Greek word · G4722

στέγω

stegō

to endure

The root idea is covering closely, as a roof (stegē) does.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 22, 2026

What it means

στέγω

(cf. Lat. tego), [in LXX: Sirach 8:17 * ;]

1. prop., to cover closely, to protect by covering, esp. to keep water in or out (Soph., Plat., al.).

2. to cover, keep secret, conceal (Sir, l.with, Polyb., al.): 1 Corinthians 13:7, R, mg.

3. By covering to ward of, bear up under, endure (for exx., see, Lft., Notes, 40; M, Th., 36): 1 Corinthians 9:12 13:7, 1 Thessalonians 3:1 3:5.†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: The root idea is covering closely, as a roof (stegē) does. In Greek usage this branches into: (1) keeping something out or in, as a ship is watertight or a roof keeps out rain; (2) warding off, withstanding pressure or attack; (3) bearing up under, putting up with, enduring; (4) keeping something covered, keeping a secret, passing over in silence (LSJ, BDAG).
Against the English: 'Bears' (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV) captures sense 3 but can sound like grim tolerance of anything. NIV's 'protects' and NASB 2020's 'keeps every confidence' take the covering sense (1, 4). No single English word carries the roof picture, which holds both ideas: love shelters others and takes the weight of the storm.
How it drifted: English 'bear' has narrowed toward 'tolerate, put up with'. The Greek picture of a protective covering that also withstands pressure is lost.
Used elsewhere in the period: Only four NT uses, all Paul's: 1 Cor 9:12 'we bear up under all things (panta stegomen) rather than hinder the gospel', the same phrase as here, describing Paul giving up his rights for others' sake; 1 Thess 3:1, 5 'when I could bear it no longer'. In the Septuagint, Sirach 8:17 says a fool 'cannot keep a matter confidential' (logon stexai), showing the 'keep covered / keep a secret' sense. Compare the idea (with a different verb) in Prov 10:12 and 1 Pet 4:8, 'love covers a multitude of sins'.

Range of meaning: Related to στέγη, "roof". The basic sense is "to cover" or "to keep tight" (like a roof or a watertight vessel). From that come (1) to keep something in, such as a secret; (2) to keep something out, such as water or an enemy; and (3) to hold out against, bear up under, endure.
Against the English: KJV "suffer all things" uses "suffer" in its older sense of "put up with, allow" (as in "suffer the little children"). A modern reader hears pain or affliction. BSB/NIV "put up with anything" and NASB/WEB "bear/endure all things" are closer. None of them can carry the picture of holding firm like a roof under weather.
How it drifted: "Suffer" in modern English mostly means "undergo pain". Its sense of tolerating or permitting has faded.
Used elsewhere in the period: Classical writers use it of ships and vessels that hold out water and of walls that hold off attackers. Sir 8:17 uses it for keeping a confidence ("a fool cannot keep a matter to himself"). Paul uses it only four times: 1 Thess 3:1, 5 ("when we could bear it no longer"), here, and 1 Cor 13:7 ("love bears/covers all things"). Polybius and Philo use it for withstanding pressure.

Range of meaning: Related to στέγη ('roof'). Its basic meaning is 'to cover', and from that 'to keep watertight', either keeping water out (a roof, a ship's hull) or holding it in (a vessel). From there it came to mean 'to contain, keep in, keep secret', and so 'to hold out against, bear, endure'.
Against the English: English versions give 'bear' (BSB, ESV), 'stand' (WEB, NIV), 'endure' (NASB), 'forbear' (KJV, YLT). All capture the endurance. They lose the picture of a vessel or roof under pressure that can no longer hold. Paul's anxiety was building up inside him and finally broke out into action.
Used elsewhere in the period: In classical Greek it is used of roofs and ships that keep out water. LXX Sirach 8:17 uses it for being unable to 'keep' a confidence. In the NT: 1 Corinthians 9:12 ('we endure all things'), 1 Corinthians 13:7 ('love bears / covers all things'), and 1 Thessalonians 3:1 and 3:5 (BDAG s.v. στέγω).

1 Corinthians · 2

1 Corinthians 9:12 στέγομεν we bear

If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

Here: "We hold up under, we keep putting up with." The present tense describes his ongoing practice. Paul uses the same verb in 13:7, "love bears all things".
1 Corinthians 13:7 στέγει, it bears,

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Here: From the word for a roof: love is like a roof that takes the weather and does not give way. It holds up under whatever presses on it, and probably also covers over others' faults rather than exposing them. Present tense: this is what love habitually does.

1 Thessalonians · 2

1 Thessalonians 3:1 στέγοντες enduring

So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.
1 Thessalonians 3:5 στέγων enduring

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and that our labor might have been in vain.

Here: The picture is of a container or roof holding something in or keeping it out. Paul could no longer keep his anxiety contained. The present participle describes the ongoing strain that finally gave way. It repeats the wording of 3:1.

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