Greek word · G3838

παντελής

pantelēs

completely

The adjective παντελής means 'all-complete, entire, absolute'. As an adverbial phrase, εἰς τὸ παντελές means (a) 'completely, fully, at all', or (b) 'for all time, forever'. BDAG lists both senses for this verse.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

παντελής, -ές

(πᾶς, τέλος), [in LXX: 3Ma.7:16 A* ;]

all-complete, entire, perfect; εἰς τ. παντελές, completely, utterly: Luke 13:11, Hebrews 7:25 (where perhaps in temp. sense, finally; see MM, xviii).†

(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 7:25

Range of meaning

The adjective παντελής means 'all-complete, entire, absolute'. As an adverbial phrase, εἰς τὸ παντελές means (a) 'completely, fully, at all', or (b) 'for all time, forever'. BDAG lists both senses for this verse.

Against the English

KJV/ESV/WEB 'to the uttermost' and BSB/NIV 'completely' stress how full the salvation is. NASB 'forever', NRSV 'for all time' and NLT 'once and forever' stress how long it lasts. YLT's 'to the very end' leans toward time.

How it drifted

'Uttermost' is archaic. Modern hearers often take it as 'from the lowest depth', meaning how bad a sinner can be, rather than how complete or lasting the salvation is.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 13:11 uses the phrase for a woman who could not straighten up 'at all / completely', the fullness sense. Hellenistic writers (e.g. Josephus, Aelian) use it for 'utterly, entirely'. The Vulgate renders it here in perpetuum, 'forever', the time sense.

From the study of Luke 13:11

Range of meaning

Literally 'to the complete': completely, entirely, at all. In Greek of the period it can also mean 'for all time' or 'finally'.

Against the English

KJV 'in no wise', WEB 'in no way', YLT 'at all', NIV/NASB 'at all': she could not straighten up at all. ESV 'fully' and BSB 'stand up straight': she could not straighten up completely, perhaps only partly. The Greek allows both.

Used elsewhere in the period

The only other New Testament use is Hebrews 7:25 ('able to save to the uttermost / for all time'). There too interpreters debate whether it means completeness or permanence. Josephus and other Hellenistic writers use the phrase to mean 'altogether, completely'.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 13:11 παντελές. full.

    and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight.

    Here: With eis to, it means 'completely' or 'at all'. It is unclear whether it says she could not straighten up 'at all' or could not straighten up 'fully'. See the debates.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 7:25 παντελὲς uttermost

    Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

    Here: Built from 'all' and 'end/goal'. It can mean 'completely' or 'for all time', and here probably carries both: a salvation lacking nothing that also never lapses.

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