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ὑστέρημα

hystérēma

G5303 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Deficiency, that which is lacking or missing; an absence or shortcoming of something that is needed or expected. Depending on the context, may denote material poverty, lack of resources, or a general state of insufficiency.

Semantic Range

deficiency, lack, want, penury, poverty, shortcoming, that which is missing, that which remains to be fulfilled or completed

Root / Etymology

From ὑστερέω (to lack, fall short, come too late), which is itself derived from ὕστερος (later, behind). The noun is a neuter formation indicating 'the state of lacking' or 'the thing lacking.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ὑστέρημα refers broadly to a lack or shortcoming: material, moral, or otherwise. In the Septuagint and Koine literature, including the New Testament, it often denotes material need or poverty (e.g., financial want, deprivation). In some contexts, it can refer to a shortfall not only in possessions but in actions, gifts, or even abstract qualities (e.g., deficiency in character, effort, or spiritual achievement). The English 'poverty' or 'want' sometimes narrows the meaning, omitting the possible sense of any kind of deficit or something that remains to be completed. For example, in Colossians 1:24 and 1 Corinthians 16:17, it refers to what is 'still lacking' or yet to be fulfilled, not specifically material poverty.

Translation Consistency

primary "lack" 5 occurrences

“Lack” is the most natural, versatile English term that covers the full SILEX range (deficiency, want, shortage, poverty). It reads idiomatically in most contexts (e.g., “a lack,” “lack of,” “lacking”) and is preferable to the more formal “deficiency” while still encompassing material poverty and general absence.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"deficiencies" (3x) "poverty" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὑστερέω; a deficit; specially, poverty:--that which is behind, (that which was) lack(-ing), penury, want.

Root Family

ὑστέρημα (hysterēma) — deficiency, lack, shortcoming, that which is missing

Root ὑστερ- to lack, to be behind, to fall short

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5303-01 ὑστέρημα usterema N ACC N SG lack a deficiency a lack 5
G5303-02 ὑστερήματα usteremata N ACC N PL lacking deficiencies deficiencies 3
G5303-03 ὑστερήματος usterematos N GEN N SG poverty of deficiency poverty 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5303-03 Luke 21:4 ὑστερήματος usterematos N GEN N SG poverty of deficiency poverty
G5303-01 1 Corinthians 16:17 ὑστέρημα usterema N ACC N SG lack a deficiency a lack
G5303-01 2 Corinthians 8:14 ὑστέρημα usterema N ACC N SG need a deficiency a lack
G5303-01 2 Corinthians 8:14 ὑστέρημα usterema-2 N ACC N SG need a deficiency a lack
G5303-02 2 Corinthians 9:12 ὑστερήματα usteremata N ACC N PL needs deficiencies deficiencies
G5303-01 2 Corinthians 11:9 ὑστέρημά usterema N ACC N SG lack a deficiency a lack
G5303-01 Philippians 2:30 ὑστέρημα usterema N ACC N SG lack a deficiency a lack
G5303-02 Colossians 1:24 ὑστερήματα usteremata N ACC N PL lacking deficiencies deficiencies
G5303-02 1 Thessalonians 3:10 ὑστερήματα usteremata N ACC N PL lacking deficiencies deficiencies
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