from ἐπί and the base of ῥαφίς; to stitch upon, i.e. fasten with the needle:--sew on.
Transliteration:epirrháptō
Pronunciation:ep-ir-hrap'-to
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἐπιῤῥάπτω (G1976, *epirrháptō*) is a compound word derived from the preposition ἐπί (G1909, *epí*), meaning "upon" or "on," and the root ῥάπτω (*rhaptō*), meaning "to sew" or "to stitch." The root ῥάπτω is related to ῥαφίς (G4476, *rhaphís*), which denotes a needle.
Therefore, the core meaning of ἐπιῤῥάπτω is "to sew upon," "to stitch on," or "to fasten with a needle onto something." It specifically denotes the action of attaching a piece of material to an existing garment or fabric. The semantic range is quite narrow, focusing on this precise act of mending or alteration by sewing. It implies an addition or superposition, rather than a creation from scratch.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb ἐπιῤῥάπτω (G1976) appears only once in the New Testament, in the Gospel of Mark:
* **[[Mark 2:21]]**: "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old, and a worse tear results."
This verse is part of a larger discourse by Jesus concerning the incompatibility of new and old paradigms, often referred to as the parables of the new patch and new wine. In this specific illustration, Jesus uses the common practice of mending clothes to convey a profound spiritual truth.
The key elements are:
1. **"unshrunk cloth" (ῥάκος ἀγνάφου)**: This refers to a piece of new, unfulled, or unwashed cloth. Such cloth, when washed, would shrink.
2. **"old garment" (ἱματίῳ παλαιῷ)**: This signifies a worn, stable garment that has already undergone any potential shrinkage.
3. **"sews a patch...on" (ἐπιῤῥάπτω)**: The act of attaching the new, unshrunk material to the old garment.
The context highlights the disastrous consequence of this action: the new patch, upon shrinking, would pull away from the brittle old fabric, creating a tear worse than the original. Jesus uses this everyday observation to explain why His disciples do not fast in the same manner as the Pharisees or John's disciples. The "new" reality of His presence and ministry, representing the Kingdom of God, cannot simply be "patched onto" or superficially integrated with the "old" forms and traditions of Judaism without causing damage or being ineffective. It illustrates a fundamental incompatibility between the new and the old when they are forced together in this manner.
### Related Words & Concepts
While ἐπιῤῥάπτω (G1976) is unique in its New Testament occurrence, its components and the concepts it conveys relate to several other significant terms and ideas:
* **ῥαφίς (G4476, *rhaphís*)**: "Needle." This noun, though not directly a verb of sewing, is the instrument implied by the root ῥάπτω and appears in the famous saying about a camel passing through the eye of a needle ([[Matthew 19:24]], [[Mark 10:25]], [[Luke 18:25]]). It underscores the specific nature of the sewing action.
* **ἀγνάφου (G54, *agnáphou*)**: "Unshrunk, new, unfulled." This adjective describes the patch in [[Mark 2:21]] and is crucial for understanding the metaphor's mechanics.
* **παλαιός (G3820, *palaiós*)**: "Old, ancient." This term contrasts sharply with the "new" patch and is central to the broader theological theme of the Old Covenant versus the New.
* **καινός (G2537, *kainós*)**: "New, fresh, novel, different in kind." This word often describes the "newness" brought by Christ, such as the "new covenant" ([[Luke 22:20]], [[1 Corinthians 11:25]]) or the "new creation" ([[2 Corinthians 5:17]]). It stands in opposition to παλαιός (G3820).
* **σχίσμα (G4978, *schísma*)**: "Tear, split, division." This noun describes the negative outcome of trying to ἐπιῤῥάπτω the new onto the old, reinforcing the idea of incompatibility leading to rupture.
The broader concepts evoked include the radical nature of Jesus's ministry, the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, and the distinction between external religious observance and internal spiritual transformation.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of ἐπιῤῥάπτω (G1976) in [[Mark 2:21]] carries profound theological significance, serving as a powerful metaphor for the incompatibility of the "new" work of Christ with attempts to simply integrate it into "old" forms or structures.
1. **The Incompatibility of Old and New:** Jesus's teaching here is not about reforming existing religious practices but about inaugurating a fundamentally new reality. The act of ἐπιῤῥάπτω a new patch onto an old garment illustrates that the "new wine" of the Gospel and the "new cloth" of Christ's Kingdom cannot be contained or expressed by the "old wineskins" or "old garments" of the Mosaic Law or Pharisaic traditions. To attempt such a superficial amalgamation results in destruction (a "worse tear") rather than preservation. This underscores the radical, transformative nature of the New Covenant.
2. **Beyond External Observance:** The metaphor challenges those who might seek to merely add Christ's teachings to their existing religious framework without a fundamental shift in understanding or practice. It suggests that true discipleship requires a complete embrace of the new reality Christ brings, rather than a superficial "patching up" of one's life or religious system. The focus moves from external adherence to internal renewal.
3. **The Necessity of Transformation:** The imagery implies that the old structures are insufficient to contain the dynamic, expansive truth of the Gospel. The "new" is not merely an improvement but a different kind of reality that demands new forms, new understanding, and new life. This points to the necessity of spiritual regeneration and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which fundamentally transforms believers, making them "new creations" ([[2 Corinthians 5:17]]).
4. **Divine Discontinuity:** While there is continuity in God's redemptive plan, this passage emphasizes a profound discontinuity in the *mode* of salvation and worship. The era of Law and ritual, while divinely ordained for its time, gives way to an era of grace and truth embodied in Christ, which cannot simply be "stitched on" but demands a new garment entirely.
### Summary
The Greek verb ἐπιῤῥάπτω (G1976), meaning "to sew upon" or "to stitch on," appears uniquely in the New Testament in [[Mark 2:21]]. In this singular occurrence, Jesus employs the mundane act of sewing a patch onto a garment as a profound metaphor. He illustrates that attempting to ἐπιῤῥάπτω a new, unshrunk piece of cloth onto an old, worn garment will inevitably lead to a worse tear due to the new cloth's shrinkage. Theologically, this serves as a powerful analogy for the incompatibility of the radical newness of Christ's ministry and the Kingdom of God with the rigid, outdated forms of the Old Covenant or human-made religious traditions. It teaches that the Gospel is not merely an addition or reform to existing structures but a fundamentally new reality that demands a complete embrace and transformation, warning against superficial attempts to "patch" the new onto the old, which would ultimately lead to spiritual rupture rather than renewal.
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