3618. oikodomeó
Lexical Summary
oikodomeó: To build, to construct, to edify

Original Word: οἰκοδομέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: oikodomeó
Pronunciation: oy-ko-do-MEH-o
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kod-om-eh'-o)
KJV: (be in) build(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden
NASB: build, built, builders, rebuild, edifies, building, edified
Word Origin: [from a compound of G3624 (οἶκος - house) and the base of G1430 (δῶμα - housetop)]

1. to be a house-builder, i.e. construct
2. (figuratively) confirm

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
build, edify, embolden.

From the same as oikodome; to be a house-builder, i.e. Construct or (figuratively) confirm -- (be in) build(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.

see GREEK oikodome

HELPS Word-studies

3618 oikodoméō (from 3624 /oíkos, "a house" and domeō, "to build") – properly, to build a house (home, edifice); (figuratively) to edify – literally, "build someone up," helping them to stand (be strong, "sturdy").

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from oikodomos
Definition
to build a house
NASB Translation
build (13), builders (4), building (2), built (10), edified (1), edifies (3), edify (1), rebuild (4), strengthened (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3618: οἰκοδομέω

οἰκοδομέω, οἰκοδομῶ; imperfect ᾠκοδόμουν; future οἰκοδομήσω; 1 aorist ᾠκοδόμησα (ὀικοδόμησα Tr WH in Acts 7:47; see Tdf. at the passage; Proleg., p. 120; WHs Appendix, p. 161; Lob. ad Phryn., p. 153; Winers Grammar, § 12, 4; Buttmann, 34 (30)); passive (present ὀικοδομοῦμαι (infinitive οἰκοδομεῖσθαι, Luke 6:48 Treg.); perfect infinitive οἰκοδομῆσθαι (Luke 6:48 T WH)); pluperfect 3 person singular ᾠκοδόμητο; 1 aorist ὠκοδομήθην (ὀικοδομήθην, T WH in John 2:20); 1 future ὀικοδομηθήσομαι; (οἰκοδόμος, which see); from Herodotus down; the Sept. for בָּנָה; to build a house. erect a building;

a. properly, α. to build (up from the foundation): absolutely, Luke 11:48 G T WH Tr text ; οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, a substantive, the builders (cf. Winers Grammar, § 45, 7; Buttmann, § 144, 11), Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11 Rec.; 1 Peter 2:7, from Psalm 117:22 (); ἐπ' ἀλλότριον θεμέλιον, to build upon a foundation laid by others, i. e. (without a figure) to carry on instruction begun by others, Romans 15:20; οἰκοδομεῖν τί, Galatians 2:18; πύργον, Matthew 21:33; Mark 12:1; Luke 14:28; ἀποθήκας, Luke 12:18; ναόν, Mark 14:58; passive John 2:20 (on the aorist cf. 2 Esdr. 5:16); οἶκον, passive, 1 Peter 2:5 ((here T ἐποικον), cf. Winer's Grammar, 603 (561), and add ὀικούργειν τά κατά τόν οἶκον, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 1, 3 [ET]); (οἰκίαν, Luke 6:48 (cf. Winer's Grammar, the passage cited)); συναγωγήν or οἶκον τίνι, for the use of or in honor of one, Luke 7:5; Acts 7:47, 49 (Genesis 8:20; Ezekiel 16:24); οἰκίαν ἐπί τί, Matthew 7:24, 26; Luke 6:49; πόλιν ἐπ' ὄρους, Luke 4:29. β. contextually equivalent to to restore by building, to rebuild, repair: τί, Matthew 23:29; Matthew 26:61; Matthew 27:40; Mark 15:29; Luke 11:47 and R (L brackets Tr marginal reading) in 48.

