Brief Overview of πληρόω (Strong’s G4137: plēroō)
Strong’s G4137: A verb meaning “to fill, fulfill, or complete.” From πλήρης (full). In ancient Greek, it described physical filling and completion. In New Testament usage, it carries profound theological significance, particularly regarding the fulfillment of Scripture and God’s purposes in Christ.
U- Unveiling the Word
πληρόω represents both literal filling and spiritual/prophetic fulfillment. In the New Testament, it appears frequently in contexts of prophecy fulfillment, particularly regarding Christ’s fulfillment of Old Testament predictions. It also describes being filled with the Spirit and completing God’s purposes. Early church fathers emphasized this term when discussing both Christological fulfillment of Scripture and the Spirit’s work in believers. Today, it continues to express how Christ completes God’s promises and how believers can experience spiritual fullness.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: πληρόω, plēroō, /play-RO-oh/
- Detailed pronunciation: play-RO-oh (emphasis on second syllable)
- Part of Speech: Verb
Etymology:
- Root: πληρ- (plēr-) meaning “full”
- Suffix: -όω (-oō) causative verb ending
- Derived from πλήρης (plērēs), “full”
D – Defining Meanings
- To fill completely
- To fulfill (prophecy)
- To complete, accomplish
For compound words: Not a compound word, but contains causative suffix -όω indicating “to make” or “cause to be”
Translation Options:
- To fulfill – Emphasizes prophetic completion
- To fill – Basic physical meaning
- To complete – General accomplishment
E – Exploring Similar Words
- τελέω (teleō) /tel-EH-oh/ – to finish, complete
See G5055 - γεμίζω (gemizō) /yem-ID-zo/ – to fill physically
See G1072
R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology
Verb Features:
- Tense: Present, Future, Aorist, Perfect
- Voice: Active, Passive
- Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative
- Person: First, Second, Third
- Number: Singular, Plural
Examples:
Present: πληρῶ (I fulfill)
Future: πληρώσω (I will fulfill)
Aorist: ἐπλήρωσα (I fulfilled)
Perfect: πεπλήρωκα (I have fulfilled)
- Cross-references to noun πλήρωμα and adjective πλήρης
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG emphasizes both literal and theological uses. Thayer’s notes its importance in prophecy fulfillment. LSJ documents extensive secular usage. Vine’s highlights its spiritual applications. Strong’s connects it to completion concepts. LEH provides rich Septuagint usage. Moulton and Milligan cite various practical applications.
T – Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance:
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet” Matthew 1:22
Additional References:
Matthew 2:15, Matthew 2:17, Matthew 2:23, Luke 4:21, John 19:28, Acts 13:52, Ephesians 5:18
A – Analyzing Classical Usage
| Author: Work | Text |
|---|---|
| Herodotus: Histories | “The river filled its banks during the flood” |
| Plato: Republic | “Education fulfills the soul’s potential” |
| Xenophon: Anabasis | “They completed their journey as planned” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
πληρόω beautifully expresses how Jesus brings all God’s promises to completion. Every prophecy finds its “yes” in Him, and through Him, believers can experience the fullness of God’s Spirit and purposes. This word reminds us that God is faithfully working to complete His plans in Christ and in us.
D – Did You Know?
- Matthew uses this term more than any other Gospel writer.
- It appears in every major theological context in the New Testament.
- Early Christian art often depicted Christ holding a scroll marked with this word.
Strong’s G4137: A verb expressing complete fulfillment or filling, particularly significant in describing Christ’s fulfillment of prophecy and God’s purposes. Also denotes the Spirit’s filling work in believers and the completion of divine promises.
Part of speech: Verb
Tags: fulfillment, completion, prophecy, Spirit filling, Christ, Matthew, promises, biblical Greek, accomplishment, divine purposes, spiritual fullness, Messianic prophecy
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
