πλήρωμα (plērōma)
plērōma
fulfillment
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun plērōma denotes the state of being filled or the content that completes something. In the Gospels of Mark, it appears in concrete terms to describe the basketfuls of leftover fragments after Jesus fed the crowds (Mark 6:43; 8:20). This usage highlights a tangible abundance, suggesting that God’s provision exceeds immediate needs and leaves room for surplus.
Paul expands this concept significantly in his letters, shifting from physical quantity to spiritual reality. He describes the church as the plērōma of Christ, implying that believers are filled with His presence and agency (Ephesians 1:23). Similarly, he speaks of the fullness of God dwelling bodily in Jesus (Colossians 2:9) and the collective maturity of the body of Christ reaching its intended completeness (Ephesians 4:13).
The word also carries a temporal sense, referring to the "fullness of time" when God’s appointed moment for action arrives (Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:10). Romans 11 uses it to describe the complete number of Gentiles who will be brought into salvation, framing history as a process moving toward a divinely ordained conclusion. Translators often render it "fullness," capturing both the idea of completion and the richness of what fills that space.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word plērōma reminds us that God’s provision is never scarce. When Jesus fed the crowds, the leftovers filled twelve baskets, showing that His care exceeds our immediate needs. This tangible abundance points to a deeper spiritual truth: God does not just meet minimum requirements but offers a richness that overflows.
In Paul’s letters, this concept moves from physical baskets to the heart of our faith. Believers are described as being filled with Christ’s presence, and history itself is seen as moving toward a divine conclusion. Whether referring to the right moment in time or the complete number of those brought into salvation, plērōma assures us that God’s plan is purposeful and complete.
For your daily life, this means you can trust in a provision that is both sufficient and abundant. It invites you to rest in the certainty that God is working out His purposes, filling every gap with grace and bringing all things together in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- fullness13×
- patch2×
- [the] fullness1×
- [the] fulfillment1×
- [the] fillings1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πλήρωμα12×
- πληρώματος3×
- πληρώματα2×
- πληρώματι1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 6:43
They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish.
This verse uses plērōma to describe the physical abundance of leftovers, illustrating that God’s provision often exceeds immediate needs.
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John 1:16
From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
Here the word highlights the inexhaustible source of grace flowing from Christ, emphasizing spiritual richness over material lack.
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Romans 11:25
For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,
Paul uses this term to describe the complete number of Gentiles entering salvation, framing history as a process moving toward a specific divine goal.
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Ephesians 1:23
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
This passage identifies the church as the fullness of Christ, showing that believers are filled with His presence and agency in the world.