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τελειόω

teleióō

G5048 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bring to completion, to accomplish, to carry through to the intended goal or end. In certain contexts, refers to perfecting or making someone or something fully developed or complete in quality, function, or purpose. Semantic range includes achieving finality, reaching maturity, fulfilling a prescribed role or mandate, and bringing about completeness in process or state.

Semantic Range

to complete, finish, bring to an end; to fulfill (a command, requirement, or purpose); to consummate; to make mature or fully developed; to consecrate (by completion of rites or process); to make complete or perfect (in the sense of achieving the intended design or maturity)

Root / Etymology

From the root τέλειος (complete, mature, fully developed), itself from τέλος (end, goal, purpose). τελειόω is a denominative verb indicating the process of bringing to an end or to a state of completeness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, τελειόω primarily denotes bringing something to its end or carrying it to its intended goal or fulfillment. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the verb is frequently used to signify the accomplishment or fulfillment of requirements, intentions, or roles. In ritual contexts (e.g., Lev 8:33), it can refer to the set-apart status conferred upon someone who has completed rites of consecration. In moral or personal development contexts, especially in the New Testament, it can suggest the attainment of maturity or full development (e.g., Hebrews 2:10; James 2:22), not absolute flawlessness but fulfillment of design or purpose. Standard English translations rendering it as 'make perfect' may over-emphasize the sense of moral perfection, whereas the original Greek meaning centers on completion or reaching an intended goal. The verb should be contrasted with Greek verbs meaning 'to begin' (ἀρχίζω), as well as verbs emphasizing skill or virtue (ἀρετάζω), since τελειόω focuses on finality and completion rather than the process or quality alone.

Translation Consistency

primary "complete" 17 occurrences

“Complete” naturally and broadly covers the primary sense of τελειόω — to bring something to its end, finish or bring to fulfillment, and to make whole or mature. It is neutral and modern (avoiding the theological overtones of “perfect”), yet flexible enough to render contexts of finishing, fulfilling, consummating, or bringing to maturity while remaining natural English across all forms.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"brought to completion" (4x) "those having been brought to completion" (1x) "having been brought to completion" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from τέλειος; to complete, i.e. (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character):--consecrate, finish, fulfil, make) perfect.

Root Family

τελει- (teleiótēs) — to complete, to bring to an end, to fulfill

Root τελει- to bring to completion, to accomplish, to make complete
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G5047 τελειότης full maturity
G5050 τελείωσις completion

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5048-03 τελειῶσαι teleiosai V AOR ACT INF to perfect to bring to completion to complete 4
G5048-16 τετελείωται teteleiotai V PRF PASS IND 3P SG has been perfected has been made complete has been made complete 3
G5048-06 τελειώσω teleioso V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I finish I may complete I may complete 2
G5048-15 τετελειωμένον teteleiomenon V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG made perfect having been completed having been completed 2
G5048-01 ἐτελείωσεν eteleiosen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG made perfect he brought to completion he brought to completion 1
G5048-02 ἐτελειώθη eteleiothe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was perfected was brought to completion was brought to completion 1
G5048-04 τελειωσάντων teleiosanton V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M PL they had fulfilled of those having brought to completion having completed 1
G5048-05 τελειώσας teleiosas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having finished having brought to completion having completed 1
G5048-07 τελειωθῇ teleiothe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG might be fulfilled may be made complete may be made complete 1
G5048-08 τελειωθεὶς teleiotheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG having been made perfect having been brought to completion having been brought to completion 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5048-04 Luke 2:43 τελειωσάντων teleiosanton V AOR ACT PTCP GEN M PL they had fulfilled of those having brought to completion having completed
G5048-10 Luke 13:32 τελειοῦμαι teleioumai V PRS PASS IND 1P SG I am perfected I am being made complete I am being made complete
G5048-06 John 4:34 τελειώσω teleioso V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I finish I may complete I may complete
G5048-06 John 5:36 τελειώσω teleioso V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG I may finish I may complete I may complete
G5048-05 John 17:4 τελειώσας teleiosas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having finished having brought to completion having completed
G5048-14 John 17:23 τετελειωμένοι teteleiomenoi V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M PL perfected those having been brought to completion those having been brought to completion
G5048-07 John 19:28 τελειωθῇ teleiothe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG might be fulfilled may be made complete may be made complete
G5048-03 Acts 20:24 τελειῶσαι teleiosai V AOR ACT INF finish to bring to completion to complete
G5048-12 Philippians 3:12 τετελείωμαι teteleiomai V PRF PASS IND 1P SG perfect I have been made complete I have been made complete
G5048-03 Hebrews 2:10 τελειῶσαι teleiosai V AOR ACT INF to perfect to bring to completion to complete
G5048-08 Hebrews 5:9 τελειωθεὶς teleiotheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG having been made perfect having been brought to completion having been brought to completion
G5048-01 Hebrews 7:19 ἐτελείωσεν eteleiosen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG made perfect he brought to completion he brought to completion
G5048-15 Hebrews 7:28 τετελειωμένον teteleiomenon V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG perfected having been completed having been completed
G5048-03 Hebrews 9:9 τελειῶσαι teleiosai V AOR ACT INF to perfect to bring to completion to complete
G5048-03 Hebrews 10:1 τελειῶσαι teleiosai V AOR ACT INF make perfect to bring to completion to complete
G5048-11 Hebrews 10:14 τετελείωκεν teteleioken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG he has perfected he/she/it has brought to completion he has brought to completion
G5048-09 Hebrews 11:40 τελειωθῶσιν teleiothosin V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL they should be made perfect they may be brought to completion they may be brought to completion
G5048-15 Hebrews 12:23 τετελειωμένων teteleiomenon V PRF PASS PTCP GEN M PL made perfect having been completed having been completed
G5048-02 James 2:22 ἐτελειώθη eteleiothe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was perfected was brought to completion was brought to completion
G5048-16 1 John 2:5 τετελείωται teteleiotai V PRF PASS IND 3P SG has been perfected has been made complete has been made complete
G5048-13 1 John 4:12 τετελειωμένη teteleiomene V PRF PASS PTCP NOM F SG perfected having been made complete having been made complete
G5048-16 1 John 4:17 τετελείωται teteleiotai V PRF PASS IND 3P SG has been perfected has been made complete has been made complete
G5048-16 1 John 4:18 τετελείωται teteleiotai V PRF PASS IND 3P SG is perfected has been made complete has been made complete
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