Understanding βλητέος (blēteos) Strong’s G992: The Divine Principle of Proper Timing and Necessary Action in God’s Kingdom

Pronunciation Guide: bleh-TEH-os (βλη-τέ-ος)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G992: Βλητέος (blēteos) conveys the concept of necessity or obligation regarding placement or pouring—literally “must be put” or “that which ought to be placed.” This verbal adjective expresses divine wisdom regarding proper timing and appropriate action. In its New Testament context, it reveals God’s principles of spiritual readiness and the necessity of proper conditions for spiritual transformation.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verbal adjective
• Root Word: βάλλω (ballō, Strong’s G906) meaning “to throw, cast, place, put”
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Found in teaching/parabolic contexts
• Voice/Tense: Passive voice with future necessity
• Ending: -τέος suffix indicating necessity or obligation
• Frequency: Extremely rare (appears only once in the New Testament)

Βλητέος Morphology:

• βλητέος (masculine nominative singular) – that which must be put
• βλητέα (feminine nominative singular) – that which must be put
• βλητέον (neuter nominative/accusative singular) – that which must be put
• βλητέοι (masculine nominative plural) – those which must be put

Origin & History

The term βλητέος derives from the Greek verbal root βάλλω (ballō), which means “to throw,” “to cast,” or “to place.” This root is extremely productive in Greek, generating numerous compounds and derivatives. The -τέος ending creates a verbal adjective that expresses necessity or obligation—a grammatical construction common in classical Greek to express what must or ought to be done.

In classical Greek literature, verbal adjectives with the -τέος suffix were frequently employed in philosophical and ethical contexts. For example, Plato uses similar constructions in his “Republic” when discussing actions that are necessary for the ideal state. Aristotle employs them in his “Nicomachean Ethics” when addressing moral imperatives. The Septuagint (LXX) uses similar verbal constructions, though βλητέος specifically does not appear. By the time of the New Testament, this grammatical form had become less common in everyday speech but retained its force in literary and instructional contexts to express divine necessity.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A verbal adjective expressing necessity or moral obligation regarding proper placement
• A term indicating divine wisdom about appropriate timing
• A concept of necessity regarding the proper conditions for spiritual transformation
• A principle of spiritual compatibility between new and old

Βλητέος Translation Options:

• “Must be put” – Emphasizes the necessity aspect of the verbal adjective
• “Ought to be poured” – Captures the sense of moral appropriateness in context
• “Should be placed” – Conveys the wisdom principle behind the action
• “Is to be put” – Reflects the future-oriented aspect of the verbal adjective
• “Necessarily goes” – Encompasses both necessity and compatibility concepts

Biblical Usage

Βλητέος appears only once in the entire New Testament, in Mark 2:22, where Yeshua (Jesus) speaks about new wine and old wineskins. In this passage, He uses the term to express that new wine “must be put” into fresh wineskins. This singular usage makes it particularly significant, as the Holy Spirit inspired this specific grammatical form to convey divine wisdom regarding the necessity of proper conditions for spiritual transformation.

The parable presents a fundamental spiritual principle through everyday imagery familiar to first-century Jewish listeners. The verbal adjective βλητέος carries the full weight of divine necessity—it is not merely advisable but absolutely essential that new wine be placed in new wineskins. This grammatical construction elevates the statement from practical advice to spiritual imperative.

• “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts [βλητέος] new wine into fresh wineskins.” Mark 2:22

Cultural Insights

In ancient Israel, winemaking was a sophisticated process deeply integrated into agricultural life. After the grape harvest (typically in August-September), grapes were crushed and the juice collected in large vats for initial fermentation. After this first fermentation phase, the new wine would be transferred to wineskins for storage and continued fermentation.

Wineskins were made from whole goatskins, carefully removed, cleaned, tanned, and sewn together with the openings sealed except for the neck, which served as the pouring spout. A new wineskin had natural elasticity and could expand as fermentation produced carbon dioxide. However, old wineskins became rigid and brittle after previous use—they had already been stretched to capacity and lost their flexibility. New wine, still fermenting and expanding, would rupture these hardened containers.

This everyday reality served as the perfect metaphor for Yeshua’s teaching about the kingdom of God. When questioned about why His disciples did not fast according to traditional patterns, He used this wineskin illustration to explain that the new covenant realities He was introducing required new spiritual “containers”—new ways of thinking, worshiping, and relating to God that differed from the rigid religious structures of the day.

