Lexical Summary ploutizó: To make rich, to enrich Original Word: πλουτίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance enrich. From ploutos; to make wealthy (figuratively) -- en- (make) rich. see GREEK ploutos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4148 ploutízō (apparently from 4183 /polýs, "much in number/quantity") – to enrich (passive, "be enriched"); bring fullness (abundance, richness). See 4145 (plousios). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ploutos Definition to make rich NASB Translation enriched (2), making...rich (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4148: πλουτίζωπλουτίζω; passive, present participle πλουτιζόμενος; 1 aorist ἐπλουτίσθην; (πλοῦτος); to make rich, to enrich: τινα, passive, 2 Corinthians 9:11; used of spiritual riches: τινα, 2 Corinthians 6:10; ἐν with a dative of the thing (see πλουτέω, a.), passive, to be richly furnished, 1 Corinthians 1:5. (Aeschylus, Sophicles, Xenophon, Plutarch; the Sept. for הֶעֱשִׁיר.) Topical Lexicon Essential ConceptStrong’s Greek 4148 denotes the act of being made rich or of enriching others. In the New Testament it always appears in the passive or active forms that highlight God as the source and the believer as either the recipient or the conduit of divine abundance. The term never refers to self-generated wealth; it is consistently God-bestowed and gospel-oriented. Occurrences and Contexts 1. 1 Corinthians 1:5 – “For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge.” Paul opens his letter to the Corinthian church by reminding them that every true enrichment—intellectual, verbal, and spiritual—has already been granted in Christ. The verb underscores grace bestowed, not earned.
Here Paul contrasts material deprivation with spiritual affluence. Though the apostolic band owns little, their proclamation of the gospel “makes many rich,” showing that the verb’s primary arena is spiritual wealth. 3. 2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God.” The promise of enrichment is tied to generosity. God supplies resources—material and spiritual—so that believers can channel them outward, resulting in praise to God. Theological Significance Spiritual Wealth in Christ πλουτίζω signals the transfer of Christ’s riches to believers (Ephesians 1:7–8; 3:8). It reinforces the truth that salvation unites the redeemed to an inexhaustible treasury of grace, knowledge, and spiritual power. Divine Source and Purpose God enriches “in every way” (2 Corinthians 9:11) so that believers may serve. Enrichment is therefore instrumental, not terminal; it equips the church for proclamation, edification, and benevolence. Paradox of Christian Riches Paul epitomizes the paradox: “poor, yet making many rich” (2 Corinthians 6:10). Material lack does not nullify spiritual abundance. On the contrary, it amplifies God’s sufficiency and redirects glory away from human means. Historical Setting Corinth was a prosperous commercial hub where status and wealth commanded honor. Paul deliberately employs πλουτίζω to recalibrate their value system: true riches belong to those who are “in Christ,” not to those who control trade routes. His usage addresses both the pride of the affluent and the insecurity of the poor within the congregation. Ministry Implications Generosity as Evidence of Enrichment A church convinced it has been enriched by God becomes a channel of enrichment for others. Financial giving, intercessory prayer, and gospel witness all flow from recognizing God-supplied abundance. Content-Centered Discipleship Since believers have been “enriched in all speech and all knowledge” (1 Corinthians 1:5), teaching ministries must cultivate doctrinal depth and articulate truth clearly. Intellectual stewardship is part of gospel wealth. Suffering and Resourcefulness Ministers may experience external poverty, yet the verb encourages perseverance: God equips them to “make many rich” regardless of circumstances, ensuring no ministry is hindered by material limits alone. Intertextual Resonance πλουτίζω aligns with Old Testament declarations such as Proverbs 10:22, “The blessing of the LORD makes rich,” and with the promise of Isaiah 55:1–3 that God offers satisfying abundance without price. In Revelation 2:9 Christ tells the persecuted church, “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich,” echoing the same perspective found in Paul’s letters. Summary Strong’s 4148 portrays a God-initiated enrichment that grounds the believer’s identity, fuels generous living, and displays the gospel’s countercultural values. Whether through the impartation of wisdom, the multiplication of resources, or the spiritual benefit of others, πλουτίζω consistently points to Christ as the inexhaustible treasury of the church. Forms and Transliterations επλούτησας επλούτισα επλουτισθητε επλουτίσθητε ἐπλουτίσθητε πλουτίζει πλουτιζομενοι πλουτιζόμενοι πλουτιζοντες πλουτίζοντες πλουτίζουσιν πλουτίσαι πλουτισθή eploutisthete eploutisthēte eploutísthete eploutísthēte ploutizomenoi ploutizómenoi ploutizontes ploutízontesLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Corinthians 1:5 V-AIP-2PGRK: ἐν παντὶ ἐπλουτίσθητε ἐν αὐτῷ NAS: that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all KJV: in every thing ye are enriched by him, INT: in everything you were enriched in him 2 Corinthians 6:10 V-PPA-NMP 2 Corinthians 9:11 V-PPM/P-NMP Strong's Greek 4148 |
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