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ὑστερέω

hysteréō

G5302 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To lack, be deprived of, or fall short of (something); to come late or be left behind relative to an expected standard, provision, or accomplishment. The core meaning involves being in a state of deficiency, whether in possession, ability, status, or accomplishment. Extended senses include: to experience lack or shortage (of resources, qualities, etc.); to fail to reach a standard or expectation; to be inferior or in a lesser position.

Semantic Range

to lack or be in want (materially or otherwise), to be deficient, to fall short (of a standard or goal), to come late or after others, to miss out, to not attain, to be inferior or at a disadvantage

Root / Etymology

From ὕστερος ('later, last'), functioning as a verbal formation meaning 'to come behind' or 'be at a disadvantage.' The -έω ending forms a denominative verb indicating state or process related to the concept of lateness or 'falling behind.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ὑστερέω appears rarely but consistently with meanings tied to lateness or being behind. In Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it frequently conveys the ideas of lack or insufficiency, whether material (lacking resources or necessities, e.g., food, money), moral (not attaining a virtue or standard), or positional (coming late or behind others). In the New Testament, it often addresses spiritual or ethical shortcomings ('falling short' of God's standards), as in Romans 3:23. When used in competition or ranking contexts, it refers to being overtaken or surpassed (1 Cor 1:7, Heb 4:1). Standard English translations often render it as 'lack,' 'be in want,' 'fall short,' or 'be inferior,' but these do not capture the verb's range from literal material lack to figurative or comparative deficiency. There is overlap with terms expressing need or insufficiency (λείπω), but ὑστερέω often emphasizes the aspect of coming after or failing to attain a standard or expected result. The noun derivatives (ὑστέρημα) strengthen this association with 'deficit' or 'lack.' The verb is not restricted to theological usage and appears in non-biblical Koine literature with the same semantic nuances.

Translation Consistency

primary "lack" 6 occurrences

The dominant and most natural sense of ὑστερέω is to be in want or deficient—i.e., to lack something or fall short of a standard. 'Lack' is a single, common English verb that easily yields the needed inflections (lacks, lacked, lacking) and covers material shortage, failure to attain, and being deficient or disadvantaged. It reads naturally in most contexts where ὑστερέω appears and preserves the full typical semantic range better than more specialized alternatives (e.g., 'lag' or the two-word 'fall short').

Alternatives (10 occurrences):
"fallen short" (3x) "having fallen short" (1x) "fall short" (1x) "thing being deficient" (1x) "having been deprived" (1x) "fell short" (1x) "destitute" (1x) "falling short" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὕστερος; to be later, i.e. (by implication) to be inferior; generally, to fall short (be deficient):--come behind (short), be destitute, fail, lack, suffer need, (be in) want, be the worse.

Root Family

ὑστερ- (hysteréō) — to be behind, to come after, to lack, to fall short

Root ὑστερ- to be behind, to come after, to lack, to fall short
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G5303 ὑστέρημα a deficiency
G5304 ὑστέρησις of deficiency
G5305 ὕστερον afterward

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5302-02 ὑστερεῖσθαι ustereisthai V PRS PASS INF to be in need to be falling short to be lacking 3
G5302-03 ὑστερηκέναι usterekenai V PRF ACT INF to have fallen short to have fallen short to have fallen short 2
G5302-01 ὑστερεῖ usterei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG lack is lacking lack 1
G5302-04 ὑστέρησα usteresa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I was behind I fell short I fell short 1
G5302-05 ὑστερήσαντος usteresantos V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG having run out having fallen short having fallen short 1
G5302-06 ὑστερήσατε usteresate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL did you lack you were lacking did you lack 1
G5302-07 ὑστερηθεὶς usteretheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG having been in need having been deprived having been deprived 1
G5302-08 ὑστερῶ ustero V PRS ACT IND 1P SG do I lack I lack do I lack 1
G5302-09 ὑστερῶν usteron V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG falls short afterward falling short 1
G5302-10 ὑστερουμένῳ usteroumeno V PRS PASS PTCP DAT N SG lacking to the thing being deficient thing being deficient 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5302-08 Matthew 19:20 ὑστερῶ ustero V PRS ACT IND 1P SG do I lack I lack do I lack
G5302-01 Mark 10:21 ὑστερεῖ usterei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG lack is lacking lack
G5302-02 Luke 15:14 ὑστερεῖσθαι ustereisthai V PRS PASS INF to be in need to be falling short to be lacking
G5302-06 Luke 22:35 ὑστερήσατε usteresate V AOR ACT IND 2P PL did you lack you were lacking did you lack
G5302-05 John 2:3 ὑστερήσαντος usteresantos V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M SG having run out having fallen short having fallen short
G5302-13 Romans 3:23 ὑστεροῦνται usterountai V PRS PASS IND 3P PL fall short they are being fallen short they are being fallen short
G5302-02 1 Corinthians 1:7 ὑστερεῖσθαι ustereisthai V PRS PASS INF to lack to be falling short to be lacking
G5302-12 1 Corinthians 8:8 ὑστερούμεθα usteroumetha V PRS PASS IND 1P PL are-we-the-worse we are falling short we fall short
G5302-10 1 Corinthians 12:24 ὑστερουμένῳ usteroumeno V PRS PASS PTCP DAT N SG lacking to the thing being deficient thing being deficient
G5302-03 2 Corinthians 11:5 ὑστερηκέναι usterekenai V PRF ACT INF to have fallen short to have fallen short to have fallen short
G5302-07 2 Corinthians 11:9 ὑστερηθεὶς usteretheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG having been in need having been deprived having been deprived
G5302-04 2 Corinthians 12:11 ὑστέρησα usteresa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I was behind I fell short I fell short
G5302-02 Philippians 4:12 ὑστερεῖσθαι ustereisthai V PRS PASS INF to suffer need to be falling short to be lacking
G5302-03 Hebrews 4:1 ὑστερηκέναι usterekenai V PRF ACT INF to have fallen short to have fallen short to have fallen short
G5302-11 Hebrews 11:37 ὑστερούμενοι usteroumenoi V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL destitute being left behind being destitute
G5302-09 Hebrews 12:15 ὑστερῶν usteron V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG falls short afterward falling short
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