ὁλοκληρία (holoklēria)
holoklēria
wholeness
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun holoklēria describes a state of perfect soundness or wholeness, where every part is intact and healthy. Derived from roots meaning "whole" and "complete," it refers to the physical body being unimpaired and fit for use. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Acts 3:16.
In this verse, Luke attributes the healing of a lame man at the temple gate to faith in Jesus’ name. The text states that the man received his holoklēria, emphasizing not just relief from pain but total restoration of bodily function. The word carries significant weight here, pointing to a comprehensive recovery rather than a partial fix.
While rare in Scripture, its singular occurrence highlights the power of divine healing to restore complete integrity. It serves as a concrete example of how faith can lead to physical wholeness, leaving no aspect of the person neglected or broken.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word holoklēria appears only once in the New Testament, found in Acts 3:16. It describes a state of perfect soundness where every part is intact and healthy. When Luke records the healing of the lame man at the temple gate, he uses this specific term to show that the man did not just experience pain relief. He received total restoration of bodily function.
This rare word reminds us that God’s work is often comprehensive. It is not merely about managing symptoms or finding temporary comfort. Instead, it points toward a complete recovery that leaves no aspect of the person neglected. Whether we face physical illness or emotional brokenness, this verse offers hope for full restoration through faith in Jesus.
Seeing this wholeness in Scripture encourages us to trust in God’s power to make us whole. It invites us to look beyond partial fixes and believe in the complete integrity that Christ brings. This promise stands as a steady anchor for our faith, showing that no part of our lives is beyond His reach.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- complete soundness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὁλοκληρίαν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 3:16
By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
This occurrence matters because it uniquely uses holoklēria to describe the man's total physical restoration, distinguishing complete soundness from mere symptom relief.