Greek word · G4182

πολυποίκιλος

polypoikilos

manifold

'Very many-coloured, richly varied, intricately diverse.' The root is poikilos: variegated, dappled, multi-coloured, embroidered. From there it came to mean intricate or complex, and sometimes cunning. The poly- prefix makes it stronger: 'many-times varied'.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

πολυ-ποίκιλος, -ον

1. much variegated, of greatly differing colours (Eur.).

2. manifold: Ephesians 3:10.†

(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 Ephesians 3:10

Range of meaning

'Very many-coloured, richly varied, intricately diverse.' The root is poikilos: variegated, dappled, multi-coloured, embroidered. From there it came to mean intricate or complex, and sometimes cunning. The poly- prefix makes it stronger: 'many-times varied'.

Against the English

Every major English version says 'manifold'. The word is accurate but faded: today most people hear only 'many' or 'numerous', or nothing at all. NLT's 'in its rich variety' recovers more. None of them keeps the picture of colour and weave.

How it drifted

'Manifold' (many-fold) was a vivid word in Tyndale's and the KJV's English. It has since become archaic, surviving mainly as a technical term (an engine manifold). The image behind the Greek was never carried over.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDAG cites the compound in classical Greek for richly coloured woven robes (Euripides) and for a garland of flowers. It also appears in the Orphic Hymns. The simple poikilos appears in the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) for Joseph's coat (Gen 37:3, chitōna poikilon) and for embroidered work. 1 Peter 4:10 speaks of 'the poikilos grace of God'. Compare Wisdom of Solomon 7:22, where Wisdom's spirit is 'many-parted' (polymeres).

Where it appears

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 3:10 πολυποίκιλος manifold

    His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

    Here: 'Many-' (poly-) added to 'variegated, multi-coloured' (poikilos). It pictures a richly embroidered or many-hued fabric. It appears only here in the New Testament.

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