Lexical Summary empiplemi: To fill, to satisfy, to fulfill Original Word: ἐμπίπλημι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fill. Or empletho em-play'-tho; from en and the base of pleistos;to fill in (up), i.e. (by implication) to satisfy (literally or figuratively) -- fill. see GREEK en see GREEK pleistos Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1705: ἐμπίπλημιἐμπίπλημι (not ἐμπίμπλημι (see ἐν, III. 3); for euphony's sake, Lob. ad Phryn., p. 95; Veitch, p. 536) and ἐμπιπλάω (from which form comes the present participle ἐμπιπλῶν, Acts 14:17 (Winers Grammar, § 14,1 f.; Buttmann, 66 (58))); 1 aorist ἐνέπλησα; 1 aorist passive ἐνεπλήσθην; perfect passive participle ἐμπεπλησμένος; the Sept. for מָלֵא and in passive often for שָׂבַע to be satiated; in Greek writings from Homer down; to fill up, fill full: τινα τίνος, to bestow something bountifully on one, Luke 1:53; Acts 14:17 (Jeremiah 38:14 STRONGS NT 1705a: ἐμπιπράωἐμπιπράω (see ἐν, III. 3) (for the more common ἐμπίπρημι, from πίμπρημι to burn; on the dropping of the mu μ', cf. ἐμπίπλημι, at the beginning); from Herodotus down; to burn, set on fire; present infinitive passive ἐμπίπρασθαι to be (inflamed, and so) swollen (Hesychius πιμπραν ... φυσαν; Etym. Magn. 672, 23 πιμπρασαι. φυσωσαι; Josephus, Antiquities 3, 11, 6; etc.); of the human body to swell up: from the bite of a viper, Acts 28:6 Tdf., for R G etc. πίμπρασθαι, which see (and Veitch, under the word πίμπρημι). Strong’s Greek 1705 (ἐμπίπλημι / ἐμπληθῆναι) portrays the act of filling so completely that need or hunger disappears. In Scripture the verb appears only five times, yet it bridges themes of divine providence, covenant reversal, Christ’s messianic banquet, apostolic fellowship, and eschatological warning. The word group reaches back into the Septuagint, where it is repeatedly employed to describe the Lord’s lavish care for His people and the earth (for example, Psalm 104:28; Psalm 107:9; Proverbs 13:25). In the New Testament its occurrences radiate from the infancy narratives to apostolic mission, showing a God who still satisfies body and soul through His Son and through the community of believers. Physical Provision and the Faithfulness of God John 6:12 records the aftermath of the feeding of the five thousand: “When they were satisfied, He told His disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.’” The verb signals that every stomach was entirely filled—underscoring a creative act paralleling Exodus manna and situating Jesus as the Shepherd of Psalm 23 who prepares a table in the wilderness. In Acts 14:17 Paul and Barnabas present the same divine generosity to Gentiles: “He fills you with food and gladness.” Here ἐμπίπλημι argues from common grace; even idol-worshipers experience the Creator’s faithful seasons, calling them to repentance. Reversal of Fortunes in the Kingdom Both infancy canticles (Luke 1:53) and Jesus’ sermon on the plain (Luke 6:25) employ the verb in antithetical parallelism. Mary sings, “He has filled the hungry with good things,” celebrating covenant faithfulness that lifts the humble. Jesus later warns, “Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger,” a sober counter-beatitude that exposes self-sufficiency. Together these texts frame a theology of reversal: God satisfies the needy but the complacent rich will discover emptiness. The verb therefore functions prophetically, announcing ethical priorities of the Kingdom. Fellowship and Apostolic Partnership In Romans 15:24 Paul anticipates refreshment from the Roman believers: “once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.” The phrase literally reads, “after I have been filled with you,” depicting spiritual fellowship as nourishment. Material hospitality and mutual encouragement are parallel to divine feeding; the community becomes a vessel through which God continues to “fill.” Pastoral and Missional Implications 1. Compassionate ministry: Because God fills, His people must address physical hunger (Matthew 25:35), echoing Jesus’ pattern in John 6. Typology and Eschatology The verb anticipates the messianic banquet imagery that culminates in Revelation 19:9. Each NT occurrence previews that future consummation where “they will hunger no more” (Revelation 7:16). Until then, every instance of ἐμπίπλημι—whether miraculous feeding, daily rain, shared table, or spiritual encouragement—serves as a pledge of the coming feast. Summary Strong’s Greek 1705 weaves a narrative of a God who fills: He fills stomachs through creation, fills the humble with good things, fills the church with fellowship, and will finally fill the universe with His glory. Each occurrence calls the reader to trust His provision, embrace Kingdom values, and participate in His ongoing ministry of satisfying the hungry. Englishman's Concordance Luke 1:53 V-AIA-3SGRK: πεινῶντας ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶν καὶ NAS: HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY KJV: He hath filled the hungry INT: [the] hungry he filled with good things and Luke 6:25 V-RPM/P-NMP John 6:12 V-AIP-3P Acts 14:17 V-PPA-NMS Romans 15:24 V-ASP-1S Strong's Greek 1705 |
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