Word Study for G4147 (πλουτέω)

ploutéō /ploo-teh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom πλουτίζω

Meaningto be (or become) wealthy (literally or figuratively)

KJV usagebe increased with goods, (be made, wax) rich.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ploutéō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word ploutéō, represented by G4147, means to be (or become) wealthy. It appears 13 times in 12 unique verses. The term is used both literally, referring to material possessions, and figuratively, describing spiritual abundance.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G4147 often highlights a contrast between material and spiritual states. It describes the self-deception of the Laodicean church, who claimed, "I am rich, and increased with goods," while being spiritually poor Revelation 3:17. The desire to be rich is presented as a path leading to temptation, a snare, and destructive lusts 1 Timothy 6:9. Conversely, the term is used to define true spiritual wealth, as believers are promised they "might be rich" through the poverty of Christ 2 Corinthians 8:9. God himself is described as being rich unto all who call upon Him, without distinction between Jew and Greek Romans 10:12. In the context of Babylon, merchants are said to have waxed rich from her abundance and delicacies Revelation 18:3.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the concept of being rich:

G4145 ploúsios (wealthy; abounding with): This is the adjective form, often used to describe a state of being rich. Christ, "though he was rich G4145," became poor for our sake 2 Corinthians 8:9.
G4433 ptōcheúō (to become indigent): This is the direct opposite of being rich. It is used to describe Christ, who became poor so that believers might become rich 2 Corinthians 8:9.
G2343 thēsaurízō (to amass or reserve): This word is contrasted with true wealth in the warning against one who "layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God" Luke 12:21.
G3986 peirasmós (a putting to proof; temptation): This is a direct consequence for those who desire to be rich, as they fall into temptation and a snare 1 Timothy 6:9.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4147 centers on the distinction between worldly and divine wealth.

The Peril of Materialism: The pursuit of earthly riches is fraught with danger, leading to lusts G1939 that drown G1036 men in destruction G3639 and perdition G684 1 Timothy 6:9. Worldly wealth, like that of Babylon's merchants G1713, is tied to corruption and idolatry Revelation 18:3.
The Source of True Wealth: True riches are found in a right relationship with God. Christ counsels believers to buy from Him gold G5553 tried in fire, so that they may be rich Revelation 3:18. This spiritual wealth is a gift of grace, made possible because Christ became poor for our sakes 2 Corinthians 8:9.
A Call to Good Works: For those with material means, the instruction is to be rich in good works, being ready to distribute G2130 and willing to communicate G2843 1 Timothy 6:18, thereby being "rich toward God" Luke 12:21.

Summary

In summary, G4147 is a pivotal term that contrasts the fleeting, dangerous nature of material wealth with the eternal value of spiritual richness. It moves beyond a simple definition of having goods to challenge believers on the object of their trust and the focus of their lives. The use of ploutéō consistently forces a choice between being rich in worldly terms, which leads to spiritual ruin, and being rich toward God through faith and good works.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 12 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 2×
Present Active Infinitive 2×
Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 2×
Aorist Active Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Aorist Active Subjunctive 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Subjunctive 2nd Singular 1×
Perfect Active Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 12 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Revelation (5 verses); never once in the other 21.

Luke

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

1 Timothy

Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.