Greek word · G1915

ἐπίβλημα

epiblēma

patch

"Something laid or thrown on": a covering, an addition, and specifically a patch. It comes from epiballō, "to throw or put on".

Appears 4 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 30, 2026

What it means

ἐπί-βλημα, -τος, τό

[in LXX: Isaiah 3:22 * ;]

1. that which is thrown over, a cover.

2. a tapestry, hanging (Is, l.with).

3. that which is put on;

(a) embroidery;

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

Range of meaning: "Something laid or thrown on": a covering, an addition, and specifically a patch. It comes from epiballō, "to throw or put on".
Against the English: "Patch" is accurate. English cannot carry the echo between verb and noun (epiballei epiblēma, roughly "puts on a put-on"), which makes the line sound like a proverb.
Used elsewhere in the period: Used for a patch in the Synoptic parallels (Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36). In wider Greek it covers coverings and additions of various kinds.

Matthew · 1

Matthew 9:16 ἐπίβλημα a patch

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result.

Here: "Something put on", so a patch. It comes from the same root as the verb before it, which gives a ring something like "no one puts on a put-on". It is the ordinary word for a repair piece.

Mark · 1

Mark 2:21 ἐπίβλημα a patch

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.

Luke · 2

Luke 5:36 ἐπίβλημα ἐπίβλημα a piece, piece

He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will tear the new garment as well, and the patch from the new will not match the old.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.