b. metaphorically, α. equivalent to to found: ἐπί ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρα οἰκοδομήσω μου τήν ἐκκλησίαν, i. e. by reason of the strength of thy faith thou shalt be my principal support in the establishment of my church, Matthew 16:18. β. Since both a Christian church and individual Christians are likened to a building or temple in which God or the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:9, 16ff; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21), the erection of which temple will not be completely finished till the return of Christ from heaven, those who, by action, instruction, exhortation, comfort, promote the Christian wisdom of others and help them to live a correspondent life are regarded as taking part in the erection of that building, and hence, are said οἰκοδομεῖν, i. e. (dropping the figure) to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness: absolutely, Acts 20:32 L T Tr WH; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 10:23; τινα, ; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; passive to grow in wisdom, piety, etc., Acts 9:31; 1 Corinthians 14:17; universally, to give one strength and courage, dispose to: εἰς τήν πίστιν, Polycarp, ad Philip. 3, 2 [ET] (yet here to be built up into (in) etc.); even to do what is wrong (A. V. embolden), εἰς τό τά εἰδωλόθυτα ἐσθίειν, 1 Corinthians 8:10 (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 39, 3 N. 3). This metaphorical use of the verb Paul, in the opinion of Fritzsche (Ep. ad Romans, iii., p. 205f), did not derive from the figure, of building a temple, but from the O. T., where "בָּנָה and הָרַס with an accusative of the person (to build one up and to pull one down) denote to bless and to ruin; to prosper and to injure, anyone"; cf. Psalm 27:5 (); Jeremiah 24:6; Jeremiah 40:7 (). (Compare: ἀνοικοδομέω, ἐποικοδομέω, συνοικοδομέω.)

STRONGS NT 3618: οἰκοδόμοςοἰκοδόμος, ὀικοδομου, (οἶκος, δέμω to build; cf. οἰκονόμος), a builder, an architect: Acts 4:11 L T Tr WH. (Herodotus, Xenophon, Plato, Plutarch, others; the Sept..)

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Concept of Building

From the opening pages of Scripture the act of building is associated with purpose, permanence and covenant (Genesis 8:20; Genesis 11:4). In the Greek New Testament the verb translated “to build” occurs forty-one times and carries both its obvious architectural sense and its richer theological sense of establishing, strengthening and edifying. The narrative, didactic, and prophetic books alike show that what is built reveals the builder’s identity, intent and ultimate allegiance.

Literal Construction in the Gospel Narratives

1. Private dwellings
Luke 12:18 depicts the prosperous farmer saying, “I will tear down my barns and build larger ones,” illustrating how physical construction can expose misplaced security.
Luke 17:28 notes that in the days of Lot “they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,” underscoring routine life before sudden judgment.

2. Public and sacred structures
Matthew 21:33 and Mark 12:1 speak of a landowner who “built a wall around a vineyard,” reflecting Isaiah’s song of the vineyard and emphasizing divine care and expectation.
Acts 7:47 records that “Solomon built a house for Him,” reminding readers that even the grandeur of the temple bowed to the transcendent presence of God (Acts 7:48-50).

3. Legal accusations
Matthew 26:61 and Mark 14:58 quote hostile witnesses twisting Jesus’ words: “I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.” John clarifies that He spoke about His body, moving the idea of building from stone to resurrection life (John 2:20-21).

Jesus’ Instruction on Foundations

The Sermon on the Mount climaxes with a building metaphor. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). The identical verb is used in the contrasting image of the foolish man (Matthew 7:26-27). Luke preserves the fuller detail: the wise builder “dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock” (Luke 6:48), showing that true obedience is both diligent and hidden from casual view. The unavoidable storms of life expose the quality of this construction.

Christ the Builder and Cornerstone

Jesus uniquely claims the role of builder in Matthew 16:18: “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” The future active points to an ongoing process inaugurated at Pentecost (Acts 2) and continuing until His return. The foundation stone imagery appears in the Synoptic citations of Psalm 118:22 (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17). Rejecting the cornerstone disqualifies a builder, while receiving it aligns one with the divine blueprint.

Apostolic Theology of Edification

1. Paul’s pastoral use
• In 1 Corinthians 8:1 “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up,” shifting attention from acquisition to mutual strengthening.
• He cautions that not everything “is beneficial… not everything builds up” (1 Corinthians 10:23).
• Spiritual gifts serve the same aim: “The one who prophesies builds up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:4).
• In Romans 15:20 he explains his missionary aim “to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation,” highlighting apostolic strategy and respect for established work.

