Word Study for G4722 (στέγω) | Strong's Concordance

stégō /steg'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom στέγη

Meaningto roof over, i.e. (figuratively) to cover with silence (endure patiently)

KJV usage(for-)bear, suffer.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of stégō — 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 stégō, represented by G4722, is defined as to roof over, or figuratively, to cover with silence and endure patiently. It is often translated as to forbear or suffer. It appears 6 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible, highlighting a specific type of patient endurance that protects or shields.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G4722 is most famously found in the description of love, which "beareth all things" 1 Corinthians 13:7, suggesting love provides a protective covering. In another context, Paul states that he and his companions "suffer all things" rather than use their apostolic authority, so they do not hinder the gospel of Christ 1 Corinthians 9:12. The term is also used twice in 1 Thessalonians to describe Paul's inability to "forbear" his anxiety over the spiritual state of the church, prompting him to send Timothy to check on their faith (1 Thessalonians 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:5).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of G4722:

G5278 hypoménō (to... endure, persevere): This word appears directly alongside G4722 in the same list of love's qualities, showing that love "beareth all things" and also "endureth all things" 1 Corinthians 13:7.
G1464 enkopḗ (a hindrance): The willingness to "suffer" G4722 is directly motivated by the desire to avoid creating a "hindrance" to the gospel 1 Corinthians 9:12.
G1849 exousía (authority, power): Paul contrasts exercising his rightful "power" G1849 with his choice to "suffer" G4722, demonstrating that this endurance is a voluntary act of setting aside privilege for a higher purpose 1 Corinthians 9:12.
G3985 peirázō (to test, tempt): Paul's inability to "forbear" G4722 is explicitly linked to his fear that the "tempter" might have "tempted" the believers 1 Thessalonians 3:5.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4722 is significant, particularly in the context of Christian conduct and love.

A Component of Agape Love: As one of the core attributes of love, to "bear all things" is not just to tolerate, but to provide a protective shield over others' weaknesses and to patiently endure trials within relationships 1 Corinthians 13:7.
Endurance for the Gospel's Sake: The term illustrates the principle of sacrificing personal rights for the advancement of the gospel. Paul's choice to "suffer" G4722 demonstrates a proactive endurance aimed at removing any potential obstacle to the message of Christ 1 Corinthians 9:12.
Pastoral Concern: The use of G4722 in 1 Thessalonians reveals that this endurance has its limits, especially when the spiritual well-being of others is at stake. Paul's inability to "forbear" stems not from his own suffering, but from his deep concern for the faith of the flock (1 Thessalonians 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:5).

Summary

In summary, G4722 signifies far more than simple patience. Rooted in the idea of providing a roof or cover, it conveys an active, protective endurance. It is a key aspect of Christian love, a strategic sacrifice for the sake of the gospel, and a measure of profound pastoral care. The word illustrates a forbearance that is not passive, but purposefully shields, preserves, and protects.

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 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Active Indicative 1st Plural 1×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

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 4 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in 1 Corinthians and 1 Thessalonians (2 verses each); never once in the other 25.

1 Corinthians

1 Thessalonians

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.