ἀποτελέω (apoteleō)
apoteleō
to complete
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apoteleō means to bring something to a full and final end, carrying the sense of completion or accomplishment. It is not merely finishing a task, but reaching its intended goal or perfection. In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, making its usage both rare and significant.
In Luke 13:32, Jesus refers to His own ministry as something that must be completed on that day, highlighting the divine purpose being fulfilled. Similarly, James 1:15 describes how sin, once conceived, brings forth death when it is fully grown. In both cases, the word emphasizes a process moving toward its necessary and complete conclusion.
The term combines the prefix apo-, indicating completion or separation, with teleō, meaning to finish or perfect. This root connection underscores the idea of reaching an end state that is whole and unbroken. Translators typically render it as "complete" or "accomplish," capturing the weight of a purpose fully realized.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apoteleō carries a sense of finality and purpose. It does not simply mean to stop working, but to reach the intended goal with perfection. When Jesus used this term in Luke 13:32, He spoke of His mission as something that must be completed by God’s design. This offers comfort because our lives are also held within a divine plan that will reach its proper end.
In James 1:15, the same word describes how sin grows until it is fully formed and brings death. This serves as a sobering reminder to guard our hearts against desires that seem small but lead to brokenness. We can trust that God’s purposes are never left unfinished, even when the path feels long or difficult.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having become fully grown1×
- I complete1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀποτελῶ1×
- ἀποτελεσθεῖσα1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 13:32
He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.
Jesus uses this word to affirm that His ministry follows a specific divine timeline and will reach its intended goal on the third day.
-
James 1:15
Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death.
The term describes the natural progression of sin from desire to action, emphasizing that unchecked lust leads inevitably to spiritual death.