Theological Significance

The singular appearance of βλητέος in Mark 2:22 carries profound theological weight. By using this specific verbal adjective expressing necessity, Yeshua communicates a divine principle about the kingdom of God and spiritual transformation. The necessity expressed by βλητέος reveals God’s wisdom and provision—He not only provides the “new wine” of the gospel but also teaches us the proper conditions for receiving and preserving it.

This principle extends to how we understand the relationship between the Old and New Covenants. The Messiah did not come to abolish the Torah but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). Yet the new covenant realities He inaugurated required fresh approaches and understanding. The verbal necessity of βλητέος points to divine wisdom in this transition—God knew exactly how and when to introduce new covenant realities while preserving the essence of His eternal principles.

The use of βλητέος also illuminates God’s character of both wisdom and mercy. In His wisdom, He establishes necessary conditions for spiritual growth and transformation; in His mercy, He reveals these conditions rather than leaving us to discover them through painful trial and error. The divine “must” expressed in this term is ultimately for our blessing—God mandates what will preserve and maximize the spiritual blessing He provides.

Personal Application

The principle of βλητέος challenges us to examine our lives for areas where we might be attempting to contain new spiritual realities in old patterns of thinking or behavior. Are we trying to confine the new work of the Holy Spirit within rigid, familiar structures that cannot expand to accommodate His movement? The divine necessity expressed in this term invites us to embrace both the new wine and the new wineskin—to allow God to renew not just what He is doing in our lives but how we receive and contain it.

This principle also offers comfort in seasons of change. When God brings new direction, relationships, or ministry opportunities, the necessity of βλητέος reminds us that He has perfectly designed containers for each new thing He pours out. Rather than clinging to familiar but limiting structures, we can trust His wisdom in providing appropriate vessels for each new work. The necessity is not arbitrary but born of divine love that desires His blessings to be preserved and enjoyed to their fullest.

Related Words

• βάλλω (ballō, pronounced bah-loh) – The root verb meaning “to throw, cast, place, put,” from which βλητέος derives. While βλητέος expresses what must be done, βάλλω simply describes the action itself without the element of necessity. See G906
• δεῖ (dei, pronounced day) – An impersonal verb meaning “it is necessary, one must, one ought.” Like βλητέος, it expresses necessity, but as a finite verb rather than a verbal adjective and applies more broadly to various actions beyond placement. See G1163
• ὀφείλω (opheilō, pronounced o-FAY-loh) – Meaning “to owe, ought, must.” Similar to βλητέος in expressing obligation but focuses more on moral debt or obligation rather than necessary placement. See G3784
• χρή (chrē, pronounced kray) – Meaning “it is necessary, proper, fitting.” Expresses necessity like βλητέος but focuses more on propriety or fittingness rather than placement specifically. See G5534
• τίθημι (tithēmi, pronounced TIH-thay-mee) – Meaning “to place, put, set.” Similar to the root of βλητέος in describing placement but without the element of necessity or obligation. See G5087

Did you Know?

• Did you know that βλητέος is one of the rarest grammatical forms in the entire New Testament? Verbal adjectives with the -τέος ending appear extremely infrequently in biblical Greek, making this single occurrence in Mark’s Gospel particularly significant. This rarity highlights the deliberate choice to express divine necessity regarding the parable of new wine and wineskins—a profound theological principle communicated through a precise grammatical form.
• Did you know that the principle expressed by βλητέος in Mark 2:22 parallels ancient rabbinic teachings about appropriate vessels? The Mishnah and Talmud contain numerous discussions about which types of vessels are appropriate for different substances based on principles of ritual purity and practical preservation. Yeshua’s teaching elevates these familiar concepts to spiritual principles about how the new covenant relates to previous religious forms.
• Did you know that modern Greek still uses verbal adjectives with the -τέος ending, particularly in scientific, legal, and academic contexts? For example, in Greek legal documents, similar constructions express mandatory actions required by law. This linguistic continuity demonstrates how this ancient grammatical form effectively communicates binding necessity across cultures and millennia. When modern Greeks encounter βλητέος in the New Testament, they immediately recognize its imperative force.

Remember This

Βλητέος reminds us that in God’s kingdom, proper timing and appropriate conditions are not merely suggestions but divine necessities—Yahweh not only provides new wine but, in His wisdom and love, also reveals exactly how and where it must be placed for our flourishing.