σωρεύω (sōreuō)
sōreuō
to pile up
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb sōreuō means to pile things up or heap them together. It describes a physical action of accumulation, creating a mound or mass by adding layer upon layer. The word appears only twice in the New Testament, yet its imagery is vivid and concrete.
In Romans 12:20, Paul quotes Proverbs to advise believers not to seek revenge but to "heap burning coals" on an enemy’s head. This unusual metaphor suggests that responding to hostility with kindness can overwhelm the aggressor, potentially leading to shame or repentance rather than further conflict. The image relies on the physical act of piling hot coals to create a heavy, uncomfortable burden.
The second occurrence in 2 Timothy 3:6 uses the word metaphorically. It describes false teachers who creep into households and "overwhelm" weak women burdened by sins. Here, the sense is not just adding to something, but loading someone down with the weight of their own guilt or moral failure. The sources note that this usage emphasizes being buried or submerged under a heap, whether of coals, sins, or corrupt influence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word σωρεὺω paints a picture of accumulation, taking separate items and piling them into a heavy mound. In the New Testament, this physical action becomes a powerful metaphor for how we respond to those who hurt us. Paul uses it in Romans 12:20 to describe heaping burning coals on an enemy’s head. This does not mean inflicting pain, but rather overwhelming hostility with unexpected kindness. The weight of that grace can become so heavy that it breaks the cycle of revenge.
Conversely, the same word appears in 2 Timothy 3:6 to describe how false teachers overwhelm vulnerable people. Here, the 'heap' is made of sins and lusts, loading down those who are weak until they are buried under the weight. This contrast shows that accumulation itself is neutral; it is the content of the pile that determines whether it brings healing or harm.
For your daily walk, this invites a simple choice. Will you add to the burdens of others through criticism and retaliation? Or will you offer small acts of love that might soften a hardened heart? You do not need grand gestures to make a difference. Sometimes, a single layer of patience is enough to change the outcome.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will heap1×
- burdened1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σωρεύσεις1×
- σεσωρευμένα1×
Key Verses
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Romans 12:20
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Paul uses this verb to command believers to respond to enemies with kindness, suggesting that such generosity creates a moral weight that can lead to repentance.
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II Timothy 3:6
For some of these are people who creep into houses and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
The term describes how corrupt influences accumulate in the lives of vulnerable women, loading them down with sin until they are overwhelmed by their own desires.