"to heap or pile up, Rom. 12:20; met. pass. to be filled with sins, 2 Tim. 3:6*"
Definition and meaning
to heap or pile up, Rom. 12:20; met. pass. to be filled with sins, 2 Tim. 3:6*
In the original Greek the word is written: σωρεύω
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
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 soreuo (G4987) across the King James Bible.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
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Common questions
Strong's G4987 (soreuo) is a Greek word that means: to heap or pile up, Rom. 12:20; met. pass. to be filled with sins, 2 Tim. 3:6* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word soreuo (G4987) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4987 is soreuo, a Greek word defined as: to heap or pile up, Rom. 12:20; met. pass. to be filled with sins, 2 Tim. 3:6*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
soreuo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.