μεστός (mestos)
mestos
full
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective mestos simply means "full." In the New Testament, it appears eight times, primarily in John’s Gospel and the letters of James, Paul, and Peter. It describes a state of being filled with something tangible or intangible, serving as a straightforward descriptor of content.
Its usage reveals two distinct applications. Literally, it fills physical spaces: Jesus’ disciples haul in a net "full" of fish (John 21:11), and a vessel holds wine (John 19:29). Metaphorically, it describes the inner state of a person. Minds and hearts are filled with specific qualities. Paul notes that believers are full of knowledge (Romans 15:14), while James contrasts this by describing human tongues as never fully tamed, implying they are often full of harmful speech (James 3:8). Similarly, wickedness fills the thoughts of those who oppose God (Romans 1:29).
This word highlights that being "full" is not merely a physical condition but a moral and intellectual one. Whether referring to a catch of fish or a mind saturated with envy or wisdom, mestos suggests that what fills a person defines their nature and actions in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word mestos is a simple adjective meaning "full." It appears eight times in the New Testament to describe things that are completely filled with something else. Sometimes it describes physical objects, like a net full of fish or a cup full of vinegar. Other times, it describes what fills a person’s heart or mind, such as knowledge, poison, or hypocrisy.
In your daily walk, this word reminds you that what fills you shapes who you are. If your mind is filled with God's wisdom and goodness, like Paul says in Romans 15:14, it naturally leads to helpful actions. But if it is filled with negative traits, those will show in your speech and behavior. It is a call to be intentional about what you allow to fill your inner life.
Consider the image of the net in John 21:11, which was full of fish yet did not tear. This shows that God’s blessings can be abundant without breaking us. You can trust that He provides enough for your needs. Let this truth encourage you to seek a heart filled with His peace and mercy, knowing that true fullness comes from Him alone.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- full8×
- full.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μεστὸν2×
- μεστὴ2×
- μεστοὺς2×
- μεστόν.1×
- μεστοί1×
- μεστοὶ1×
Key Verses
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John 21:11
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of one hundred fifty-three great fish. Even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.
This verse uses the word to describe a miraculous physical abundance, showing God's provision without harm to the vessel.
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Romans 15:14
I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.
Paul applies the term metaphorically to believers being filled with goodness and knowledge, linking inner fullness to outward ability.
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James 3:8
but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Here the word highlights the dangerous reality of a tongue filled with poison, contrasting it with the wisdom from above.
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Matthew 23:28
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Jesus uses this word to expose the contrast between outward appearance and an inner state full of hypocrisy.