Build, Builder, Building
lit., “to build a house” (oikos, “a house,” domeo, “to build”), hence, to build anything, e.g., Mat 7:24; Luk 4:29; Luk 6:48, RV, “well builded” (last clause of verse); Joh 2:20; is frequently used figuratively, e.g., Act 20:32 (some mss. have No. 3 here); Gal 2:18; especially of edifying, Act 9:31; Rom 15:20; 1Co 10:23; 1Co 14:4; 1Th 5:11 (RV). In 1Co 8:10 it is translated “emboldened” (marg., “builded up”). The participle with the article (equivalent to a noun) is rendered “builder,” Mat 21:42; Act 4:11; 1Pe 2:7. See EDIFY, EMBOLDEN.
signifies “to build again” (ana, “again”), Act 15:16.
signifies “to build upon” (epi, “upon”), 1Co 3:10, 1Co 3:12, 1Co 3:14; Eph 2:20; Jud 1:20; or up, Act 20:32; Col 2:7.
“to build together” (sun, “with”), is used in Eph 2:22, metaphorically, of the church, as a spiritual dwelling-place for God.
“to prepare, establish, furnish,” is rendered “builded” and “built” in Heb 3:3-4. See MAKE, ORDAIN, PREPARE.
“a building, or edification” (see A, No. 1), is used (a) literally, e.g., Mat 24:1; Mar 13:1-2; (b) figuratively, e.g., Rom 14:19 (lit., “the things of building up”); Rom 15:2; of a local church as a spiritual building, 1Co 3:9, or the whole church, the body of Christ, Eph 2:21. It expresses the strengthening effect of teaching, 1Co 14:3, 1Co 14:5, 1Co 14:12, 1Co 14:26; 2Co 10:8; 2Co 12:19; 2Co 13:10, or other ministry, Eph 4:12, Eph 4:16, Eph 4:29 (the idea conveyed is progress resulting from patient effort). It is also used of the believer’s resurrection body, 2Co 5:1. See EDIFICATION, EDIFY.
“a thing built, structure” (en, “in,” domao, “to build”), is used of the wall of the heavenly city, Rev 21:18 (some suggest that the word means “a fabric;” others, “a roofing or coping;” these interpretations are questionable; the probable significance is “a building”).
“a creation,” is so translated in the RV of Heb 9:11 (AV “building,”) See CREATION, B, No. 1, CREATURE, ORDINANCE.
“an artificer, one who does a thing by rules of art,” is rendered “builder” in Heb 11:10, marg., “architect,” which gives the necessary contrast between this and the next noun in the verse. See CRAFTSMAN, No. 2.