Greek word · G3648

ὁλόκληρος

holoklēros

whole

From holos ('whole') + klēros ('lot, portion'): having one's whole portion, every part present, intact, sound, unimpaired. It was used of bodies in good health, of uncut stones, and of unblemished animals.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 23, 2026

What it means

ὁλό-κληρος, -ον

(ὅλος, κλῆρος, i.e. with all that has fallen by lot), [in LXX: Leviticus 23:15, Ezekiel 15:5 (תָּמִים), Deuteronomy 27:6, Joshua 8:31 (9:2) (שָׁלֵם), Zechariah 11:16 (נָצַב ni.), Wisdom of Solomon 15:3, 1Ma.4:47, 4Ma.15:17 * ;]

complete, entire; in NT in ethical sense (as Wis, 4Mac, ll. with), 1 Thessalonians 5:23; ὁ. καὶ τέλειοι, James 1:4.†

SYN.: ὁλοτελής (which see), τελειος (Tr., Syn., § xxii) (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: From holos ('whole') + klēros ('lot, portion'): having one's whole portion, every part present, intact, sound, unimpaired. It was used of bodies in good health, of uncut stones, and of unblemished animals.
Against the English: 'Complete' (BSB/WEB/ESV/NASB) is accurate. KJV/YLT 'entire' was a good match in older English ('whole, undamaged') but now sounds odd. Both lose the concrete picture of a thing with no missing or damaged parts.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX Deuteronomy 27:6 requires the altar to be built of holoklēroi stones, uncut and whole. Philo and Josephus apply the word to sacrificial animals and to priests who had to be free of any defect (cited from standard lexicons such as BDAG). In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Paul prays that spirit, soul and body be kept holoklēron, whole and sound, at the Lord's coming. Acts 3:16 uses the related noun of the lame man's full health.

From the study of 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Range of meaning: From holos (whole) + klēros (lot, portion): having all its portions, complete, intact, sound, with no part missing or damaged. Used of physical soundness and health, of unhewn stones, and of sacrificial victims and priests without defect. Its partner word holotelēs (G3651, 'wholly', from holos + telos, 'end/completion') stresses complete in extent, through and through.
Against the English: BSB/ESV/KJV 'entire/whole spirit…' make it sound as if 'whole' modifies only 'spirit'. NASB's 'preserved complete' shows the more likely structure: the adjective describes the result for the whole person (be kept intact). The idea of soundness, of nothing missing or damaged, is weaker in 'entire'.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX Deut 27:6 and Josh 8:31 (9:2b LXX): the altar is to be built of 'whole stones' (lithous holoklērous), stones untouched by iron tools. Philo uses the word for unblemished sacrificial victims (Trench, Synonyms, §22). The NT uses it in Jas 1:4 ('perfect and complete, lacking in nothing'), and the related noun holoklēria in Acts 3:16 for the full physical soundness of the healed lame man.

Similar words

ὁλοκληρία holoklēria · wholeness

Where it appears

1 Thessalonians · 1

1 Thessalonians 5:23 ὁλόκληρον entirely

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here: Means 'whole in every part, nothing missing'. It is singular and stands in front of the whole list, so it most likely works as a description of the result: may your spirit, soul and body be kept *whole*. It echoes language used for unhewn altar stones and unblemished offerings.

James · 1

James 1:4 ὁλόκληροι complete

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

Here: From 'whole' plus 'portion, allotment': having every part present and sound. It was used of unblemished sacrificial animals and of uncut altar stones. 'Teleioi' looks at reaching the goal; 'holoklēroi' looks at having nothing missing or damaged.

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