"pr. the act of building; a building, structure, Mt. 24:1; in NT a spiritual structure, as instanced in the Christian body, 1 Cor. 3:9; Eph. 2:21; religious advancement, edification, Rom. 14:19; 1 Cor. 14:3"
Definition and meaning
pr. the act of building; a building, structure, Mt. 24:1; in NT a spiritual structure, as instanced in the Christian body, 1 Cor. 3:9; Eph. 2:21; religious advancement, edification, Rom. 14:19; 1 Cor. 14:3
In the original Greek the word is written: οἰκοδομή
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of oikodome (G3619) across the King James Bible.
And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
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Common questions
Strong's G3619 (oikodome) is a Greek word that means: pr. the act of building; a building, structure, Mt. 24:1; in NT a spiritual structure, as instanced in the Christian body, 1 Cor. 3:9; Eph. 2:21; religious advancement, edification, Rom. 14:19; 1 Cor.... It appears 18 times in the King James Bible.
The word oikodome (G3619) appears 18 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3619 is oikodome, a Greek word defined as: pr. the act of building; a building, structure, Mt. 24:1; in NT a spiritual structure, as instanced in the Christian body, 1 Cor. 3:9; Eph. 2:21; reli. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
oikodome is a Greek word found in the New Testament.