Quick Definition
ἐποικοδομέω v. I build upon a foundation
Strong's Definition
from 1909 and 3618; to build upon, i.e. (figuratively) to rear up
KJV Usage: build thereon (thereupon, on, upon)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | οἰκέω + δῶμα
45.5 · Building, Constructing
to build upon to build or construct something on some specified location
1 1CO 3:10 · 1CO 3:10 · JUD 1:20 In 1CO 3:10 and JUD 1:20 ἐποικοδομέω is clearly used in a figurative sense, since the context itself is figurative, but the meanings of ἐποικοδομέω and θεμέλιον are to be understood in their normal sense.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπ-οικοδομέω, -@; 1 aor. ἐπῳκοδόμησα, and without augm. ἐποικοδόμησα (1 Co. iii. 14 T Tr WH; ef. Tdf.’s note on Acts vii. 47, [see οἰκοδομέω ]) ; Pass., pres. ἐποικοδομοῦμαι; 1 aor. ptep. ἐποικοδομηθέντες ; in the N. T. only in the fig. which likens a company of Christian believers to an edifice or temple; to build upon, build up, (Vulg. superaedifico); absol. [like our Eng. build up] viz. ‘to finish the structure of which the foundation has already been laid,’ i. 6. in plain language. to give constant increase in Christian knowledge and in a life conformed thereto: Acts xx. 32 (where L T Tr WH oikod. [Vulg. aedifico]); 1 Co. iii. 10; (1 Pet. ii. 5 Tdf.); ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον, 1 Co. iii. 12; τί, ibid. 14; ἐν Χριστῷ, with the pass., in fellowship with Christ to grow in spiritual life, Col. ii. 7; ἐποικοδυμηθ. ἐπὶ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων, on the foundation laid by the apostles, i. e. (dropping the fig.) gathered together into a church by the apostles’ preaching of the gospel, Eph. ii. 20; ἐποικοδομεῖν ἑαυτὸν τῇ πίστει, Jude 20, where the sense is, ‘resting on your most holy faith as a foundation, make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher.’ (Thuc., Xen., Plato, al.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐποικοδομέω epoikodomeō 7x
to build upon, 1 Cor. 3:10, 12, 14; pass. met. to be built upon as parts of a spiritual structure, Eph. 2:20; to build up, carry up a building; met. to build up in spiritual advancement,Col. 2:7; Jude 20*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
* ἐπ-οικοδομέω, -ῶ in NT, always metaph., of the spiritual life regarded as a building (Cremer, 449);
to build upon: I Co 3:10, 12, 14; pass., Eph 2:20.
to build up: Col 2:7, I Pe 2:5 (T, οἰκοδ- WH, Rec.), Ju 20.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐποικοδομέω. In connexion with the sale of a piece of land, power is given to the purchaser kal ἐμβατεύειν [καὶ ἐποι]κοδομεῖν καὶ ἐγμισθοῦν [καὶ] ἑτέροις παραχωρεῖν (BGU IV. 11304—.c. 5): cf. P Giss I. 67 (ii/A.D.) οὐ[κ] ἐπῳκοδομήσαμεν ταῖς κέλλαις, “wir haben nicht an den Magazinen (Kellern) weiter gebaut” (Ed.), and Epict. ii. 15. 8 ἐποικοδομεῖν αὐτῷ τὴν εὐτονίαν, τὴν ἀσφάλειαν, ‘ build on it (a sound foundation) your firmness and unshaken resolve”’ (Matheson). For the constr. with ἐπί, as in 1 Cor 315, see OG/S 48317 (ii/B.c.) μὴ ἐξουσία δὲ ἔστω ἐπὶ τοὺς κοινοὺς τοίχους μήτε ἐποικοδομεῖν μήτε διορύσσειν μήτε ἄλλο καταβλάπτειν μηθέν : cf Syd 5319% (iii/B.c.) ἐποικοδομήσει τειχίον ὑπὲρ γῆς, and for the subst. 74. 543* τῆς ἐποικοδομίας τῶν προκειμένων χωμάτων.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐποικοδομέω (epoikodomeō) — to build up/upon. ἐποικοδομ-έω, build up, -ήσαντας αὐτὸ (i.e. τὸ τεῖχος) ὑψηλότερον [Refs 5th c.BC+]: metaphorically, pile up, use a climax, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
2. build upon, ἐπὶ κρηπῖδι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: metaphorically, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φύσει μαθήματα [Refs 1st c.AD+]; τινὶ εὐτονίαν, ἀσφάλειαν, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἐπὶ θεμέλιον or θεμελίῳ, [NT+2nd c.AD+]; τοῖς ἀληθέσιν ἐψευσμένα [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
2. b edify, ἑαυτοὺς τῇ πίστει [NT]:—passive, -ούμενοι ἐν Χριστῷ [NT]
II. ={ἐπιτειχίζω}, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]:—middle, στρατόπεδα πέντε -ησάμενος [Refs 2nd c.AD+]