Greek word · G4134

πλήρης

plērēs

full

Full, filled. Used of a person, 'full of X' means X marks that person's whole character.

Appears 16 times in 16 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

πλήρης, -ες

[in LXX chiefly for מָלֵא ;]

1. full, filled: Matthew 14:20 15:37; with genitive of thing(s), Mark 8:19; λέπρας, Luke 5:12; metaphorically, of the soul: πνεύματος ἀγίου, Luke 4:1, Acts 6:3 7:55 11:24; πίστεως, Acts 6:5; χάριτος, ib. Acts 6:8; χ. καὶ ἀληθείας (where π. is indecl.; see M, Pr., 50; Milligan, NTD, 65, with reff. in each), John 1:14; δόλου, Acts 13:10; θυμοῦ, Acts 19:28; ἔργων ἀγαθῶν, Acts 9:36.

2. full, complete: μισθός, 2 John 1:8; σῖτος (π. prob. in­decl. here; see on John 1:14, supr.), Mark 4:28.†

(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 Acts 9:36

Range of meaning

Full, filled. Used of a person, 'full of X' means X marks that person's whole character.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, YLT and ESV keep 'full of'. BSB ('always occupied with') and NIV ('always doing') turn the phrase into a description of activity. That reads naturally, but it loses the 'full of' wording Luke uses for several leading figures in Acts.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke uses plērēs for the Seven, 'full of the Spirit and wisdom' (Acts 6:3); for Stephen, 'full of faith and the Holy Spirit' (6:5) and 'full of grace and power' (6:8); and for Barnabas, 'full of the Holy Spirit and of faith' (11:24). Jesus is 'full of the Holy Spirit' in Luke 4:1.

From the study of Acts 7:55

Range of meaning

Plērēs means 'full', literally of a container or figuratively of a person 'full of' a quality (wrath, leprosy, grace, wisdom). Said of a person, it means that quality defines and drives them. 'Holy Spirit' in Luke-Acts is God's own Spirit, active above all in prophecy, inspired speech, bold witness and vision (Luke 1:15, 41, 67; Acts 2:4, 17-18; 4:8, 31).

Against the English

English 'full of the Holy Spirit' is accurate. Modern readers, though, often hear it as an emotional high or a moment of spiritual ecstasy. In Luke the phrase marks a person's settled character (Luke 4:1; Acts 6:3, 5; 11:24) and their equipping to speak and see as a prophet.

How it drifted

Revivalist and charismatic usage tends to tie 'being filled with the Spirit' to feeling or to a crisis moment. Luke uses two forms: the aorist 'was filled' (plēstheis, 4:8) for a burst of inspiration for a moment, and the adjective 'full' with a present participle, as here, for an ongoing condition.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint describes Joshua as 'filled with a spirit of understanding' (Deut 34:9) and Bezalel as filled with a divine spirit of wisdom (Exod 31:3). Luke uses plērēs pneumatos for Jesus (Luke 4:1), for the Seven including Stephen (Acts 6:3, 5), and for Barnabas (11:24).

From the study of Luke 4:1

Range of meaning

In the period, πλήρης means 'full, filled, complete'. With a genitive of a quality or power it means 'thoroughly characterized by, under the control of' (BDAG s.v. πλήρης). Luke keeps two expressions apart. (1) πλησθείς / ἐπλήσθη, 'was filled', is a single moment of being filled, usually for inspired speech: Elizabeth (1:41), Zechariah (1:67), Pentecost (Acts 2:4), Peter (Acts 4:8). (2) πλήρης, 'full', is a lasting state that marks a person's character and ministry: Stephen (Acts 6:5; 7:55), the seven (Acts 6:3), Barnabas (Acts 11:24).

Against the English

English 'full of' can sound emotional ('full of joy', 'full of energy'), like a feeling that comes and goes. Luke's adjective describes an abiding condition: who Jesus now is and what drives him.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) uses πλήρης for being 'full of' wisdom, years or glory. Deuteronomy 34:9 says Joshua was 'filled with the spirit of wisdom' (ἐνεπλήσθη πνεύματος συνέσεως), a near parallel, and Joshua is the same name as Jesus in Greek. Philo and other Hellenistic Jewish writers speak of prophets as filled or possessed by the divine spirit.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 14:20 πλήρεις. full.

    They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

    Here: Comes last for emphasis: the baskets were not partly filled but full. The leftovers far outweigh the five loaves the meal began with.

  2. Matthew 15:37 πλήρεις. full.

    They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 4:28 πλήρης full

    All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.

    Here: 'Full' grain: kernels swollen and complete. Koine often used this form without changing its ending, which is why manuscripts vary here. The word stresses completeness. Ripeness comes in v. 29.

  2. Mark 8:19 πλήρεις full

    When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered.

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 4:1 πλήρης full

    Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

    Here: Full in the sense of 'thoroughly marked by'. It describes a settled condition, not a passing mood, and is the result of the Spirit coming down on Jesus at the Jordan.

  2. Luke 5:12 πλήρης full

    While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

    Here: 'Full of': the disease was widespread over his body, an advanced case. Mark and Matthew just say 'a leper'.

John · 1

  1. John 1:14 πλήρης full

    The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    Here: Filled to the brim. Grammatically it most naturally describes the Word (the subject of the sentence), though in everyday Greek of the time it was sometimes used without changing its ending (see Textual notes).

Acts · 8

  1. Acts 6:3 πλήρεις full

    Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them

    Here: 'Full of' describes a person's settled character as others see it, not a single moment of experience. Luke uses the phrase for Jesus (Luke 4:1), Stephen (Acts 6:5; 7:55) and Barnabas (11:24).

  2. Acts 6:5 πλήρης full

    This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

    Here: 'Full of', describing a defining quality. Luke uses 'full' for Stephen three times (6:3, 6:5, 6:8). The word is left nominative even though 'man' is accusative, a common Koine habit.

  3. Acts 6:8 πλήρης full

    Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

    Here: 'Full of' is Luke's way of describing what fills and marks a person's whole life (compare 6:3, 6:5, 7:55). It describes his lasting character, not a one-off moment.

  4. Acts 7:55 πλήρης full

    But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

    Here: 'Full of' a quality describes what marks and controls a person. Luke has already called Stephen 'full of faith and of the Holy Spirit' (6:5) and 'full of grace and power' (6:8).

  5. Acts 9:36 πλήρης full

    In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.

    Here: 'Full of'. Luke's word for what defines a person through and through. He uses it for Stephen ('full of the Spirit and wisdom', 'full of faith', 'full of grace and power') and for Barnabas. Here Tabitha's life is described as filled up with good deeds.

  6. Acts 11:24 πλήρης full

    Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

    Here: An adjective describing a lasting condition. Luke uses it for people whose lives are steadily marked by the Spirit (Jesus in Luke 4:1; Stephen in Acts 6:5, 8; 7:55). That is different from the sudden 'filled' moments before someone speaks (4:8, 31).

  7. Acts 13:10 πλήρης full

    and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

    Here: 'Full of', describing what fills and drives him. It pointedly echoes v. 9: Paul is 'filled' with the Holy Spirit, while Elymas is 'full' of deceit. In Luke–Acts 'full of the Spirit' describes Jesus, Stephen and Barnabas; Elymas is the dark mirror image.

  8. Acts 19:28 πλήρεις full

    When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

2 John · 1

  1. 2 John 1:8 πλήρη full

    Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.

    Here: A "full" wage, not a docked or partial one. The contrast is between being paid in full and losing what was earned.

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