Quick Definition
I crown,adorn
Strong's Definition
to adorn with an honorary wreath (literally or figuratively)
Derivation: from G4735 (στέφανος);
KJV Usage: crown
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
στεφανόω, στεφάνῳ: 1 aorist ἐστεφανωσα; perfect passive participle ἐστεφανωμενος; (στέφανος); from Homer down;
a. to encircle with a crown, to crown: the victor in a contest, 2Ti_2:5.
b. universally, to adorn, to honr: τινα δόξῃ καί τιμή, Heb_2:7; Heb_2:9, from Psa_8:6.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
στεφανόω stephanoō 3x
to crown; to crown as victor in the games,
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
στεφανόω , -ῶ
( < στέφανος ),
[in LXX for H5849 ;]
c . acc pers .,
to crown: of a victor, 2Ti_2:5 . Metaph ., δόξῃ κ . τιμῇ , Heb_2:7 ; Heb_2:9 ( LXX ).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
στεφανόω [page 589]
In P Cairo Zen I. 59060 .7 (B.C. 257) Hierokles writes to Zenon regarding a boy who was Zenon s nominee in the games, ἐλπίζω σε στεφανωθήσεσθαι , I hope that you will be crowned (i.e. victorious) through him : cf. 2Ti_2:5 .
The verb is used technically of the ceremonial crowning of magistrates, e.g. P Oxy VIII. 1117 .5 ( c. A.D. 178) τῶν τοῦ ἔτους ἐστεφανωμένων ἀρχ [όντων , P Ryl II. 77 .37 (A.D. 192) ὁ Ἀχιλλεὺς βούλεται στεφανωθῆναι ἐχηγητείαν , and Preisigke 4101 .4 τὸν προφήτην ἐστεφάνωσε .
For the late sense reward, cf. Polyb. xiii. 9. 5 ἐστεφάνωσαν τὸν Ἀντίοχον πεντακοσίοις ἀργυρίου ταλάντοις , and see s.v. στέφανος .
The compd. verb στεφανηφορέω is seen in P Oxy VII. 1021 .15 (A.D. 54) στεφανηφοροῦντας καὶ βουθυτοῦντας , wearing garlands and with sacrifices of oxen, to celebrate Nero s accession; the subst. in P Giss I. 27 .8 (Trajan/Hadrian) (= Chrest. I. p. 29 ) στεφανη̣φορίαν ἄξω , to celebrate a victory; and the adj. in P Ryl II. 77 .34 (A.D. 192) στεφα [νη ]φόρον ἐξηγητείαν , the office of a crowned exegetes.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
στεφανόω [Etym: στέφανος] used by Hom. in Pass., "to be put round", Lat. circumdari, ἢν περὶ μὲν φόβος ἐστεφάνωται "round about" which (the shield) "is" Terror "wreathed", Il. ; ἀμφὶ δέ μιν νέφος ἐστεφάνωτο "all round about" him "was" a cloud, id=Il. ; περὶ νῆσον πόντος ἐστεφάνωται the sea "lies round about" the island, Od. "to be surrounded", Lat. cingi, ἐστεφανωμένος τιήρην μυρσίνηι "having his" tiara "wreathed" with myrtle, Hdt. Act. "to crown, wreathe", χαίτην Pind. ; στ. τινά Eur. , etc.: c. dupl. acc., εὐαγγέλια στεφανοῦν τινά "to crown" one "for" good tidings, Ar. :—Pass. "to be crowned or rewarded with a crown", Hdt. , Pind. :—Mid. "to crown oneself", στεφανοῦσθε κισσῶι Eur. , Ar. in Mid. "to win a crown", of the victor at the games, Pind. "to crown" as an honour or reward, Eur. , Lys. :—"to crown or honour" with libations, Eur. Pass. "to wear a crown" as a badge of office, Xen. , Dem.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
στεφανόω, -ῶ
(στέφανος), [in LXX for עָטַר ;]
with accusative of person(s),
to crown: of a victor, 2Ti.2:5. Metaphorical, δόξῃ κ. τιμῇ, Heb.2:7, 9" (LXX) .†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Crowned (4737) stephanoo
Crowned (4737) (stephanoo from stephanos = crown - see word study) literally meant to adorn one with an honorary wreath which served as the "crown" of the victor in the Greek public games. The only three NT uses are here Hebrews 2:9 (note) and in 2 Timothy where Paul uses this verb to challenge his young protégée letter to Timothy instructing him...
And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize (stephanoo) unless he competes according to the rules. (See note 2 Timothy 2:5)
The Psalmist refers to God's purpose in creating man with such a destiny as mastery over nature and made such that he was granted the stephanos or crown of honor. When God made Adam pure and innocent, He gave him honor and glory. Someday soon, He will restore it. How great is the salvation of our God!
Jamieson writes...
"as the appointed kingly vicegerent of God over this earth"
No doubt both David and the writer of Hebrews were thinking of the first chapter of Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."