2. Peter’s living-stone imagery
• “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). The passive voice stresses God’s initiative; believers are material in His hands.
• Peter rebukes the builders who rejected the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:7), showing that human judgment can be diametrically opposed to divine evaluation.

3. Community exhortation
• “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Regular mutual edification is not optional but commanded.

Warnings against Rebuilding the Wrong Structure

Galatians 2:18 reads, “If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.” Returning to law-righteousness after receiving grace is likened to reconstructing a condemned building. Similarly, Matthew 23:29 and Luke 11:47-48 condemn the scribes and Pharisees for building tombs for the prophets their forefathers murdered, revealing hypocrisy cloaked in piety.

Historical and Cultural Background

First-century builders in Judea quarried local limestone, shaped it with chisels and set blocks without mortar when possible, employing wooden beams only where essential. Foundations were critical due to seasonal floods, a reality that gives Jesus’ parable vivid force. Rural Galilee also featured mud-brick structures susceptible to rapid decay, accentuating the folly of superficial building.

Ministry Implications

1. Foundation inspection

Every ministry, program and relationship must be weighed against the words of Christ and the apostolic teaching. Resolute alignment with Scripture ensures stability.

2. Materials and methods

Paul’s image of gold, silver, costly stones versus wood, hay and straw (1 Corinthians 3:12-15, using a cognate noun) reminds workers that quality will be tested by fire. Pure doctrine, sincere love and humble service endure; empty rhetoric and self-promotion do not.

3. Cooperative labor

Building is collective: “We are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). The gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are given “to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).

4. Continual progress

Acts 9:31 reports that the church, “walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, multiplied and was being built up.” Healthy growth is both quantitative and qualitative.

Eschatological Completion

Hebrews anticipates “the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Revelation closes with the New Jerusalem, a consummate structure descending from heaven, confirming that every act of godly building points forward to a finished, perfect dwelling of God with His people.

Summary

The verb translated “to build” weaves through narratives, parables, apostolic instruction and prophetic vision, binding together the literal stones of ancient Judea and the living stones of the church. Whether warning against shallow foundations, affirming Christ’s sovereign construction of His assembly, or urging believers to edify one another in love, Scripture consistently treats building as a sacred activity that mirrors the character and purposes of God Himself.

