Lexical Summary gemizó: To fill, to be filled, to load Original Word: γεμίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fill, be full. Transitive from gemo; to fill entirely -- fill (be) full. see GREEK gemo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom gemó Definition to fill NASB Translation fill (1), filled (7), filling (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1072: γεμίζωγεμίζω: 1 aorist ἐγεμισα; passive (present γεμίζομαι); 1 aorist ἐγεμίσθην; (γέμω, which see); to fill, fill full; a. absolutely in passive: Mark 4:37; Luke 14:23. b. τί τίνος, to fill a thing full of something: Mark 15:36; John 2:7; John 6:13; Revelation 15:8 (Aesehyl. Ag. 443; others); τί ἀπό τίνος, of that which is used for filling, Luke 15:16 (not WH Tr marginal reading); also in the same sense τί ἐκ τίνος, Revelation 8:5; (cf. Luke 15:16 in WH marginal reading) (מִן מָלֵא, Exodus 16:32; Jeremiah 51:34, etc. (cf. Winers Grammar, § 30, 8 b.; Buttmann, 163 (143))). The verb occurs eight times, always describing the act of bringing a container, space, or vessel to capacity. Whether the object is a stone jar, a fishing boat, a house, a censer, or the heavenly sanctuary itself, the action points to a completed state—nothing lacking, nothing partial. In each setting the word serves as a theological signpost, directing attention to the adequacy of God’s provision or, conversely, the inescapable totality of His judgment. Occurrences Illustrating Divine Provision John 2:7-8 opens the public ministry of Jesus: “‘Fill the jars with water.’ So they filled them to the brim.”. The brimming jars become the medium through which ordinary water is miraculously transformed into exceptional wine, proclaiming the Messiah’s sufficiency. Equally vivid is John 6:13, where the disciples gather twelve baskets of fragments after the feeding of the five thousand. The filling of the baskets highlights that Christ not only meets needs but exceeds them. Occurrences Emphasizing Human Responsiveness Luke 14:23 encloses the same verb in a parable: “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.”. Here the filling is commanded, calling for evangelistic urgency. The host’s desire for a full banquet hall reflects the Father’s desire that the wedding feast of the Lamb lack no guest who is willing to receive His invitation. Occurrences Depicting Crisis and Suffering Mark 4:37 reports a life-threatening squall on the Sea of Galilee: “A furious windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.”. The boat’s filling with water brings the disciples face-to-face with their inadequacy apart from Christ. In Mark 15:36 a sponge is filled with sour wine and lifted to the crucified Lord. The picture is one of derision mingled with pity, yet even this act fulfills Scripture (Psalm 69:21), reinforcing the certainty of God’s redemptive plan. Occurrences Portraying Heavenly Judgments Revelation 8:5 shows the angel taking the censer, now filled with fire from the altar, and hurling it to the earth. Lightning, rumblings, thunder, and an earthquake follow, portraying God’s wrath poured out in full measure. Similarly, Revelation 15:8 records the sanctuary “filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power,” so dense that no one could enter until the plagues were completed. In both scenes, the verb underscores the totality of divine judgment and the unapproachable holiness of God in the final outpouring of His wrath. Thematic Synthesis Provision and judgment form the twin poles around which the occurrences revolve. In the ministry of Jesus the verb heralds overflowing grace; in Revelation it signals the completion of wrath. The same action—filling—is thus employed to manifest both mercy and justice, demonstrating the unified character of God throughout Scripture. Historical and Cultural Notes First-century listeners understood filling a container as a routine task. Stone jars at a Jewish wedding, a fisherman’s boat, Roman-era baskets, or a household censer were all familiar objects. By choosing everyday scenarios, the Spirit embeds profound theology in ordinary life, ensuring that even the simplest hearer can grasp the message: when the Lord acts, He does so completely. Ministry Significance 1. Confidence in Christ’s Sufficiency. The brimming vessels of Cana and the overflowing baskets after the miraculous meal call believers to trust the Lord for material and spiritual needs. Ministry proceeds not from scarcity but from abundance in Christ. 2. Urgency in Evangelism. The master’s command to “fill” the house directs the Church to intentional outreach. A half-empty banquet hall does not satisfy the heart of God. 3. Sobriety regarding Judgment. Revelation reminds every servant that God’s patience will one day reach completion. Proclamation of the gospel must therefore include the certainty of coming wrath. 4. Dependence amid Trials. The storm-filled boat teaches that apparent overwhelm is the occasion for deeper faith. Ministers facing opposition or lack can look to the One who calms seas. Practical Application Believers are called to present themselves as vessels ready to be filled—“be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). As the jars at Cana were filled first with water, so hearts yielded to the Word become conduits of transformation. Churches, likewise, are houses meant to be filled with worshipers, intercessory prayer, and works of mercy, anticipating the ultimate filling of the new heavens and new earth with the glory of God. Conclusion Every New Testament occurrence of Strong’s Greek 1072, whether narrating a miracle of provision, a moment of peril, an evangelistic command, or an apocalyptic judgment, converges on one central truth: when God fills, He fills completely. Such fullness invites faith, fuels mission, and foretells a consummation in which the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth “as the waters cover the sea.” Englishman's Concordance Mark 4:37 V-PNM/PGRK: ὥστε ἤδη γεμίζεσθαι τὸ πλοῖον NAS: was already filling up. KJV: was now full. INT: so that already was filled the boat Mark 15:36 V-APA-NMS Luke 14:23 V-ASP-3S John 2:7 V-AMA-2P John 2:7 V-AIA-3P John 6:13 V-AIA-3P Revelation 8:5 V-AIA-3S Revelation 15:8 V-AIP-3S Strong's Greek 1072 |