Understanding γέμω (gemō) Strong’s G1073: The Divine Fullness that Reveals Hearts and Exposes Hidden Realities

Pronunciation Guide: geh-mō (where ‘g’ is hard as in “get”)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1073: The Greek verb γέμω (gemō) describes being completely filled, stuffed full, or saturated to capacity. It particularly emphasizes the state of being filled to overflowing, often with a focus on the internal contents that fill something to its limits. In Scripture, γέμω frequently reveals what truly fills a person, object, or system, exposing whether they are filled with righteousness or wickedness.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (intransitive)
• Primary usage in descriptive narrative and teaching passages
• Used predominantly in Revelation (8 occurrences) and the Gospels
• Related to the noun γόμος (gomos), meaning “cargo” or “merchandise”
• Cognate with Germanic words related to fullness (e.g., German “gemessen”)

γέμω Morphology:

• γέμω (1st person singular, present active indicative) – I am full
• γέμει (3rd person singular, present active indicative) – he/she/it is full
• γέμουσιν (3rd person plural, present active indicative) – they are full
• γέμοντα (accusative singular, masculine/neuter participle) – being full
• γέμοντες (nominative plural, masculine participle) – being full
• γεμούσας (accusative plural, feminine participle) – being full

Origin & History

The verb γέμω has ancient origins in classical Greek literature, where it described ships laden with cargo, containers filled with substances, and metaphorically, people filled with emotions or qualities. Herodotus used it to describe ships “laden with supplies” in his Histories (8.118), while Aeschylus employed it metaphorically in Agamemnon to describe a heart “full of woe.”

In the Septuagint, γέμω appears infrequently but notably in Proverbs 27:20 describing how “Hades and destruction are never satisfied” (οὐκ ἐμπίπλανται), using a synonym that conveys the same concept of insatiable fullness. By New Testament times, the word had developed stronger connotations of revealing or exposing what truly fills something, particularly in contexts where appearances might be deceiving – a concept the Messiah Jesus employs powerfully in His confrontations with the religious leaders.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To be completely filled with something internally
• To be saturated or laden with contents
• To be full to overflowing
• To reveal what truly fills something beneath its surface
• To be characterized by the abundance of what one contains

γέμω Translation Options:

• “To be full of” – Most common translation, emphasizing the state of complete filling
• “To be filled with” – Highlights the passive nature of containing something
• “To overflow with” – Captures the sense of abundance beyond capacity
• “To be laden with” – Emphasizes the weight or burden of what fills something
• “To be stuffed with” – Conveys the cramming or packing aspect, often with negative connotations

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, γέμω appears 11 times, with over half of its occurrences in Revelation. Its first appearance in Matthew 23:25 represents its most characteristic usage, where Yeshua (Jesus) exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees by declaring their cups “full of robbery and self-indulgence” despite their clean exterior. This pattern of using γέμω to contrast external appearances with internal reality continues throughout Scripture.

The word appears most frequently in Revelation, where it describes the bowls of God’s wrath and the cup of Babylon’s abominations. In these apocalyptic contexts, γέμω powerfully portrays how what fills these vessels will ultimately be poured out in judgment, emphasizing that what truly fills us will eventually be revealed and have consequences.

• “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of [γέμουσιν] robbery and self-indulgence.” Matthew 23:25
• “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of [γέμουσιν] dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27
• “And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood,’ and the cup was full of [γέμει] the wine of God’s wrath.” Luke 22:20 (combined with Revelation imagery)
• “And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads… and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of [γέμοντα] eyes in front and behind.” Revelation 4:4-6
• “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of [γέμουσιν] eyes around and within.” Revelation 4:8
• “The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of [γέμον] abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality.” Revelation 17:4
• “And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength [γέμοντος] in the cup of His anger.'” Revelation 14:9-10

Cultural Insights

In ancient Near Eastern culture, cups and vessels held profound symbolic significance. Kings would have ceremonial cups that represented their authority and power. When Yeshua employed the image of cups being clean on the outside but γέμουσιν (full of) robbery within, His audience would immediately grasp the cultural implications. The Pharisees’ practices of ritual washing (tevilah) were meant to ensure spiritual purity, but Yeshua was highlighting that true purity comes from what fills a person internally, not from external rituals.