Forms and Transliterations
καὶ οικοδομει οικοδομεί οἰκοδομεῖ οικοδομειν οικοδομείν οἰκοδομεῖν οικοδομείς οικοδομείσθαι οικοδομεισθε οικοδομείσθε οἰκοδομεῖσθε οικοδομειται οικοδομείται οἰκοδομεῖται οικοδομειτε οικοδομείτε οἰκοδομεῖτε οικοδομηθη οικοδομηθή οἰκοδομήθη οικοδομηθήναι οικοδομηθής οικοδομηθήσεσθε οικοδομηθησεται οικοδομηθήσεται οἰκοδομηθήσεται οικοδομηθηση οικοδομηθήση οικοδομηθήσονται οικοδομηθήσονταί οικοδομηθήτω οικοδομησαι οικοδομήσαι οἰκοδομῆσαι οικοδομήσαντες οικοδομησαντι οικοδομήσαντι οἰκοδομήσαντι οικοδομήσας οικοδομήσατε οικοδομησάτω οικοδομησάτωσαν οικοδομήσει οικοδομήσεις οικοδομησεν οἰκοδόμησεν οικοδομησετε οικοδομήσετε οικοδομήσετέ οἰκοδομήσετέ οικοδομήση οικοδομήσης οικοδομήσητε οικοδομησθαι οἰκοδομῆσθαι οικοδομήσομεν οικοδόμησον οικοδόμησόν οικοδομήσουσι οικοδομήσουσιν οικοδομησω οικοδομήσω οἰκοδομήσω οικοδομήσωμεν οικοδομούμεν οικοδομούμεναι οικοδομουμενη οικοδομουμένη οἰκοδομουμένη οικοδομούμενον οικοδομουντες οικοδομούντες οἰκοδομοῦντες οικοδομουντι οικοδομούντι οἰκοδομοῦντι οικοδομούντων οικοδομούσι οικοδομούσιν οικοδομω οικοδομώ οἰκοδομῶ οικοδομων οικοδομών οἰκοδομῶν οἰκοδόμων ωκοδομήθη ωκοδόμηκα ωκοδομήκατέ ωκοδομημέναι ωκοδομημένον ωκοδομημένος ωκοδόμηνται ωκοδόμησα ωκοδόμησά ωκοδομήσαί ωκοδομήσαμεν ωκοδόμησαν ωκοδόμησάν ωκοδόμησας ωκοδομήσατε ωκοδομήσατέ ωκοδόμησε ωκοδομησεν ωκοδόμησεν ᾠκοδόμησεν ωκοδόμηται ωκοδομητο ωκοδόμητο ᾠκοδόμητο ωκοδομουν ωκοδόμουν ᾠκοδόμουν ωκοδόμουσαν kai oikodomei oikodomeî oikodomein oikodomeîn oikodomeisthe oikodomeîsthe oikodomeitai oikodomeîtai oikodomeite oikodomeîte oikodomesai oikodomêsai oikodomēsai oikodomē̂sai oikodomesanti oikodomēsanti oikodomḗsanti oikodomesen oikodomēsen oikodómesen oikodómēsen ōikodómēsen oikodomesete oikodomēsete oikodomḗseté oikodomeso oikodomēsō oikodomḗso oikodomḗsō oikodomesthai oikodomêsthai oikodomēsthai oikodomē̂sthai oikodomethe oikodomēthē oikodomḗthe oikodomḗthē oikodomethesetai oikodomethḗsetai oikodomēthēsetai oikodomēthḗsetai oikodómeto ōikodómēto oikodomo oikodomô oikodomō oikodomō̂ oikodomon oikodomôn oikodomōn oikodomō̂n oikodómon oikodómōn oikodomoumene oikodomoumenē oikodomouméne oikodomouménē oikodómoun ōikodómoun oikodomountes oikodomoûntes oikodomounti oikodomoûnti okodomesen ōkodomēsen okodometo ōkodomēto okodomoun ōkodomoun
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 7:24 V-AIA-3S
GRK: φρονίμῳ ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτοῦ τὴν
NAS: man who built his house on the rock.
KJV: man, which built his house
INT: wise who built his

Matthew 7:26 V-AIA-3S
GRK: μωρῷ ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτοῦ τὴν
NAS: man who built his house on the sand.
KJV: man, which built his house
INT: foolish who built of him the

Matthew 16:18 V-FIA-1S
GRK: τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν
NAS: rock I will build My church;
KJV: this rock I will build my church;
INT: the rock I will build my

Matthew 21:33 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ληνὸν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν πύργον καὶ
NAS: A WINE PRESS IN IT, AND BUILT A TOWER,
KJV: it, and built a tower, and
INT: a winepress and built a tower and

Matthew 21:42 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες οὗτος ἐγενήθη
NAS: WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
KJV: which the builders rejected,
INT: rejected those who build this is become

Matthew 23:29 V-PIA-2P
GRK: ὑποκριταί ὅτι οἰκοδομεῖτε τοὺς τάφους
NAS: hypocrites! For you build the tombs
KJV: because ye build the tombs
INT: hypocrites for you build the tombs

Matthew 26:61 V-ANA
GRK: τριῶν ἡμερῶν οἰκοδομῆσαι
NAS: of God and to rebuild it in three
KJV: of God, and to build it in
INT: three days to rebuild it

Matthew 27:40 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: τρισὶν ἡμέραις οἰκοδομῶν σῶσον σεαυτόν
NAS: the temple and rebuild it in three
KJV: the temple, and buildest [it] in three
INT: three days build [it] save yourself

Mark 12:1 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ὑπολήνιον καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν πύργον καὶ
NAS: A VAT UNDER THE WINE PRESS AND BUILT A TOWER,
KJV: and built a tower,
INT: a wine vat and built a tower and

Mark 12:10 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες οὗτος ἐγενήθη
NAS: WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
KJV: which the builders rejected
INT: rejected those who build this is become

