στέγω (stegō)
stegō
to endure
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb stegō carries the concrete image of covering or thatching a roof to keep out rain and wind. Its core meaning is to protect by shielding, whether by keeping water in or out, or by hiding something from view. This physical sense of enclosure extends metaphorically to the spiritual realm, where it describes bearing up under pressure or enduring hardship with patience.
In the New Testament, this word appears primarily in Paul’s letters, most notably in 1 Corinthians and 1 Thessalonians. In 1 Corinthians 13:7, it is famously used to describe love as a force that "covers" all things, suggesting a protective patience that conceals faults rather than exposing them. Similarly, in 1 Thessalonians 3:1 and 5, Paul speaks of enduring trials, using the same root to convey standing firm against external pressures.
The word’s strength lies in its imagery of active protection. It is not passive resignation but a deliberate act of holding ground, like a roof that withstands a storm. Translators often render it as "endure" or "cover," capturing both the idea of bearing suffering and the protective nature of love that shields others from harm.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word stegō brings to mind the sturdy image of a roof that withstands a storm. It suggests an active, deliberate covering that protects what lies beneath from the harsh elements outside. When applied to human experience, it describes a steadfast endurance that does not crumble under pressure but holds firm, shielding the heart and community from being broken by external trials.
In our daily lives, this concept invites us to view patience not as passive waiting, but as a protective strength. Just as a roof keeps the rain at bay, love and faith can shield us and those around us from the damaging effects of conflict or hardship. This active endurance allows relationships to remain intact even when circumstances are difficult, offering a sense of security that comes from standing firm together.
Ultimately, this word reminds us that true strength often looks like quiet resilience. It is the capacity to bear weight without collapsing and to cover faults with grace rather than exposing them. By embracing this kind of steadfastness, we create a safe space for hope to grow, trusting that our endurance is part of a larger, protective design in our spiritual journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- enduring2×
- we bear1×
- it bears,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- στέγων1×
- στέγοντες1×
- στέγομεν1×
- στέγει,1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 13:7
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
This verse defines the highest expression of love as an active covering that shields others from harm and conceals faults rather than exposing them.
-
I Thessalonians 3:1
Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,
Paul uses this term to describe his own limit in enduring separation, highlighting the intense emotional pressure of ministry and care for believers.
-
I Thessalonians 3:5
For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.
Here the word underscores the fear that spiritual labor might be undone by temptation, motivating Paul to send help rather than remain in anxious isolation.
-
I Corinthians 9:12
If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.
Paul illustrates how refusing personal rights can serve as a protective measure, bearing potential offense to ensure the Gospel message faces no hindrance.