πληρόω
plēroō
to fulfill
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word πληρόω (plēroō) translates to "to fulfill." It is a verb that appears 88 times in the Bible, indicating its significant importance in the text. In its most basic sense, plēroō implies the completion or realization of something that was previously lacking or incomplete. Plēroō is used in a variety of contexts, including the fulfillment of prophecies, the completion of God's plans, and the realization of human potential. This versatility suggests that the concept of fulfillment is central to the biblical narrative, encompassing both divine and human aspects. The frequency of its occurrence also underscores the significance of this idea in the biblical worldview. The significance of plēroō lies in its association with the idea of completion, which is often linked to the concept of purpose or destiny. In the biblical context, fulfillment implies the realization of one's intended purpose or the completion of a divine plan. This idea has implications for both individual and collective understanding, suggesting that life has meaning and direction when we are fulfilling our intended purpose.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
88 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
Matthew 2:15and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2:17Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
Matthew 2:23and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 3:15But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
Matthew 4:14that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
Matthew 5:17“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Matthew 21:4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,
Matthew 8:17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.”
Matthew 12:17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
Matthew 13:35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.”
Matthew 13:48which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach. They sat down, and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away.
Matthew 23:32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.
Matthew 26:54How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”
Matthew 26:56But all this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Matthew 27:9Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom some of the children of Israel priced,
Matthew 27:35When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,
Mark 1:15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
Mark 14:49I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.”
Mark 15:28The Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “He was counted with transgressors.”
Luke 1:20Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
Luke 2:40The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
Luke 3:5Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth.
Luke 4:21He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 7:1After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
Luke 9:31who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Luke 21:24They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Luke 22:16for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in God’s Kingdom.”
Luke 24:44He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.”
John 3:29He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full.
John 7:8You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled.”
John 12:3Therefore Mary took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed Jesus’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
John 12:38that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, “Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
John 13:18I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’
John 15:11I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 15:25But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’
John 16:6But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.
John 16:24Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
John 17:12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have kept those whom you have given me. None of them is lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:13But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
John 18:9that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, “Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none.”
John 18:32that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he should die.
John 19:24Then they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to decide whose it will be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, “They parted my garments among them. For my cloak they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.
John 19:36For these things happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “A bone of him will not be broken.”
Acts 1:16“Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.
Acts 2:2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:28You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
Acts 3:18But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Acts 5:3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Acts 5:28saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”