ἐμπίπλημι
empíplēmi
G1705 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To fill completely, to cause to be full; used in literal contexts of filling a container or space, and in extended senses for satisfying desire or need, such as hunger or expectation.
Semantic Range
to fill up (of vessels, spaces), to fill (with food, to feed fully), to satisfy (a desire, hunger, expectation), to fulfill (in some contexts)
Root / Etymology
From ἐν ('in') and the root of πίμπλημι ('to fill, make full'), related to the Proto-Indo-European root *pel- ('to fill').
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἐμπίπλημι is predominantly used in literal senses—to fill something up or to cause it to be full (e.g., filling a cup, a barn, or a vessel). In literary and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and the New Testament, the word is frequently employed for satisfying hunger (e.g., to be filled with food) or metaphorically for satisfying longing or expectation. The NT often uses this verb in miracles or parable contexts regarding the provision of food, where it can mean causing a group of people to be satisfied. English versions traditionally translate ἐμπίπλημι as 'fill' or 'satisfy,' though 'satisfy' often restricts the sense to hunger or desire and does not always cover the more literal uses. The verb is comparatively rare in Hellenistic papyri, and its figurative use becomes more prominent in Jewish and early Christian texts. The verb should be distinguished from similar verbs such as πληρόω, which regularly means 'to fill up (an appointed space or time)' and less often 'to satisfy.'
Translation Consistency
ἐμπίπλημι primarily means to make full or to fill (a vessel, space, appetite, expectation). "Fill" is the most natural, general English verb that covers both the literal sense (fill up) and the extended senses (satisfy, fulfill) and thus best supports consistent rendering across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐν and the base of πλεῖστος;to fill in (up), i.e. (by implication) to satisfy (literally or figuratively):--fill.
Root Family
πλη- (empíplēmi) — to fill, to satisfy
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1705-01 |
ἐμπεπλησμένοι | empeplesmenoi | V PRF PASS PTCP VOC M PL |
are full | O you having been filled | having been filled | 1 |
G1705-02 |
ἐμπιπλῶν | empiplon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
filling | fully filling | filling | 1 |
G1705-03 |
ἐμπλησθῶ | emplestho | V AOR PASS SUBJ 1P SG |
I am filled | I may be filled completely | I may be filled completely | 1 |
G1705-04 |
ἐνέπλησεν | eneplesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he has filled | he filled completely | he filled completely | 1 |
G1705-05 |
ἐνεπλήσθησαν | eneplesthesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
they were filled | they were filled completely | they were filled completely | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1705-04 |
Luke 1:53 | ἐνέπλησεν | eneplesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he has filled | he filled completely | he filled completely |
G1705-01 |
Luke 6:25 | ἐμπεπλησμένοι | empeplesmenoi | V PRF PASS PTCP VOC M PL |
are full | O you having been filled | having been filled |
G1705-05 |
John 6:12 | ἐνεπλήσθησαν | eneplesthesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
they were filled | they were filled completely | they were filled completely |
G1705-02 |
Acts 14:17 | ἐμπιπλῶν | empiplon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
filling | fully filling | filling |
G1705-03 |
Romans 15:24 | ἐμπλησθῶ | emplestho | V AOR PASS SUBJ 1P SG |
I am filled | I may be filled completely | I may be filled completely |