Greek word · G1587

ἐκλείπω

ekleipō

to fail

To leave off, give out, fail, run out, die. It is used for supplies being used up, a family line ending, and the sun's light failing in an eclipse (ekleipsis).

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐκ-λείπω

[in LXX for כָּלָה, כָּרַת ni., תָּמַם, etc., 47 different words in all ;]

1. trans., to leave out, pass over.

2. Intrans., to leave off, cease, fail: μαμωνᾶς, Luke 16:9; πίστις, Luke 22:32; ἔτη, Hebrews 1:12 (LXX); of the sun in an eclipse, Luke 23:45.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hebrews 1:12

Range of meaning

To leave off, give out, fail, run out, die. It is used for supplies being used up, a family line ending, and the sun's light failing in an eclipse (ekleipsis).

Against the English

'Fail' (KJV, WEB, YLT) keeps the sense of giving out. 'Never end' (BSB, NIV) and 'have no end' (ESV) give the meaning plainly but lose the picture of something running dry.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 16:9 ('when it fails', of money), Luke 22:32 ('that your faith may not fail'), Luke 23:45 (the sun's light failed). The Hebrew of Psalm 102:27 has lo' yittammu, 'they will not be finished/completed.'

From the study of Luke 22:32

Range of meaning

Literally "to leave out" or "to leave off." Intransitively: to give out, run short, die away, come to an end, cease, be eclipsed. It was the ordinary Greek verb for an eclipse of the sun or moon (the English word "eclipse" comes from the related noun ἔκλειψις). It is also used for supplies running out, for a life ending, and for strength giving way.

Against the English

"Fail" is accurate, but modern English "fail" often suggests a single lapse, as in failing a test. The Greek leans toward running out or going dark altogether: a total giving-out, not a stumble.

How it drifted

No true drift, but the wider modern sense of "fail" can lead readers to think Jesus' prayer went unanswered, since Peter denied him. The Greek sense of being extinguished removes the apparent contradiction.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke uses it in 16:9 ("when [mammon] fails/runs out") and in 23:45 ("the sun's light failed" / was eclipsed at the crucifixion). Hebrews 1:12 quotes Psalm 102:27 (LXX 101:28): "your years will not come to an end." In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) it often renders Hebrew verbs for coming to an end or being used up (e.g. Gen 21:15, the water in the skin ran out). Greek astronomical writers use it constantly for eclipses.

From the study of Luke 16:9

Range of meaning

To give out, run out, fail, come to an end, cease. Used of supplies running out, light failing (an eclipse), years ending, and in the Greek Old Testament of dying (Gen 25:8: Abraham 'expired and died').

Against the English

The KJV's 'when ye fail' and the WEB's 'when you fail' follow the later plural reading, which suggests the disciples' death. The BSB's 'when it is gone', NIV 'when it is gone' and ESV 'when it fails' follow the earlier singular, where the wealth is what fails.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 22:32 ('that your faith may not fail'), Luke 23:45 (the sun's light failed), Hebrews 1:12 ('your years will not fail'). In the Greek Old Testament it is used of death (Gen 25:8; 49:33).

Where it appears

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 16:9 ἐκλίπῃ it may fail

    I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.

    Here: Singular, so the subject is the wealth: 'when it runs out.' Money will give out, whether at death, at judgment, or simply because it does not last. The same verb is used of the sun's light failing (Luke 23:45) and of faith failing (22:32).

  2. Luke 22:32 ἐκλίπῃ may fail

    But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

    Here: To run out, die away, be eclipsed. The prayer is not that Peter will never stumble. It is that his trust will not be snuffed out entirely. Luke uses the same verb in 23:45 for the sun's light failing at the crucifixion.

  3. Luke 23:45 ἐκλιπόντος. darkened.

    The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 1:12 ἐκλείψουσιν.¶ will never end.

    You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”

    Here: Used for supplies running out, a life ending, or the sun's light failing (the root of 'eclipse'). The Lord's years never run dry.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.