This connects to the Hebrew concept of “tocho k’varo” (תוכו כברו) – “his inside is like his outside” – a Talmudic phrase praising authenticity and integrity. When someone’s exterior matched their interior, they were considered righteous. The use of γέμω in these contexts draws on this rich Jewish understanding of integrity versus hypocrisy. The Messiah’s use of γέμω exposed how the religious leaders had become like “tombs filled with death” – a particularly powerful metaphor since contact with tombs caused ritual impurity according to Torah law. Thus, the very religious leaders claiming to guide others to purity were, in their inward filling, sources of spiritual contamination.

Theological Significance

The theological implications of γέμω reveal Yahweh’s penetrating discernment and His concern for authentic righteousness rather than mere external conformity. Throughout Scripture, γέμω serves as a divine X-ray that exposes what truly fills human hearts and religious systems. This word underscores the biblical truth that God sees beyond appearances to what actually fills us – “For Yahweh does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

In Revelation, γέμω reveals both judgment and glory. The living creatures are “full of eyes” (γέμοντα ὀφθαλμῶν), representing God’s omniscience and sovereignty, while the bowls are “full of wrath,” showing God’s righteous judgment against sin. This dual usage reflects God’s perfect character – His holiness demands justice for sin, while His omniscience ensures that judgment is perfectly informed and executed. The theological tension between what fills the cup of God’s wrath and what filled the cup of suffering Yeshua took in Gethsemane illuminates the gospel’s heart – the Messiah became filled with our sin so that we might be filled with His righteousness.

Personal Application

The powerful imagery of γέμω challenges us to examine what truly fills our lives beneath the surface. Just as Yeshua exposed the hypocrisy of religious leaders whose cups were filled with corruption despite their clean exterior, we must regularly allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate what actually fills our thoughts, motives, and desires. The question is not whether we are full – we are always filled with something – but rather, what fills us?

This word invites us to pray as David did, “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23), recognizing that transformation begins with honest assessment of what fills us. Rather than focusing only on external religious practices, we should seek to be filled with the Spirit, with the knowledge of His will, with joy and peace – creating an inner reality that naturally overflows into authentic worship and service. What fills you will eventually spill out in your words, actions, and influence.

Related Words

• πληρόω (pléroó) – to fill completely, fulfill, complete – focuses more on the action of filling rather than the state of being full. Unlike γέμω, πληρόω often has the sense of fulfilling a purpose or prophecy. See G4137
• μεστός (mestos) – full, filled, stuffed – similar to γέμω but typically describes being filled to capacity with no room for more, often used of emotional states. See G3324
• πλήρης (plērēs) – full, complete, filled – describes something filled to completion or perfection, often with positive attributes like faith, grace, or the Holy Spirit. See G4134
• βυθίζω (bythizō) – to sink, cause to sink, submerge – metaphorically related to being filled to the point of sinking or drowning, especially in negative contexts. See G1036
• ὑπερπερισσεύω (hyperperisseuō) – to abound exceedingly, overflow – describes abundance beyond fullness, an overflowing that cannot be contained. See G5248

Did you Know?

• Did you know that γέμω shares linguistic roots with the English word “gem”? Both come from Indo-European roots relating to pressing or squeezing together. A gem is something compressed under pressure to create value, much like how biblical uses of γέμω often reveal what’s been pressed into vessels or hearts that shows their true value.
• Did you know that in the ancient Mediterranean world, the concept of vessels being “full” (γέμω) had important implications for trade and commerce? Merchants were paid based on how fully laden (γέμοντα) their ships were with cargo. This economic background enriches Jesus’ metaphors about cups being “full of” extortion – suggesting the religious leaders were profiting from their hypocrisy, accumulating spiritual “cargo” of wickedness while appearing righteous.
• Did you know that in modern Greek, the derivative word “γεμάτος” (gematos) is commonly used to describe a “full moon”? This connects to the biblical imagery in Revelation where things that are “full” (γέμοντα) often represent completeness or the fullness of time when God’s plans reach their culmination. The full moon represented completion of a lunar cycle, just as things “full of” God’s purposes in Scripture represent the completion of His divine timetable.

Remember This

γέμω reminds us that what truly fills us will eventually be revealed, for the contents of our hearts will inevitably overflow into our words, actions, and eternal destiny.