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κοσμέω

kosméō

G2885 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To arrange or set in order, to adorn or decorate. In its primary sense, κοσμέω refers to the act of ordering, arranging, or putting something in its proper state. In extended usage, it commonly describes the act of adorning, beautifying, or furnishing, especially in reference to people, objects, buildings, or even ethical conduct. In specialized contexts, it can refer to trimming (as of lamp wicks) to maintain function and appearance.

Semantic Range

to arrange, to set in order, to decorate, to adorn, to embellish, to garnish, to furnish, to trim (lamps/wicks), to bring into proper condition, to display decorum

Root / Etymology

From the noun κόσμος (order, arrangement, decoration, world); the verb is formed with the suffix -έω, indicating action. The core sense is derived from the root idea of 'order' or 'arrangement.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κοσμέω primarily meant to put in order or arrange, including in military or civic contexts. Over time, the sense of 'adorn' or 'decorate' became prominent, and this was carried into Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament. In the philosophical and moral literature of the period, κοσμέω can also refer to ordering oneself, one's life, or one's behavior, implying decorum and propriety. In the New Testament, the verb often describes the adornment of women (e.g., 1 Peter 3:5), buildings (e.g., Matthew 23:29), or metaphorically, the arrangement or propriety of conduct. The English tradition 'adorn' captures one central meaning but loses the foundational Greek sense of 'order' and can miss the nuanced connection to arrangement and fittingness. The specific sense of 'trimming a lamp wick' reflects the action of making orderly or fit for use. In Jewish-Greek writings, this verb may reflect both literal and metaphorical beautification, and carries connotations of fitting arrangement reflective of the ordered cosmos (from κόσμος).

Translation Consistency

primary "adorn" 7 occurrences

κοσμέω most commonly carries the sense of making beautiful or putting in proper order (e.g. adorning oneself or something). “Adorn” naturally covers both decorating and arranging/setting in order in ordinary English and matches the typical New Testament usage better than alternatives like “arrange” or “decorate,” so it provides a consistent, natural rendering for all forms of this lemma.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"having been set in order" (2x) "arrange in order" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κόσμος; to put in proper order, i.e. decorate (literally or figuratively); specially, to snuff (a wick):--adorn, garnish, trim.

Root Family

κοσμ- (kosméō) — to arrange, to set in order, to adorn

Root κοσμ- to arrange, to set in order, to adorn
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2886 κοσμικός worldly (feminine plural)
G2887 κόσμιος to an orderly woman
G2889 κόσμος to the ordered world

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2885-05 κεκοσμημένον kekosmemenon V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG put in order having been set in order having been set in order 2
G2885-01 ἐκόσμησαν ekosmesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL trimmed they set in order adorned 1
G2885-02 ἐκόσμουν ekosmoun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL used to adorn they were setting in order used to adorn 1
G2885-03 κεκοσμημένην kekosmemenen V PRF PASS PTCP ACC F SG adorned having been adorned having been adorned 1
G2885-04 κεκοσμημένοι kekosmemenoi V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M PL adorned having been set in order adorned 1
G2885-06 κεκόσμηται kekosmetai V PRF PASS IND 3P SG it was adorned it has been set in order has been adorned 1
G2885-07 κοσμεῖν kosmein V PRS ACT INF to adorn to set in order to adorn 1
G2885-08 κοσμεῖτε kosmeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL adorn you (plural) are arranging in order you (plural) adorn 1
G2885-09 κοσμῶσιν kosmosin V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL they may adorn they may arrange in order they may arrange in order 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2885-05 Matthew 12:44 κεκοσμημένον kekosmemenon V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG put in order having been set in order having been set in order
G2885-08 Matthew 23:29 κοσμεῖτε kosmeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL adorn you (plural) are arranging in order you (plural) adorn
G2885-01 Matthew 25:7 ἐκόσμησαν ekosmesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL trimmed they set in order adorned
G2885-05 Luke 11:25 κεκοσμημένον kekosmemenon V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG put in order having been set in order having been set in order
G2885-06 Luke 21:5 κεκόσμηται kekosmetai V PRF PASS IND 3P SG it was adorned it has been set in order has been adorned
G2885-07 1 Timothy 2:9 κοσμεῖν kosmein V PRS ACT INF to adorn to set in order to adorn
G2885-09 Titus 2:10 κοσμῶσιν kosmosin V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL they may adorn they may arrange in order they may arrange in order
G2885-02 1 Peter 3:5 ἐκόσμουν ekosmoun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL used to adorn they were setting in order used to adorn
G2885-03 Revelation 21:2 κεκοσμημένην kekosmemenen V PRF PASS PTCP ACC F SG adorned having been adorned having been adorned
G2885-04 Revelation 21:19 κεκοσμημένοι kekosmemenoi V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M PL adorned having been set in order adorned
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