αὐξάνωauxánō
to grow ("wax"), i.e. enlarge (literal or figurative, active or passive)
Greek (New Testament) · G837
Meanings
1. transitive, to make to grow: 1 Corinthians 3:6, 1 Corinthians 3:7, 2 Corinthians 9:10. Pass., to grow, increase, become greater: Matthew 13:32, Mark 4:8, 2 Corinthians 10:15, Colossians 1:6; τῇ ἐπιγνώσει τ. θεοῦ, Colossians 1:10; εἰς σωτηρίαν, 1 Peter 2:2.
2. In later Gk. (but nowhere in LXX), intransitive, to grow, increase: of plants, Matthew 6:28, Luke 12:27, Luke 13:19; of infants, Luke 1:80, Luke 2:40; of a multitude, Acts 7:17; of the increase of the Gospel: ὁ λόγος ηὔξανε, Acts 6:7, Acts 12:24, Acts 19:20; of Christ as a leader, John 3:30; of Christian character: εἰς Χριοτόν, Ephesians 4:15; εἰς ναόν, Ephesians 2:21; ἐν χάριτι, 2 Peter 3:18; τὴν αὔξησιν τ. θεσῦ, Colossians 2:19 (cf. συν, ὑπερ-αυξάνω).
Same root
Where it appears
Appears 23 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 6:28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,
- Matthew 13:32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
- Mark 4:8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
- Luke 1:80 John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.
- Luke 2:40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
- Luke 12:27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.