ἀρκετός (arketos)
arketos
sufficient
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective arketos means sufficient or enough, describing something that meets a need without excess. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, carrying a tone of practical adequacy rather than abundance. It suggests that what is present is exactly what is required for the moment.
This word often addresses anxiety about the future. Jesus uses it in Matthew 6:34 to tell listeners not to worry about tomorrow, implying that each day has its own sufficient resources. Similarly, in Matthew 10:25, it describes how being adequately equipped to face opposition is enough for a disciple.
The term also appears in 1 Peter 4:3 regarding past behaviors. Here, it indicates that the time spent on former sins was sufficient in itself, suggesting no need to repeat them. The word points to a contentment with what is currently available, trusting that it will suffice for the task at hand.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word arketos reminds us that sufficiency is not about having everything, but about having exactly what is needed for the present moment. It carries a tone of practical adequacy, suggesting that we do not need to hoard resources or worry about future shortages. When Jesus speaks of each day’s own evil being sufficient, He invites us to trust that God’s grace meets our daily needs without requiring us to carry tomorrow’s burdens today.
This perspective offers relief from the anxiety that often drives us to overprepare or overcontrol. It is a call to contentment with what is currently available, trusting that it will suffice for the task at hand. Whether facing opposition or reflecting on past mistakes, the message remains consistent: what you have now is enough to move forward in faith.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [It is] sufficient1×
- [Is] sufficient1×
- Sufficient1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀρκετὸν2×
- ἀρκετὸς1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 6:34
Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
This verse defines arketos as a practical limit on anxiety, teaching that each day has its own specific challenges and resources without needing to borrow from tomorrow.
-
Matthew 10:25
It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
Here the word emphasizes that discipleship requires no extra credentials beyond being like Christ, as this alignment is fully adequate for facing opposition.
-
I Peter 4:3
For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.
Peter uses the term to indicate that the time previously spent in sin was already sufficient experience, implying no need to repeat those former behaviors.