Lexical Summary epiraptó: To sew on, to attach, to fasten Original Word: ἐπιράπτω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sew onto. From epi and the base of rhaphis; to stitch upon, i.e. Fasten with the needle -- sew on. see GREEK epi see GREEK rhaphis NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom epi and the same as rhaphis Definition to sew upon NASB Translation sews (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1976: ἐπιρράπτωἐπιρράπτω (T Tr WH ἐπιράπτω, see Rho); (ῤάπτω to sew); to sew upon, sew to: ἐπί τίνι (R G; others τινα), Mark 2:21. Topical Lexicon Textual ContextMark 2:21 is the sole New Testament occurrence of ἐπιράπτει. Jesus, addressing questions about fasting, links three mini-parables: the patch on the garment, the new wine in old skins, and the bridegroom with his guests. The verb pictures the deliberate action of stitching a fresh, unshrunk piece of cloth onto an aged, worn garment—an action Jesus presents as obviously unwise. “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result” (Mark 2:21). Historical and Cultural Background First–century garments were generally woven of wool or linen. New cloth had not yet been “fulled” (shrunken through washing and beating). Sewing a raw, unshrunken piece onto an old robe guaranteed further damage when the first washing tightened the new patch. Jesus’ listeners, steeped in everyday household realities, immediately grasped the futility of such mending. The image draws upon a world where garments were costly enough to repair but also where the mending itself demanded wisdom. Theological Themes 1. Continuity and Discontinuity Jesus affirms the continuity of God’s redemptive plan while exposing the discontinuity between Old Covenant forms and New Covenant realities. A mere “patch” of kingdom life cannot be affixed to the fabric of Pharisaic religiosity. The presence of the Bridegroom brings something qualitatively new (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:13). 2. Transformation over Modification The gospel does not modify fallen humanity; it creates new life (2 Corinthians 5:17). The patch-and-garment picture dramatizes the inadequacy of superficial reforms compared with the regenerating work of the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26). 3. The Danger of Religious Syncretism Attempting to merge incompatible systems produces a “worse tear.” Blending grace with legalism, or freedom in Christ with ritualistic self-righteousness, results in deeper spiritual rupture (Galatians 3:3). Symbolic Significance in the Ministry of Jesus Jesus positions His ministry as both fulfillment and replacement of ritual structures that pointed forward to Him. The fasting question in the pericope (Mark 2:18–22) exposes how traditional piety, when detached from Christ, becomes rigid. By invoking ἐπιράπτει, Jesus sketches an everyday illustration with profound covenantal implications: the arrival of the kingdom cannot be reduced to a devotional add-on. Relationship to Other Scriptural Imagery • Matthew 9:16 and Luke 5:36 record parallel sayings, emphasizing the same principle with a different sewing verb, confirming the consistency of the synoptic witness. Application for Contemporary Ministry 1. Gospel Methods and Structures Ministry strategies must serve, not stifle, gospel vitality. When ecclesial forms calcify, believers must discern whether fresh wineskins are needed rather than cosmetic stitching. 2. Discipleship and Sanctification Spiritual growth is not an accretion of religious habits onto unchanged hearts. True discipleship springs from new birth, then expresses itself in obedience (John 3:3; Titus 3:5). 3. Counseling and Pastoral Care Urging unbelievers to adopt Christian ethics without regeneration resembles sewing new cloth onto decaying fabric. The counselor’s first aim is the gospel, then the life transformation it empowers. Illustrations from Church History • The Judaizer crisis (Acts 15; Galatians) exemplifies the “patch” error—adding Mosaic regulations to gospel freedom. Related Topics and Cross-References Old Covenant vs. New Covenant – Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 9:15 Regeneration – John 1:13; 1 Peter 1:23 Legalism – Galatians 5:1–4 Garment Imagery – Isaiah 61:10; Colossians 3:12; Revelation 7:14 Summary and Key Takeaways • ἐπιράπτει in Mark 2:21 anchors Jesus’ teaching that the kingdom’s arrival cannot be appended to obsolete religious structures. Forms and Transliterations επιραπτει ἐπιράπτει επιρράπτει επιρρέων epiraptei epirápteiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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