πλάσσω
plássō
G4111 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To mold or shape a substance, typically with the hands; to form, fashion, or model something, often with an emphasis on artistic skill or deliberate creation. Used of the physical act of shaping clay or other materials, as well as metaphorically for forming or inventing (stories, concepts, or appearances).
Semantic Range
to mold, to shape, to form (something from a substance), to fashion, to model as in art or craftsmanship, to fabricate (a story or concept), to invent, to feign
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Greek root πλάσ- (plás-), related to the act of molding, forming, or shaping. Cognate with the noun πλάσμα (plásma, 'something formed or molded').
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, πλάσσω primarily referred to shaping or modeling clay, especially in the context of pottery or sculpture. This foundational sense persists into Hellenistic and Koine periods. In the Septuagint, it is often used to translate Hebrew roots meaning 'to form or create,' especially in the context of the deity forming human beings or animals (e.g., Genesis 2:7 LXX for God forming the human from the earth). In the New Testament, the verb appears rarely (Romans 9:20), again with the metaphor of the potter and clay, emphasizing deliberate action and creative authority. The verb can also take on a secondary, figurative sense of 'fabricate' or 'invent,' such as inventing a story. English translations such as 'form,' 'mold,' or 'fashion' capture the core physical sense but may miss potential metaphorical extensions present in literary and philosophical sources. The semantic range sometimes overlaps with ποιέω ('to make') and δέω ('to bind'), but πλάσσω specifically evokes the act of shaping with a hands-on, modeling action.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primary verb; to mould, i.e. shape or fabricate:--form.
Root Family
πλάσ- (plássō) — to form, to shape, to mold
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4111-01 |
ἐπλάσθη | eplasthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was formed | was formed | was formed | 1 |
G4111-02 |
πλάσαντι | plasanti | V AOR ACT PTCP DAT M SG |
one-who-formed | to the one having formed | one having formed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4111-02 |
Romans 9:20 | πλάσαντι | plasanti | V AOR ACT PTCP DAT M SG |
one-who-formed | to the one having formed | one having formed |
G4111-01 |
1 Timothy 2:13 | ἐπλάσθη | eplasthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was formed | was formed | was formed |