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πλήθω

plḗthō

G4130 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To fill, make full, or cause something to be filled; to supply fully, to complete a space or extent by filling it. The core sense is the physical act of filling a container, space, or object, but the verb is also used figuratively to indicate being imbued, influenced, or overwhelmed (as with an emotion or a spiritual quality); it can further signify causing something to be fulfilled, such as the fullness of time or completion of an appointed period.

Semantic Range

to fill physically, to fill (with an emotion or quality), to supply fully, to complete by filling, to imbue, to be overcome (with a feeling), to fulfill (as time or period), to inundate

Root / Etymology

From the root πληθ- (plēth-), ultimately related to the noun πλῆθος (plēthos, 'fullness, multitude'). It is the prolonged form of a primary root; the reduplicated form πίμπλημι (pimplēmi) was more common in earlier Greek, but πλήθω appears as a Koine Greek variant, often in certain tenses.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πίμπλημι (pimplēmi) is the standard verb for 'to fill,' used both physically (filling a cup, filling a house with sound) and, by extension, metaphorically (filling with joy, fear, etc.). By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, πλήθω starts to appear in alternate and compound forms, especially in passive and perfect-tense constructions, often under Semitic influence. In the Septuagint, πλήθω and its forms translate various Hebrew verbs related to filling or fullness, sometimes with the additional nuance of being filled by an external agent (e.g., with spirit, wisdom, or wrath). In the New Testament, πλήθω most frequently appears in the passive or participial forms describing someone being 'filled' with the Holy Spirit, fear, joy, or similar qualities. Modern translations often render it variously as 'filled,' 'full,' or 'fulfilled,' depending on context, but this may not always capture the dynamic, sometimes intensive nuance of being completely overtaken or saturated by something. The verb is distinct from πληρόω (plēroō), which also means to fill or fulfill but more often refers to the completion or accomplishment of something (such as prophecy or law) rather than the physical or affective 'filling' denoted by πλήθω.

Translation Consistency

primary "fill" 19 occurrences

The primary and most frequent sense of πλήθω is to make full or to cause something to be full (physical or figurative). 'Fill' is the simplest, most natural English verb that covers physical filling, being filled with an emotion or spirit, and idiomatic senses of completion or fulfillment; it matches the dominant attestation ('filled') and keeps renderings consistent and natural across contexts.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"fulfilled" (5x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a prolonged form of a primary (which appears only as an alternate in certain tenses and in the reduplicated form pimplemi); to "fill" (literally or figuratively (imbue, influence, supply)); specially, to fulfil (time):--accomplish, full (…come), furnish.

Root Family

πλήθω (plēthō) — to fill, to make full, to supply fully, to cause to abound

Root πληθ- to fill, to make full, to supply fully, to cause to abound

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4130-03 ἐπλήσθησαν eplesthesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL they were filled they were filled they were filled 12
G4130-02 ἐπλήσθη eplesthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was filled was filled was filled 5
G4130-05 πλησθεὶς plestheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG filled having been filled having been filled 2
G4130-08 πλησθήσεται plesthesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG he will be filled will be filled will be filled 1
G4130-04 πλήσας plesas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG filled having filled having filled 1
G4130-01 ἔπλησαν eplesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they filled they filled they filled 1
G4130-06 πλησθῆναι plesthenai V AOR PASS INF to be fulfilled to be filled to be fulfilled 1
G4130-07 πλησθῇς plesthes V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P SG be filled you may be filled you may be filled 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4130-02 Matthew 22:10 ἐπλήσθη eplesthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was filled was filled was filled
G4130-04 Matthew 27:48 πλήσας plesas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG filled having filled having filled
G4130-08 Luke 1:15 πλησθήσεται plesthesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG he will be filled will be filled will be filled
G4130-03 Luke 1:23 ἐπλήσθησαν eplesthesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL were fulfilled they were filled they were fulfilled
G4130-02 Luke 1:41 ἐπλήσθη eplesthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was filled was filled was filled
G4130-02 Luke 1:57 ἐπλήσθη eplesthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG had come was filled was filled
G4130-02 Luke 1:67 ἐπλήσθη eplesthe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was filled was filled was filled
G4130-03 Luke 2:6 ἐπλήσθησαν eplesthesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL were fulfilled they were filled they were fulfilled
G4130-03 Luke 2:21 ἐπλήσθησαν eplesthesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL were fulfilled they were filled they were fulfilled
G4130-03 Luke 2:22 ἐπλήσθησαν eplesthesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL were fulfilled they were filled they were fulfilled
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