ὑπερεκχύνω (huperekchunō)
huperekchunō
to overflow
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb huperekchunō means to overflow or run over, describing a quantity so abundant that it spills beyond its container. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 6:38, where Jesus uses it to illustrate the principle of generous giving. The word combines prefixes indicating "above" and "out" with a root meaning "to pour," creating an image of liquid overflowing from a vessel.
This single occurrence carries significant weight for understanding biblical generosity. Jesus promises that those who give will receive back in measure, pressed down and shaken together, so that it overflows. The term emphasizes not just adequacy but superabundance, suggesting that divine blessing exceeds human expectation. Translators typically render this as "overflowing" or "running over," capturing the physical sense of excess.
The word's rarity makes its usage particularly striking. By choosing this specific term rather than a more common word for abundance, the text highlights the extraordinary nature of God's reciprocal blessing. It paints a picture of generosity that creates space for even greater generosity in return, establishing a cycle where giving leads to receiving far beyond what was initially offered.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we give from our resources or time, it is easy to feel that we are losing something valuable. This word paints a different picture. It describes a vessel so full that liquid spills over the edges. Jesus uses this image to show that God’s generosity is not limited by our initial offering. Instead, His response is abundant and overflowing.
This promise invites us to trust in God's provision rather than clinging tightly to what we have. When we open our hands in kindness, we participate in a cycle of grace that exceeds our expectations. It is a reminder that the source of all good things is not scarcity, but an endless supply found in Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- running over1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὑπερεκχυννόμενον1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”
This verse uses the term to describe the quality of blessing returned to the giver, emphasizing that divine generosity surpasses human measure.