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Greek

To increase

πλεονάζωStrong’s G4121

pleonazō

Appears in 8 verses of the New Testament

In short

Pleonazō is the Greek word usually translated “may abound”, “is abounding” and “abounded”. It appears in 8 verses of the New Testament.

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”
2 Thessalonians 1:3 KJV
Meaning

Usually translated “may abound”, “is abounding” and “abounded”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated
  • may abound 2
  • is abounding 2
  • abounded 1
  • having abounded 1
  • did abound 1
  • would make to increase 1
  • abounding 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most
  • Romans 2
  • 2 Corinthians 2
  • Philippians 1
  • 1 Thessalonians 1
  • 2 Thessalonians 1
  • 2 Peter 1

6 books in all.

Related words
Explore in Scripture
All 8 verses, by book
Romans 2
5:206:1
2 Corinthians 2
4:158:15
Philippians 1
4:17
1 Thessalonians 1
3:12
2 Thessalonians 1
1:3
2 Peter 1
1:8
Greek dictionary

πλεονάζω pleonazō · to increase

πλεονάζω (πλέον), [in LXX for עֲדַף, רָבָה, etc. ;] I. Intrans. 1. Of persons; (a) to abound in (Arist.); (b) to superabound: 2Co.8:15 (LXX). 2. Of things, to abound, superabound: Rom.5:20 6:1, 2Co.4:15, Php.4:17, 2Th.1:3, 2Pe.1:8. II. Trans. (Num.26:54, Psa.71:21; not cl, see Lft., Notes, 48 f.), to make to abound: 1Th.3:12 (cf. ὑπερ-πλεονάζω).† SYN.: περισσεύω, q.v (AS)

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “increase” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

INCRE'ASE, verb intransitive

[Latin incresco; in and cresco, to grow.]

  1. To become greater in bulk or quantity; to grow; to augment; as plants.“The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another” 1 Thessalonians 3:12
  2. To become more violent; as, the fever increases; the pain increases; cold, wind or a storm increases.
  3. To become more bright or vivid; as, the light increases.
  4. To swell; to rise.
All definitions and other forms of “increase”
  1. To swell; to become louder, as sound.
  2. To become of more esteem and authority.“He must increase but I must decrease” John 3:30
  3. To enlarge, as the enlightened part of the moon's disk.

INCRE'ASE, verb transitive

To augment or make greater in bulk, quantity or amount; as, to increase wealth or treasure; to increase a sum or value.

  1. To advance in quality; to add to any quality or affection; as, to increase the strength of moral habits; to increase love, zeal or passion.
  2. To extend; to lengthen; as, to increase distance.
  3. To extend; to spread; as, to increase fame or renown.
  4. To aggravate; as, to increase guilt or trespass.

INCRE'ASE, noun

Augmentation; a growing larger; extension.

  1. “Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end” Isaiah 9:7
  2. Increment; profit; interest; that which is added to the original stock.“Take thou no interest of him or increase; but fear thy God” Leviticus 25:36
  3. Produce, as of land.“Then shall the earth yield her increase” Psalms 67:6
  4. Progeny; issue; offspring.“All the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age” 1 Samuel 2:33
  5. Generation.
  6. The waxing of the moon; the augmentation of the luminous part of the moon, presented to the inhabitants of the earth.
  7. Augmentation of strength or violence; as increase of heat, love or other passion; increase of force.
  8. Augmentation of degree; as increase of happiness or misery.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.

Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.