τελέω (G5055) — Greek Lexicon

τελέω

teléō

G5055 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To bring to completion, fulfill, carry out to the intended goal or end point; to accomplish or execute (an action, duty, or command); to pay (a debt), to discharge by fulfilling an obligation. In various contexts, denotes completion, fulfillment, or bringing an action, plan, or duty to its intended conclusion.

Semantic Range

to complete, to finish, to accomplish, to execute, to carry out (an obligation, task, or command), to fulfill (a duty or prophecy), to pay (a debt or tax), to discharge, to bring to an intended end

Root / Etymology

From the root τέλος (“end, goal, outcome, completion”). τελέω is the verbal form meaning ‘to bring to an end, to accomplish’ and is built on the noun stem.

Historical & Contextual Notes

τελέω is common in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek, generally conveying the idea of carrying something through to its finish, be it an action, duty, rite, or obligation. In the Septuagint, τελέω can translate Hebrew verbs such as כלה (to complete) or שלם (to pay, to make whole), often in the sense of fulfilling a vow, ritual, or legal obligation. In the New Testament, it appears in legal, ritual, or mission-completion contexts (e.g., John 19:30, 'It is finished'). It is also used of fulfilling laws, commands, or prophecies. In financial passages, it may indicate paying a debt or tax (e.g., Matthew 17:24, 'paying the tax'). Standard English translations may render the word as "finish," "fulfill," "accomplish," or "pay," depending on context; however, the concept of bringing an action or obligation to its ordained end is central in all uses. Not to be confused with τελειόω, which specifically develops the sense of "making perfect" or "bringing to maturity."

Translation Consistency

primary "complete" 17 occurrences

‘Complete’ naturally covers the primary meaning of τελέω — bringing something to its intended end, finishing or accomplishing a task, duty, or obligation. It is versatile across senses (finish, accomplish, discharge) and aligns with the most common renderings (e.g. “completed/finished”) while remaining natural English for all grammatical forms.

Alternatives (11 occurrences):

"brought to completion" (7x) "pay" (2x) "fulfilled" (1x) "fulfilling" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from τέλος; to end, i.e. complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt):--accomplish, make an end, expire, fill up, finish, go over, pay, perform.

Root Family

τελέω (teleō) — to bring to an end, to complete, to fulfill

Root τελ- to bring to an end, to complete, to fulfill

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5055-02`	ἐτέλεσεν	etelesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	had finished	he completed	he completed	5
`G5055-09`	τελεσθῇ	telesthe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	were completed	may be brought to completion	may be brought to completion	4
`G5055-01`	ἐτέλεσαν	etelesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	fulfilled	they completed	they completed	2
`G5055-03`	ἐτελέσθη	etelesthe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	is finished	was brought to completion	was completed	2
`G5055-07`	τελέσητε	telesete	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	fulfill	you may complete	you may complete	2
`G5055-06`	τελεῖτε	teleite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you fulfill	you are completing	you pay	2
`G5055-16`	τετέλεσται	tetelestai	`V PRF PASS IND 3P SG`	had been accomplished	it stands completed	it has been completed	2
`G5055-11`	τελεσθήσεται	telesthesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be accomplished	will be brought to completion	will be brought to completion	1
`G5055-13`	τελεσθῶσιν	telesthosin	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL`	were finished	they may be brought to completion	they may be brought to completion	1
`G5055-04`	τελεῖ	telei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	pay	brings to completion	pay	1
`G5055-10`	τελεσθῆναι	telesthenai	`V AOR PASS INF`	be fulfilled	to be brought to completion	to be fulfilled	1
`G5055-12`	τελεσθήσονται	telesthesontai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P PL`	should be fulfilled	they will be brought to completion	they will be completed	1
`G5055-05`	τελεῖται	teleitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is perfected	is being completed	is brought to completion	1
`G5055-15`	τετέλεκα	teteleka	`V PRF ACT IND 1P SG`	I have finished	I have completed	I have completed	1
`G5055-14`	τελοῦσα	telousa	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	fulfilling	bringing to completion	fulfilling	1
`G5055-08`	τελέσωσιν	telesosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they shall have finished	they might complete	they complete	1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5055-02`	Matthew 7:28	ἐτέλεσεν	etelesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he had finished	he completed	he completed
`G5055-07`	Matthew 10:23	τελέσητε	telesete	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	you finish	you may complete	you may complete
`G5055-02`	Matthew 11:1	ἐτέλεσεν	etelesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	had finished	he completed	he completed
`G5055-02`	Matthew 13:53	ἐτέλεσεν	etelesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	had finished	he completed	he completed
`G5055-04`	Matthew 17:24	τελεῖ	telei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	pay	brings to completion	pay
`G5055-02`	Matthew 19:1	ἐτέλεσεν	etelesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	had finished	he completed	he completed
`G5055-02`	Matthew 26:1	ἐτέλεσεν	etelesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he had finished	he completed	he completed
`G5055-01`	Luke 2:39	ἐτέλεσαν	etelesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they had performed	they completed	they completed
`G5055-09`	Luke 12:50	τελεσθῇ	telesthe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	is accomplished	may be brought to completion	may be brought to completion
`G5055-11`	Luke 18:31	τελεσθήσεται	telesthesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be accomplished	will be brought to completion	will be brought to completion
`G5055-10`	Luke 22:37	τελεσθῆναι	telesthenai	`V AOR PASS INF`	be fulfilled	to be brought to completion	to be fulfilled
`G5055-16`	John 19:28	τετέλεσται	tetelestai	`V PRF PASS IND 3P SG`	had been accomplished	it stands completed	it has been completed
`G5055-16`	John 19:30	τετέλεσται	tetelestai	`V PRF PASS IND 3P SG`	It is finished	it stands completed	it has been completed
`G5055-01`	Acts 13:29	ἐτέλεσαν	etelesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	fulfilled	they completed	they completed
`G5055-14`	Romans 2:27	τελοῦσα	telousa	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	fulfilling	bringing to completion	fulfilling
`G5055-06`	Romans 13:6	τελεῖτε	teleite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you pay	you are completing	you pay
`G5055-05`	2 Corinthians 12:9	τελεῖται	teleitai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is perfected	is being completed	is brought to completion
`G5055-07`	Galatians 5:16	τελέσητε	telesete	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	fulfill	you may complete	you may complete
`G5055-15`	2 Timothy 4:7	τετέλεκα	teteleka	`V PRF ACT IND 1P SG`	I have finished	I have completed	I have completed
`G5055-06`	James 2:8	τελεῖτε	teleite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you fulfill	you are completing	you are completing
`G5055-03`	Revelation 10:7	ἐτελέσθη	etelesthe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	has been finished	was brought to completion	was completed
`G5055-08`	Revelation 11:7	τελέσωσιν	telesosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they shall have finished	they might complete	they complete
`G5055-03`	Revelation 15:1	ἐτελέσθη	etelesthe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	is finished	was brought to completion	was completed
`G5055-13`	Revelation 15:8	τελεσθῶσιν	telesthosin	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL`	were finished	they may be brought to completion	they may be brought to completion
`G5055-12`	Revelation 17:17	τελεσθήσονται	telesthesontai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P PL`	should be fulfilled	they will be brought to completion	they will be completed
`G5055-09`	Revelation 20:3	τελεσθῇ	telesthe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	were completed	may be brought to completion	may be brought to completion
`G5055-09`	Revelation 20:5	τελεσθῇ	telesthe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	were completed	may be brought to completion	may be brought to completion
`G5055-09`	Revelation 20:7	τελεσθῇ	telesthe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	are completed	may be brought to completion	may be brought to completion

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