"that which fills up; full measure, entire content, Mk. 8:20; 1 Cor. 10:26, 28; complement, full extent, full number, Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10; that which fills up a deficiency, a supplement, a patch, Mt. 9:16; fulness, abundance, Jn. 1:16; full measure, Rom. 15:29; a fulfilling, perfe..."
Definition and meaning
that which fills up; full measure, entire content, Mk. 8:20; 1 Cor. 10:26, 28; complement, full extent, full number, Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10; that which fills up a deficiency, a supplement, a patch, Mt. 9:16; fulness, abundance, Jn. 1:16; full measure, Rom. 15:29; a fulfilling, perfect performance, Rom. 13:10; complete attainment of entire belief, full acceptance, Rom. 11:12; full development, plenitude, Eph. 4:13; Col. 1:19; 2:9
In the original Greek the word is written: πλήρωμα
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of pleroma (G4138) across the King James Bible.
No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
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Common questions
Strong's G4138 (pleroma) is a Greek word that means: that which fills up; full measure, entire content, Mk. 8:20; 1 Cor. 10:26, 28; complement, full extent, full number, Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10; that which fills up a deficiency, a supplement, a patch, Mt. 9... It appears 17 times in the King James Bible.
The word pleroma (G4138) appears 17 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4138 is pleroma, a Greek word defined as: that which fills up; full measure, entire content, Mk. 8:20; 1 Cor. 10:26, 28; complement, full extent, full number, Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10; that which f. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
pleroma is a Greek word found in the New Testament.