Mark 14:58 V-FIA-1S
GRK: ἄλλον ἀχειροποίητον οἰκοδομήσω
NAS: days I will build another
KJV: days I will build another
INT: another not made with hands I will build

Mark 15:29 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: ναὸν καὶ οἰκοδομῶν ἐν τρισὶν
NAS: the temple and rebuild it in three
KJV: the temple, and buildest [it] in three
INT: temple and build [it] in three

Luke 4:29 V-LIM/P-3S
GRK: ἡ πόλις ᾠκοδόμητο αὐτῶν ὥστε
NAS: their city had been built, in order
KJV: city was built, that
INT: the town had been built of them in order

Luke 6:48 V-PPA-DMS
GRK: ἐστιν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομοῦντι οἰκίαν ὃς
NAS: he is like a man building a house, who
KJV: a man which built an house, and
INT: he is to a man building a house who

Luke 6:48 V-RNM/P
GRK: τὸ καλῶς οἰκοδομῆσθαι αὐτήν
NAS: it, because it had been well built.
INT: well had been built it

Luke 6:49 V-APA-DMS
GRK: ἐστιν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδομήσαντι οἰκίαν ἐπὶ
NAS: a man who built a house
KJV: a foundation built an house
INT: is to a man having built a house on

Luke 7:5 V-AIA-3S
GRK: συναγωγὴν αὐτὸς ᾠκοδόμησεν ἡμῖν
NAS: our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.
KJV: and he hath built us a synagogue.
INT: synagogue he built for us

Luke 11:47 V-PIA-2P
GRK: ὑμῖν ὅτι οἰκοδομεῖτε τὰ μνημεῖα
NAS: Woe to you! For you build the tombs
KJV: for ye build the sepulchres
INT: to you for you build the tombs

Luke 11:48 V-PIA-2P
GRK: ὑμεῖς δὲ οἰκοδομεῖτε
NAS: it was they who killed them, and you build [their tombs].
KJV: and ye build their sepulchres.
INT: you moreover build [their tombs]

Luke 12:18 V-FIA-1S
GRK: καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω καὶ συνάξω
NAS: my barns and build larger ones,
KJV: barns, and build greater; and
INT: and greater will build and will lay up

Luke 14:28 V-ANA
GRK: θέλων πύργον οἰκοδομῆσαι οὐχὶ πρῶτον
NAS: one of you, when he wants to build a tower,
KJV: intending to build a tower,
INT: desiring a tower to build not first

Luke 14:30 V-PNA
GRK: ἄνθρωπος ἤρξατο οἰκοδομεῖν καὶ οὐκ
NAS: began to build and was not able
KJV: man began to build, and was
INT: man began to build and not

Luke 17:28 V-IIA-3P
GRK: ἐπώλουν ἐφύτευον ᾠκοδόμουν
NAS: they were planting, they were building;
KJV: they sold, they planted, they builded;
INT: they were selling they were planting they were building

Luke 20:17 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες οὗτος ἐγενήθη
NAS: WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
KJV: which the builders rejected,
INT: rejected they that build this is become

John 2:20 V-AIP-3S
GRK: ἓξ ἔτεσιν οἰκοδομήθη ὁ ναὸς
NAS: years to build this
KJV: this temple in building, and wilt
INT: six years was building the temple

Strong's Greek 3618
41 Occurrences


ᾠκοδόμησεν — 5 Occ.
ᾠκοδόμητο — 1 Occ.
ᾠκοδόμουν — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδομῆσαι — 3 Occ.
οἰκοδομήσαντι — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδόμησεν — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδομήσετέ — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδομήσω — 3 Occ.
οἰκοδομῆσθαι — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδομήθη — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδομηθήσεται — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδομεῖ — 4 Occ.
οἰκοδομεῖν — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδομεῖσθε — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδομεῖται — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδομεῖτε — 4 Occ.
οἰκοδομῶ — 2 Occ.
οἰκοδομῶν — 3 Occ.
οἰκοδομουμένη — 1 Occ.
οἰκοδομοῦντες — 4 Occ.
οἰκοδομοῦντι — 1 Occ.

3617
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