Greek word · G3007

λείπω

leipō

to lack

Active: to leave, leave behind. Middle/passive: to be left behind, to fall short, to be lacking or deficient.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

λείπω

[in LXX: Job 4:11, Proverbs 19:4 (פָּרַד), al. ;]

1. trans., to leave, leave behind; pass., to be left behind, to lack before prep. (as more usual in cl.), ἐν, James 1:4; with genitive of thing(s), James 1:5 2:15.

2. Intrans., to be gone, to be wanting: with dative of person(s), Luke 18:22, Titus 3:13; τὰ λείποντα, Titus 1:5

(cf. ἀπο-, δια-, ἐκ-, ἐπι-, κατα-, ἐν-κατα-, περι-, ὑπο-λείπω).†

(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 James 1:4

Range of meaning

Active: to leave, leave behind. Middle/passive: to be left behind, to fall short, to be lacking or deficient.

Against the English

'Lacking' (BSB/WEB) is accurate. KJV 'wanting nothing' uses 'want' in its older sense of 'lack', but a modern reader may hear 'desiring nothing', which is a different idea.

How it drifted

English 'want' shifted from 'lack' to 'desire'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used again in the next verse ('if any of you lacks wisdom', 1:5) and in 2:15 (a brother or sister lacking daily food).

From the study of James 1:5

Range of meaning

Active: to leave, leave behind. Middle or passive: to be left behind, to fall short, to lack (with a genitive of the thing lacked).

Against the English

English 'lacks' is accurate. What usually disappears in translation is the deliberate verbal link to 1:4.

Used elsewhere in the period

James 1:4 'lacking in nothing' (en mēdeni leipomenoi). James 2:15: a brother or sister 'lacking daily food'. Titus 1:5; 3:13. In classical usage the word is also used of falling behind in a race.

From the study of James 2:15

Range of meaning

To leave behind. In the middle and passive forms, to be left behind, to fall short, to lack or be in need of something (followed by the genitive case).

Against the English

'Destitute of' (KJV/YLT), 'lacking' (ESV), 'in need of' (NASB), 'in lack of' (WEB). The BSB and NIV fold it into 'is without clothes and daily food', which loses the verb and the echo it carries.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it appears almost entirely in James (1:4, 1:5, 2:15), plus Luke 18:22 and Titus 1:5, 3:13. Titus 3:13 ('that they lack nothing') is also about meeting people's material needs.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 18:22 λείπει· is lacking:

    On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

    Here: 'Is lacking': present tense, a gap that exists right now. The word is ironic for a man who lacks nothing materially (v. 23).

Titus · 2

  1. Titus 1:5 λείποντα lacking

    The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

    Here: 'The things still lacking.' The present tense means they are still missing at the time of writing. The word implies the work is incomplete, not corrupt. It echoes apelipon ('I left').

  2. Titus 3:13 λείπῃ. may be lacking.

    Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need.

James · 3

  1. James 1:4 λειπόμενοι. lacking.

    Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

    Here: 'Falling short' or 'being deficient'. James picks up this word at once in verse 5 ('if any of you *lacks* wisdom'), linking the two verses: if you find you do fall short in something, especially wisdom, ask God.

  2. James 1:5 λείπεται lacks

    Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

    Here: Picks up 'lacking in nothing' (leipomenoi) at the end of 1:4. James has just described believers made complete through endurance, and he admits at once that one thing may still be missing: wisdom. The present tense pictures a lack felt now.

  3. James 2:15 λειπόμενοι lacking

    Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

    Here: 'Going without.' The present participle points to a continuing shortage. James used the same verb in 1:4-5 ('lacking nothing'; 'if any of you lacks wisdom'). There God gives to whoever lacks. Here the question is whether the community will.

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