Greek word · G2885

κοσμέω

kosmeō

to arrange

To put in order, arrange (trim lamps, set in order); to adorn, decorate, beautify, especially with jewellery or fine clothing; also to honour. It shares a root with kosmos (order, ornament, world) and is the source of the English "cosmetic".

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κοσμέω, -ῶ

(κόσμος), [in LXX for עָדָה, תָּקַן, etc. ;]

1. to order, arrange, prepare (in Hom. esp. of marshalling armies): Matthew 25:7 (cf. Sirach 50:9, al.).

2. to adorn, furnish: οἶκον, pass., Matthew 12:44, Luke 11:25; μνημεῖα, Matthew 23:29; τὸ ἱερόν, pass., Luke 21:5; θεμέλιοι, Revelation 21:19; νύμφην, pass., Revelation 21:2; ἐαυτάς, before ἐν, 1 Timothy 2:9. Metaphorical, with accusative of person(s), 1 Peter 3:5; with accusative of thing(s), Titus 2:10.†

(AS)

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

In depth

From the study of Revelation 21:2

Range of meaning

To put in order, arrange (trim lamps, set in order); to adorn, decorate, beautify, especially with jewellery or fine clothing; also to honour. It shares a root with kosmos (order, ornament, world) and is the source of the English "cosmetic".

Against the English

"Adorned" (KJV, BSB, ESV, NASB) keeps the decorative sense. "Beautifully dressed" (NIV, NLT) narrows it to clothing and loses the jewels. That breaks the verbal link with 21:19, where the city's foundations are "adorned" (kekosmēmenoi) with precious stones.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Isa 61:10 (katekosmēsen, a compound of the same verb); Matt 25:7 the virgins "trimmed" their lamps; Matt 23:29 the tombs "decorated"; 1 Pet 3:5 holy women "adorned themselves"; Rev 21:19 the foundations "adorned with every precious stone".

From the study of Matthew 25:7

Range of meaning

To arrange, put in order, make ready, set out properly. Also to adorn or decorate. Related to κόσμος, 'order, arrangement' and so 'world' and 'ornament' (our 'cosmetic').

Against the English

'Trimmed' (KJV, BSB, ESV, NIV, NASB, WEB) uses a lamp-keeper's word: cutting off the charred wick so the flame burns clean. That is one part of what κοσμέω covers. The Greek is broader: 'got them in order, made them ready to burn'. NLT's 'prepared' is closer to the general sense.

How it drifted

In 1611 'trim' broadly meant to prepare or fit out (compare 'trim a ship'). Today it mostly means 'cut a little off', which shrinks the picture to snipping a wick.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matt 12:44 (a house 'swept and put in order'); 23:29 (decorating the tombs of the righteous); Luke 21:5 (the temple 'adorned' with stones); 1 Tim 2:9 (adorning oneself). BDAG lists 'put in order, trim' for lamps in this verse. In Greek generally it is used of drawing up troops and setting things out in their proper arrangement.

From the study of Matthew 12:44

Range of meaning

To arrange or put in order (originally used of drawing up troops); to prepare or trim (lamps); to adorn or decorate (a bride, a building, a tomb). It is related to kosmos, 'order, ornament, world'.

Against the English

Most modern versions say 'put in order'; YLT says 'adorned'; KJV says 'garnished'. 'Put in order' brings out the tidiness. 'Adorned' brings out that the house looks attractive and ready to live in. The Greek can carry both.

How it drifted

KJV's 'garnished' meant 'adorned, furnished, fitted out' in 1611 (from Old French garnir, 'to equip, furnish'). Today it mostly suggests a cook's garnish on a plate.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matthew uses it for the virgins who 'trimmed' their lamps (25:7) and, pointedly, for those who 'adorn the monuments of the righteous' while opposing the prophets (23:29). Luke 21:5 uses it of the temple 'adorned with beautiful stones', and Rev 21:2 of a bride 'adorned for her husband'.

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 12:44 κεκοσμημένον. ordered.

    Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ On its return, it finds the house vacant, swept clean, and put in order.

    Here: Also a perfect participle: it has been put in order and stays that way, tidy and even attractive. To the returning spirit it looks like a house made ready for a tenant.

  2. Matthew 23:29 κοσμεῖτε adorn

    Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.

  3. Matthew 25:7 ἐκόσμησαν trimmed

    Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

    Here: 'They put in order, got ready.' With a lamp or torch this means making it burn well: clearing away charred material, adding oil, and lighting or rekindling it. Verse 8 shows that this is the moment the foolish girls find out their oil has run out.

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 11:25 κεκοσμημένον. ordered.

    On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.

  2. Luke 21:5 κεκόσμηται it has been adorned

    As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said,

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 2:9 κοσμεῖν adorning

    Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,

    Here: "To adorn, to make beautiful by arranging." The present tense points to an ongoing habit of self-presentation. English "cosmetic" comes from this root.

Titus · 1

  1. Titus 2:10 κοσμῶσιν they may adorn

    not stealing from them, but showing all good faith, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior.

    Here: To adorn something, set it off, make its beauty show, and so bring it honor. The form expresses purpose and ongoing action: by their conduct the slaves keep bringing credit to the teaching.

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 3:5 ἐκόσμουν were adorning

    For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,

    Here: Imperfect tense, which here describes a habit: 'used to adorn themselves.' The verb comes from the same root as kosmos, 'adornment,' in verse 3, so Peter is playing on his own words: their real 'cosmetics' were hope and conduct.

Revelation · 2

  1. Revelation 21:2 κεκοσμημένην adorned

    I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

    Here: Another perfect passive: she has been fully adorned and stands that way. The word means putting in order and decorating, especially with jewels. In 21:19 the same verb describes the city's foundations "adorned with every precious stone", so the bride's jewellery is the city itself.

  2. Revelation 21:19 κεκοσμημένοι. adorned.

    The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

    Here: 'Having been adorned', and they stay that way. It is the same verb and the same tense used of the city 'prepared as a bride adorned for her husband' (21:2). The bride's jewellery turns out to be the gemstones of her foundations.

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