Brief Overview of πλεονάζω (Strong’s G4121: pleonazō)

Strong’s G4121: A verb meaning to increase, abound, or become more. From πλέον (pleon), “more.” In ancient Greek, it often carried negative connotations of excess or greed. In New Testament usage, it’s transformed to express the superabundance of God’s grace and spiritual growth.

U- Unveiling the Word

πλεονάζω represents a dramatic theological transformation in meaning. While its secular usage often carried negative connotations of excess or greed, Paul particularly redeems it to describe the superabounding nature of God’s grace. In Romans 5:20, it appears in one of the most powerful statements about grace overwhelming sin. Early church fathers frequently used this term to emphasize the limitless nature of divine grace and the abundant growth of Christian virtues. Today, it continues to express the overwhelming nature of God’s grace and the increasing manifestation of His work in believers’ lives.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πλεονάζω, pleonazō, /pleh-on-AHD-zo/
• Detailed pronunciation: pleh-on-AHD-zo (emphasis on third syllable)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• Root: πλεον- (pleon-) meaning “more”
• Suffix: -άζω (-azō) causative verb ending
• Derived from πλέον (pleon), comparative of πολύς

D – Defining Meanings

• To increase
• To abound
• To multiply

For compound words: Not a compound word, but contains the productive -άζω suffix indicating causative action

Translation Options:

• To abound – Emphasizes overwhelming quantity
• To increase – Focuses on progressive growth
• To multiply – Captures the exponential nature

E – Exploring Similar Words

• περισσεύω (perisseuō) /per-is-SYOO-oh/ – to overflow, emphasizes abundance
  See G4052
• αὐξάνω (auxanō) /ow-KSAN-oh/ – to grow, emphasizes natural development
  See G837

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Verb Features:

• Tense: Present, Future, Aorist, Perfect
• Voice: Active, Passive
• Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Optative
• Person: First, Second, Third
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Aspect: Continuous or completed action

Examples:
Present: πλεονάζω (I increase)
Future: πλεονάσω (I will increase)
Aorist: ἐπλεόνασα (I increased)
Perfect: πεπλεόνακα (I have increased)

• Cross-references to adjective πλείων and noun πλεονασμός

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its transformation from negative to positive usage. Thayer’s notes its development from quantitative to qualitative increase. LSJ documents its frequent negative connotations in classical Greek. Vine’s highlights its use in describing grace. Strong’s connects it to the concept of multiplication. LEH provides Septuagint usage showing both positive and negative contexts. Moulton and Milligan cite examples showing its business usage.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” Romans 5:20

Additional References:
2 Corinthians 4:15, Philippians 4:17, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 2 Peter 1:8

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

πλεονάζω powerfully illustrates how God’s grace overwhelms human sin. What was once a term often associated with greed becomes, in New Testament usage, a beautiful expression of divine superabundance. It proclaims that where sin increases, grace increases all the more, showing that God’s redemptive power transforms not only lives but language itself.

D – Did You Know?

1. The term was commonly used in ancient financial documents for interest accumulation.
2. Early Christian writers used it to describe the multiplication of loaves and fishes.
3. The word influenced mathematical terminology for geometric progression.

Strong’s G4121: A verb expressing increase or abundance, transformed in New Testament usage from its often negative secular connotations to describe the superabounding nature of God’s grace and the multiplication of spiritual virtues in believers’ lives.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: abundance, increase, grace, multiplication, Paul’s epistles, Romans, spiritual growth, divine abundance, biblical Greek, transformation, redemption, overflow​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​