen", "auferbauend"]·ell["εποικοδομούντες"]·EN["being-built-up", "building-up", "builds-upon", "having-been-built", "he-builds-upon", "he-built-upon"]·FR["bâtir-sur", "vous-édifiant", "ἐποικοδομηθέντες", "ἐποικοδομούμενοι"]·guj["બાંધતાં"]·hat["bati"]·hau["kuna-gina"]·heb["בָּנָה-עָלָיו", "בּוֹנֶה-עַל", "בּוֹנֶה-עָלָיו", "בונים", "נִבְנִים", "שֶׁנִּבְנֵיתֶם"]·HI["बनअये-जअते-हुए", "बनअये-हुए", "बनाता-है", "बनाते-हुए", "बनाया"]·hun["épülvén"]·ID["dia-bangun-di-atasnya", "dibangun", "membangun-di-atas", "membangun-di-atasnya", "sambil-membangun"]·IT["costruire-sopra", "edificando", "epoikodomoumenoi", "epoikodomēthentes"]·jav["dipun-bangun,", "kabangun", "kadegaken", "mbangun", "mbangun-nginggil", "mbangun-nginggil."]·JA["建て上げながら"]·KO["세우는지", "세운다", "세워가며", "세워지면서", "세워진", "세웠다"]·mar["उभारणी-करणारे"]·mya["တည်ဆောက်လျက်"]·nld["opbouwende"]·nor["oppbyggende"]·pnb["اُسارن-والے"]·pol["budując"]·PT["edifica-sobre", "edificados", "edificando", "edificou-sobre"]·ron["zidiți-vă"]·RU["надстраивает", "построенные", "построил", "созидая", "устрояемые"]·ES["edifica-encima", "edificados-sobre", "edificándoos", "edificó-encima", "siendo-sobreedificados"]·SW["alijenga-juu-yake,", "anajenga-juu-ya", "anajenga-juu-yake.", "anavyojenga-juu-yake.", "mkijengana", "mkijengwa", "mliojengwa"]·swe["uppbyggande"]·tam["கட்டிக்கொண்டு"]·tel["కట్టుకొనుచు"]·tgl["itinatayo"]·TH["สร้างขึ้น"]·TR["her biri", "inşa ediyorsa", "inşa-ederek", "ki-", "ustune-kurulmus", "uzerine-kurulmus"]·ukr["збудовуючи"]·urd["تعمیر-کرتا-ہے", "تعمیر-کرتے-ہوئے", "تعمیر-کرے", "تعمیر-کیا", "تعمیر-کیے-گئے", "تعمیر-ہوتے-ہوئے"]·VI["xây-dựng"]·yor["tí-ẹ-ń-kọ́-ara-yín"]·yue["建立"]·ZH["建造"]
Related Senses
H1129 1. Qal: build, construct (316×)H2691a 1. court, courtyard, enclosure (142×)G4864 1. synagogue, place of Jewish assembly (56×)G5438 1. prison, place of confinement (41×)H4013 1. fortress, stronghold (37×)H0875 1. well, cistern (dug water source) (35×)H0352b 1. pillar or jamb of gateway (32×)H2474 1. window, opening in wall (32×)H1406 1. roof / rooftop (31×)H4609b 1. steps, stairs, stairway (31×)H1129 2. Nifal: be built, be established (30×)H0361 1. portico, porch (architectural structure) (27×)H1129 3. Qal participle: builder (27×)H1219 1. fortified, inaccessible (25×)H4581 1. fortress, stronghold (25×)H3805 1. capital of a pillar (24×)H4350 1. stand, base, pedestal (24×)H0759 1. palace, royal residence (21×)H4692 1. siege, besiegement (20×)G3618 1. build or construct physically (19×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐποικοδομ-έω, build up, -ήσαντας αὐτὸ (i.e. τὸ τεῖχος) ὑψηλότερον Refs 5th c.BC+: metaphorically, pile up, use a climax, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 build upon, ἐπὶ κρηπῖδι Refs 5th c.BC+: metaphorically, Refs 5th c.BC+; φύσει μαθήματα Refs 1st c.AD+; τινὶ εὐτονίαν, ἀσφάλειαν, Refs 2nd c.AD+; ἐπὶ θεμέλιον or θεμελίῳ, NT+2nd c.AD+; τοῖς ἀληθέσιν ἐψευσμένα Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2.b edify, ἑαυτοὺς τῇ πίστει…