πλείων, πλεῖον
pleiōn, pleion
greater
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word πλείων (pleiōn) means "greater." It is a comparative form that indicates a difference in quantity, quality, or degree. With 45 occurrences in the Bible, this word is used to express a range of concepts, from physical size and number to moral superiority and spiritual significance. In its various uses, πλείων often conveys a sense of contrast or comparison. It may describe something as being greater in size or number, such as a larger crowd or a greater amount of food. Alternatively, it may emphasize the superiority of one thing over another, as in the case of a greater reward or a more excellent way of life. The word's meaning is flexible and context-dependent, allowing it to be used in a variety of situations to convey different shades of meaning. The significance of πλείων lies in its ability to highlight the importance of comparison and contrast in understanding the world around us. By using this word, the authors of the Bible draw attention to the differences between things, encouraging readers to think critically about the relationships between them. In doing so, πλείων helps to create a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of the world, one that takes into account the complexities and variations that exist in all aspects of life.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
45 total occurrences across the text
For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 6:25Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 12:41The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.
Matthew 12:42The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 20:10When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.
Matthew 21:36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them the same way.
Mark 12:43He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,
Luke 3:13He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”
Luke 7:42When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”
Luke 7:43Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
Luke 9:13But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people.”
Luke 11:31The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.
Luke 11:32The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.
Luke 11:53As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and to draw many things out of him;
Luke 12:23Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
Luke 21:3He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them,
John 4:1Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
John 7:31But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?”
John 15:2Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
John 21:15So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
Acts 2:40With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Acts 4:17But so that this spreads no further among the people, let’s threaten them, that from now on they don’t speak to anyone in this name.”
Acts 4:22For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
Acts 15:28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
Acts 18:20When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined;
Acts 20:9A certain young man named Eutychus sat in the window, weighed down with deep sleep. As Paul spoke still longer, being weighed down by his sleep, he fell down from the third floor and was taken up dead.
Acts 24:4But that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.
Acts 24:17Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;
Acts 27:12Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking southwest and northwest.
Acts 27:20When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small storm pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away.
Acts 28:23When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.
1 Corinthians 9:19For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
1 Corinthians 10:5However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1 Corinthians 15:6Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
2 Corinthians 2:6This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;
2 Corinthians 4:15For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 9:2for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.
Philippians 1:14and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.
2 Timothy 2:16But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,
2 Timothy 3:9But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be.
Hebrews 3:3For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, because he who built the house has more honor than the house.
Hebrews 3:3For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, because he who built the house has more honor than the house.
Hebrews 7:23Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.
Hebrews 11:4By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
Revelation 2:19“I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.