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οἰκοδομή

oikodomḗ

G3619 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Act or process of building or constructing, frequently referring to the action of erecting a building or structure. In extended and figurative senses, denotes the development, establishment, or strengthening of a community, group, or individual. Often used in the context of communal cohesion or ethical growth.

Semantic Range

building (the act or result), construction, structure, edification, encouragement, strengthening (especially of a group or community), development (physical or figurative)

Root / Etymology

Derived from οἶκος ('house') and the stem δομ- (from δέμω/'to build'), together literally indicating 'house-building.' Formation is abstract (feminine) from the verbal action or result. Cognates include οἰκοδόμος ('builder'), οἰκοδομέω ('to build').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, οἰκοδομή is rarely attested; the cognate verb οἰκοδομέω is common. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, οἰκοδομή gains prominence both in reference to physical structures and, increasingly, in metaphorical senses (moral, spiritual, or communal strengthening). The term is often used in the New Testament for communal encouragement or edification, not solely as abstract personal improvement but as the constructive upbuilding of the collective. English translations typically render the term as 'building' or 'edification,' but may not always convey its communal or corporate nuance. Unlike more secular uses of δομή (structure), οἰκοδομή retains close ties to its root sense of building a 'household' or collective entity.

Translation Consistency

primary "build" 2 occurrences

οἰκοδομή primarily denotes the act or result of building and is regularly used figuratively for edification or strengthening of a community or person. The verb “build” is the most natural, broadly accurate English base to cover physical construction, development, and the common figurative sense of edification/strengthening.

Alternatives (16 occurrences):
"building-up" (13x) "buildings" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine (abstract) of a compound of οἶκος and the base of δῶμα; architecture, i.e. (concretely) a structure; figuratively, confirmation:--building, edify(-ication, -ing).

Root Family

οἰκοδομή (oikodomē) — building, construction, establishing, strengthening

Root οἰκοδoμ- to build, to construct, to establish

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3619-04 οἰκοδομήν oikodomen N ACC F SG edification building-up building-up 11
G3619-05 οἰκοδομῆς oikodomes N GEN F SG building up of building building up 2
G3619-03 οἰκοδομή oikodome N NOM F SG building building-up building-up 2
G3619-02 οἰκοδομὰς oikodomas N ACC F PL buildings acts of building buildings 2
G3619-01 οἰκοδομαί oikodomai N NOM F PL buildings buildings buildings 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3619-02 Matthew 24:1 οἰκοδομὰς oikodomas N ACC F PL buildings acts of building buildings
G3619-01 Mark 13:1 οἰκοδομαί oikodomai N NOM F PL buildings buildings buildings
G3619-02 Mark 13:2 οἰκοδομάς oikodomas N ACC F PL buildings acts of building buildings
G3619-05 Romans 14:19 οἰκοδομῆς oikodomes N GEN F SG building up of building building up
G3619-04 Romans 15:2 οἰκοδομήν oikodomen N ACC F SG edification building-up building-up
G3619-03 1 Corinthians 3:9 οἰκοδομή oikodome N NOM F SG building building-up building-up
G3619-04 1 Corinthians 14:3 οἰκοδομὴν oikodomen N ACC F SG edification building-up building-up
G3619-04 1 Corinthians 14:5 οἰκοδομὴν oikodomen N ACC F SG edifying building-up building-up
G3619-04 1 Corinthians 14:12 οἰκοδομὴν oikodomen N ACC F SG edifying building-up building-up
G3619-04 1 Corinthians 14:26 οἰκοδομὴν oikodomen N ACC F SG edification building-up building-up
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