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πλήρωμα

plḗrōma

G4138 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

That which fills up or completes; fullness, totality, sum, content. In various contexts, πλήρωμα refers to: (1) the state of being filled or complete (fullness, plenitude); (2) that which fills something (contents, complement); (3) the sum or totality of something; (4) fulfillment or realization (the act or result of filling up or making complete). In some Christian texts, the term acquires a specifically theological nuance as the fullness of divine presence or attributes.

Semantic Range

fullness, that which fills, contents (as of a vessel), totality (sum, aggregate), completeness, fulfillment, complement, the filled condition, copiousness, realization

Root / Etymology

From the root πληρόω (to fill, to make full) plus the nominal suffix -μα indicating the result of an action; thus, πλήρωμα means 'that which is filled' or 'that which fills.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πλήρωμα commonly denoted the contents of a vessel, the complement of a ship (e.g., crew and supplies), or anything that completes or fills something else. In the Hellenistic period, the term could refer more abstractly to fullness, wholeness, or sum total. In the Septuagint, the word often translates Hebrew terms for 'fullness' or 'all that fills' (e.g., the fullness of the earth, all it contains). In the New Testament, πλήρωμα takes on several nuanced uses: (1) the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4), indicating the completion of a period; (2) the fullness of the Gentiles (Romans 11:25), denoting the complete number; (3) the fullness that dwells in Christ or God (Colossians 1:19, 2:9), an abstract, sometimes contested reference to divine sufficiency, presence, or attributes. In early Christian literature outside the New Testament, especially Gnostic writings, πλήρωμα can develop specialized cosmological meanings for the realm of divine fullness. The English 'fullness' often renders πλήρωμα but can obscure specific senses (contents, complement, fulfillment); the translation 'fullness' may lose the concrete aspect of 'what fills' as opposed to just a state of fullness. The term contrasts with κενούμα or κένωμα (emptiness).

Translation Consistency

primary "fullness" 17 occurrences

'Fullness' is the most common and natural English rendering of πλήρωμα in the corpus and captures its primary senses—being filled, completeness, totality, and that which fills. It also covers the theological nuance (the fullness of divine presence) while remaining flexible enough to represent 'contents,' 'sum,' or 'fulfillment' in context, ensuring consistent, natural translation across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πληρόω; repletion or completion, i.e. (subjectively) what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), or (objectively) what is filled (as container, performance, period):--which is put in to fill up, piece that filled up, fulfilling, full, fulness.

Root Family

πλήρωμα (plērōma) — fullness, that which fills, totality, completeness, fulfillment

Root πληρ- to fill, to make full, to complete

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4138-01 πλήρωμα pleroma N ACC N SG fullness fullness the fullness 11
G4138-04 πληρώματος pleromatos N GEN N SG fullness of fullness fullness 3
G4138-02 πληρώματα pleromata N ACC N PL full fullnesses fullnesses 2
G4138-03 πληρώματι pleromati N DAT N SG fullness in fullness fullness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4138-01 Matthew 9:16 πλήρωμα pleroma N ACC N SG patch fullness the fullness
G4138-01 Mark 2:21 πλήρωμα pleroma N ACC N SG filling fullness the fullness
G4138-02 Mark 6:43 πληρώματα pleromata N ACC N PL full amounts fullnesses fullnesses
G4138-02 Mark 8:20 πληρώματα pleromata N ACC N PL full fullnesses fullnesses
G4138-04 John 1:16 πληρώματος pleromatos N GEN N SG fullness of fullness fullness
G4138-01 Romans 11:12 πλήρωμα pleroma N NOM N SG fullness fullness the fullness
G4138-01 Romans 11:25 πλήρωμα pleroma N NOM N SG fullness fullness the fullness
G4138-01 Romans 13:10 πλήρωμα pleroma N NOM N SG fulfillment fullness the fullness
G4138-03 Romans 15:29 πληρώματι pleromati N DAT N SG fullness in fullness fullness
G4138-01 1 Corinthians 10:26 πλήρωμα pleroma N NOM N SG fulness fullness the fullness
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