πλέκω
plékō
G4120 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To intertwine or weave together strands or elements, commonly referring to the action of forming by plaiting, braiding, or twining. In literary and documentary Greek, most often denotes the making of something by interlacing or binding together, such as forming a wreath, crown, or cord by twisting components together. In the New Testament, used specifically for plaiting a crown of thorns.
Semantic Range
to weave, to braid hair, to plait, to entwine, to twine together (cords, branches, thorns), to make by twisting/interlacing (e.g., a crown or wreath)
Root / Etymology
From the root πλεκ-; the word is a primary verb of uncertain further derivation, but recurrent in Greek from early periods, meaning 'to weave' or 'to twine.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
πλέκω appears already in classical Greek (e.g., Homer, Herodotus, Plato) with the sense 'to twine, weave, braid'—referring to braiding hair, weaving wreaths or garlands, or constructing nets and similar objects by intertwining. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, usage broadens only slightly, maintaining strong association with the action of weaving together or forming by intertwining (e.g., crown of thorns in the Gospels: Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2, where soldiers πλέξαντες stephanon). English translations often render as 'to plait' or 'to braid,' but more broadly it means any act of forming an object by twisting or weaving parts together. Septuagint usage is rare; the term primarily appears in the New Testament and in classical-to-post-classical Greek literature. Distinct from terms such as ὑφαίνω ('to weave' on a loom), which refers to textile weaving, while πλέκω suggests intertwining elements without a loom, such as with a wreath, rope, or entwined hair.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primary word; to twine or braid:--plait.
Root Family
πλέκω (plékō) — to twine, to braid, to weave together, to intertwine
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4120-01 |
πλέξαντες | plexantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having plaited | having braided together | having braided together | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4120-01 |
Matthew 27:29 | πλέξαντες | plexantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having plaited | having braided together | having braided together |
G4120-01 |
Mark 15:17 | πλέξαντες | plexantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having woven | having braided together | having braided together |
G4120-01 |
John 19:2 | πλέξαντες | plexantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having twisted | having braided together | having braided together |