ἐγκομβόομαι (egkomboomai)
egkomboomai
to clothe oneself
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb egkomboomai means to dress oneself, specifically by tying or girding on a garment. Its root imagery comes from kombos, a knot or band, suggesting the physical act of securing clothing around the body. This is not merely putting on clothes in a general sense, but implies a deliberate action of fastening something close to oneself.
In Scripture, this word appears only once, in 1 Peter 5:5, where believers are urged to clothe themselves with humility toward one another. The context suggests wearing humility as a protective or service-oriented garment, much like an apron tied securely for work. This concrete image emphasizes that humility is not just an attitude but a deliberate covering adopted for daily interaction.
Translators typically render this as "clothe yourselves," capturing the idea of putting on a distinctive outer layer. The unique usage highlights humility as a visible, practical reality in Christian community life, rather than an abstract virtue.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for 'clothe' in this passage carries a sense of deliberate action. It suggests tying a garment securely around yourself, much like an apron fastened for work. This image moves humility from a vague feeling to a practical choice you make each day.
In 1 Peter 5:5, believers are urged to wear this attitude toward one another. It is not about self-hatred or hiding your gifts. Instead, it is about wrapping yourself in a posture that serves others and respects those around you. This visible covering changes how we interact with family, friends, and church members.
Choosing humility daily invites God's grace into your relationships. It creates space for peace and mutual respect within the community of faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do gird on,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐγκομβώσασθε,1×
Key Verses
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I Peter 5:5
Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
This verse uniquely applies the specific image of girding on a garment to the virtue of humility, framing it as an active, visible practice rather than just an internal emotion.