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Greek · G4138 · unreviewed

πλήρωμα

Fulfillment

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πλήρωμα G4138
Pronunciation plḗrōma

What does πλήρωμα (plḗrōma) mean in the Bible?

πλήρωμα (plḗrōma) is a Greek word meaning "fulfillment". πλήρωμα, -τος, τό (πληρόω), [in LXX for מְלֹא ;] the result of the action involved in πληρόω (Lft. Refers to the completion of Gentile inclusion. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah.

Full entry for πλήρωμα (G4138) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

fulfillment
Extended definition

Fullness or completion achieved through filling; what has been made complete or filled up.

(πληρόω), [in LXX for מְלֹא ;] the result of the action involved in πληρόω (Lft., Col., 255 if.; AR, Eph., 255 ff.), hence,

1in passive sense, that which has been completed, complement, plenitude, fullness (in Xen., Luc., Polyb., al., of a ship's crew or cargo, and by meton. of the ship itself) : Jhn.1:16, Rom.11:12, 25 15:29, 1Co.10:26" (LXX) Eph.1:23 (AR, 42 ff.) Eph.3:19 (AR. 87 ff.) Eph.4:13, Col.1:19 2:9; of time, Gal.4:4, Eph.1:10; κοφίνων (σφυρίδων) πληρώματα, basketfuls, Mrk.6:43 8:20.
2In active sense (= πλήρωσις, as frequently in words of these formations, cf. κτίσις, and see MM, xx);
athat which fills up (but see Lft., l.with) : Mat.9:16, Mrk.2:21;
ba filling up, completing, fulfilment: Rom.13:10.
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Refers to the completion of Gentile inclusion. Colossians 1:15–20
Affirms that the fullness of divine presence resides in Christ. Colossians 2:6–15
Affirms total divine essence dwelling in Christ. Romans 11:25-32
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Neuter Rom 11:12 · Rom 11:25 · Rom 13:10 · 1 Cor 10:26 · Gal 4:4 · Eph 1:23 · Col 2:9 7×
Genitive · Singular · Neuter John 1:16 · Eph 1:10 · Eph 4:13 3×
Dative · Singular · Neuter Rom 15:29 1×
Accusative · Singular · Neuter Matt 9:16 · Mark 2:21 · Eph 3:19 · Col 1:19 4×
Accusative · Plural · Neuter Mark 6:43 · Mark 8:20 2×
17 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Canonical Themes
Messiah
Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses
Colossians 1:15–20 πλήρωμα plḗrōma Accusative · Singular · Neuter
fullness
Colossians 2:6–15 πλήρωμα plḗrōma Nominative · Singular · Neuter
fullness
Romans 11:25-32 πλήρωμα plḗrōma Nominative · Singular · Neuter
Fullness, complete number.
Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

πλήρωμα · ἔθνος G4138, G1484
fullness or full number of the Gentiles
πλήρωμα · χρόνος G4138, G5550
the full arrival of the appointed time
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Colossians 1 — The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel of Reconciliation Colossians 2 — Fullness in Christ and Freedom from Christ-Plus Religion Ephesians 3 — The Mystery Revealed and the Church Strengthened in Christ’s Love Galatians 4 — No Longer Slaves: Sonship, Pastoral Anguish, and Children of Promise Romans 11 — The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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