τελεσφορέω (telesphoreō)
telesphoreō
to mature
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb telesphoreō describes the process of bringing something to full maturity or perfection. Its roots combine a word for "completion" with one meaning "to carry," suggesting the act of carrying a burden or task through to its finished state. In Scripture, this specific term appears only once, in Luke 8:14.
Here, Jesus uses it metaphorically to describe seeds choked by thorns. Unlike other words for bearing fruit that might simply mean producing a harvest, telesphoreō implies reaching the final stage of ripeness. The image is agricultural: the plant does not just grow; it completes its natural cycle to produce fully formed fruit.
This rare usage highlights the danger of spiritual stagnation. The thorns prevent the seed from ever reaching this state of completion. The word emphasizes that true discipleship requires seeing one’s faith through to its intended maturity, rather than stopping at early growth or being stifled by worldly concerns.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word telesphoreō paints a picture of a plant reaching its full potential. It is not enough to simply sprout or show early signs of growth; the goal is to carry that life through to complete maturity. In Luke 8:14, Jesus warns us that cares, riches, and pleasures can choke this process. These distractions do not necessarily destroy faith immediately, but they stop it from ever ripening into something useful and full.
For your daily walk, this means paying attention to what competes for your heart’s attention. Spiritual growth requires space and light. When we allow the noise of life to crowd out our connection with God, our faith remains stunted. We may believe, but we do not bear the fruit that comes from a mature, rooted trust.
It is encouraging to know that God desires this completion in us. He does not leave us to struggle alone toward maturity. By clearing away the thorns of anxiety and excessive desire, we create room for our faith to reach its intended end. This leads to a life that is stable, productive, and fully aligned with His purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do mature.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τελεσφοροῦσιν.1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 8:14
What fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life; and they bring no fruit to maturity.
This verse uniquely uses the term to describe how worldly anxieties prevent believers from bringing their faith to its final, ripe state.