☀️
← Back to Lexicon
G4120 · Greek · New Testament
πλέκω
pleko
Verb
To Braid / To Weave / To Plait

Definition

Pleko (πλέκω) means to braid, weave, plait, or twist together. In the NT it appears exclusively in the passion narratives, where Roman soldiers wove a crown of thorns and placed it on Jesus' head.

Usage & Theological Significance

All three Synoptic Gospels record the soldiers weaving a crown of thorns for Jesus (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2). This act was cruel mockery — a parody of the emperor's laurel crown forced onto the One they mocked as 'King of the Jews.' Yet in God's sovereign irony, the crown of thorns became one of the most powerful symbols in Christian theology. The thorns — which first appeared as part of the curse in Genesis 3:18 — were literally pressed onto the brow of the One who came to bear the curse (Galatians 3:13). What soldiers intended as humiliation, God ordained as a visible sign that Christ was absorbing the consequences of the Fall.

Key Bible Verses

Matthew 27:29They twisted together (wove) a crown of thorns and set it on his head.
Mark 15:17They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together (wove) a crown of thorns and set it on him.
John 19:2The soldiers twisted together (wove) a crown of thorns and put it on his head.
Genesis 3:18It will produce thorns and thistles for you.
Galatians 3:13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.

Related Words

External Resources

🌙
☀️