Lexical Summary leipó: To leave, to forsake, to lack Original Word: λείπω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be destitute, lack. A primary verb; to leave, i.e. (intransitively or passively) to fail or be absent -- be destitute (wanting), lack. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. verb Definition to leave, leave behind NASB Translation lack (1), lacking (2), lacks (1), need (1), remains (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3007: λείπωλείπω; (2 aorist subjunctive 3 person singular λιπη, Titus 3:13 T WIt marginal reading; present passive λείπομαι; from Homer down); 1. transitive, to leave, leave behind, forsake; passive to be left behind (properly, by one's rival in a race, hence), a. to lag, be inferior: ἐν μηδενί, James 1:4 (Herodotus 7, 8, 1); (others associate this example with the two under b.). b. to be destitute of, to lack: with the genitive of the thing, James 1:5; James 2:15 (Sophocles, Plato, others). 2. intransitive, to be lacking or absent, to fail: λείπει τί τίνι, Luke 18:22; Titus 3:13 (Polybius 10, 18, 8; others); τά λείποντα, the things that remain (so Justin Martyr, Apology 1, 52, cf. 32; but others are lacking), Titus 1:5. (Compare: ἀπολείπω, διαλείπω, ἐκλείπω, ἐπιλείπω, καταλείπω, ἐνκαταλείπω, περιλείπω, ὑπολείπω.) The verb underlying Strong’s Greek 3007 appears six times in the New Testament, always in the present participle or indicative, and uniformly communicates a state of lack, need, or deficiency. Whether the need is material, moral, or ministerial, the word highlights human insufficiency and God’s sufficiency. Representative Passages • Luke 18:22 – “One thing you still lack”. Jesus pinpoints a spiritual deficiency in the rich ruler who outwardly kept the commandments yet lacked wholehearted devotion. Patterns and Themes 1. Moral and spiritual deficiency (Luke 18:22; James 1:4–5). Across these settings the term underscores a gap that must be addressed, either by divine grace or by obedient action of God’s people. Historical and Ministry Significance First-century congregations faced real shortages―from leadership structures on Crete (Titus 1:5) to daily necessities among the poor (James 2:15). The word emphasizes that unaddressed lack threatens witness and health. Paul’s concern for Zenas and Apollos shows an early missionary network that depended on local generosity; ensuring they “lack nothing” protected the gospel’s advance. James, writing to scattered Jewish Christians, presses the issue of practical compassion, revealing that genuine faith intervenes when brothers and sisters are “lacking daily food.” Theological Implications • Dependence on God: Luke 18:22 confronts self-reliance; only surrender to Christ remedies what we “still lack.” Practical Application for Today 1. Assess areas of spiritual lack and submit them to Christ’s lordship. Summary Strong’s Greek 3007 portrays the varied lacks that mark human experience. Scripture answers each deficit—spiritual, material, organizational—through the sufficiency of God’s grace and the obedient participation of His people, ensuring that ultimately the church will be “mature and complete, lacking nothing.” Englishman's Concordance Luke 18:22 V-PIA-3SGRK: ἕν σοι λείπει πάντα ὅσα NAS: you still lack; sell KJV: unto him, Yet lackest thou one INT: one thing to you is lacking all as much as Titus 1:5 V-PPA-ANP Titus 3:13 V-PSA-3S James 1:4 V-PPM/P-NMP James 1:5 V-PIM/P-3S James 2:15 V-PPM/P-NMP Strong's Greek 3007 |
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