Introduction

Understanding Greek words is essential in Biblical studies, as it reveals the deeper meanings and contexts of the Scriptures. The Greek word ἐπίβλημα (transliterated as “epíblēma”) is particularly significant because it refers to a “patch,” “covering,” or “piece put on.” This noun is crucial for interpreting New Testament passages where concepts of repair, covering, or adding something new to something old are discussed. By understanding ἐπίβλημα, readers can better appreciate the metaphorical and practical applications within biblical narratives and gain insight into ancient Greek culture and daily life.

Key Information

• Greek Word: ἐπίβλημα (epíblēma) [eh-PEE-bleh-mah]
• Etymology Root Words and Meanings:
• Derived from ἐπί (epi), meaning “upon” or “on,” and βάλλω (ballō), meaning “to throw” or “to cast.” Combined, ἐπίβλημα means “that which is put upon” or “a patch,” referring to something placed on top of or used to cover.
• Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
• Grammatical Details: Nominative case, singular form. The word follows the second declension pattern for neuter nouns in Greek.
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon.

Primary Meanings

• “Patch”
• “Covering”
• “Piece put on”
• “Cloth used to mend or repair”
• “A layer added on top”

Similar Words:
The Greek word προσπάτωμα (prospátōma) [pros-PAH-to-ma], meaning “a patch” or “something attached,” is similar to ἐπίβλημα. However, while προσπάτωμα often emphasizes an additional attachment or a piece sewn on, ἐπίβλημα primarily focuses on a covering or something put upon an existing object. Another related word is ἐπικάλυμμα (epikálymma) [eh-pee-KAH-lym-ma], meaning “covering” or “veil,” which refers more broadly to something that completely covers or conceals, rather than a patch meant for repair.

Further Insights:
As a noun, ἐπίβλημα refers to something that is added to cover, repair, or conceal an existing surface or item. It is often used metaphorically in contexts where new and old are contrasted or where superficial repairs are insufficient for a deeper need. In the Greek grammatical structure, it is a neuter noun and follows the second declension pattern, with its genitive form being ἐπιβλήματος (epiblēmatos).
Click here for a beginner’s guide to reading Greek.

Lexicon Insights

BDAG:
The BDAG lexicon defines ἐπίβλημα as “a piece of cloth for mending,” specifically a “patch.” It notes its use in the New Testament to emphasize the incompatibility of new and old fabrics in Jesus’ parables.

Thayers:
Thayer’s lexicon describes ἐπίβλημα as “that which is put upon” or “a patch,” highlighting its application in contexts involving repairs or mending, often used metaphorically to describe mismatched or incompatible combinations.

Vines:
Vines Expository Dictionary categorizes ἐπίβλημα under nouns describing coverings or patches, focusing on its metaphorical use in the New Testament to explain the futility of patching new things onto old, especially in the context of Jesus’ teachings.

LSJ:
The Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) lexicon provides a broad overview of ἐπίβλημα as a noun meaning “patch” or “covering.” It appears in classical Greek literature to denote a piece used to cover, conceal, or repair an existing surface or garment.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:
Strong’s Concordance lists ἐπίβλημα as a noun meaning “patch” or “that which is put on.” It highlights its use in passages where a literal or metaphorical patching or covering is described, indicating the futility of trying to mend something old with something new.

Related Scripture References

• Matthew 9:16: “No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up (ἐπίβλημα) taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.”
• Mark 2:21: “No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece (ἐπίβλημα) that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.”
• Luke 5:36: “And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece (ἐπίβλημα) that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.”

Classical Usage

Summary of ἐπίβλημα (G1915)

The Greek noun ἐπίβλημα (epíblēma) is a significant term in both Biblical and classical Greek literature, capturing the concept of “patch,” “covering,” or “piece put on.” Its primary meanings revolve around the idea of something used to cover, repair, or conceal an existing surface or item. In the New Testament, ἐπίβλημα appears in contexts that emphasize the incompatibility of new and old, often used metaphorically to illustrate deeper spiritual truths about renewal and transformation. Understanding ἐπίβλημα is essential for appreciating the narrative details, cultural practices, and symbolic meanings described in ancient texts.

Did You Know?

Did you know that the word ἐπίβλημα is used in Jesus’ parable about sewing new cloth onto an old garment, found in Matthew 9:16, Mark 2:21, and Luke 5:36? This term illustrates the futility of trying to blend the new and old, highlighting the importance of genuine transformation rather than superficial patching.