λείπω

I am wanting, am left behind

Definition

The verb λείπω primarily means 'to lack,' 'to be deficient,' or 'to be left behind.' In its active voice, it denotes a state of lacking something necessary, as seen in James 1:4–5 where perseverance must be complete so that believers 'lack' (λείπητε) nothing, and where anyone who 'lacks' (λείπεται) wisdom should ask God. In the middle voice, it carries the sense of 'falling short' or 'being left behind' in comparison to a standard, as in Titus 1:5 and 3:13, where things are 'left unfinished' or 'lacking' in practical church matters. This dual sense of objective deficiency and comparative shortfall captures the word's range.

Biblical Usage

λείπω appears six times in the New Testament, exclusively in the Gospels and General Epistles. In Luke 18:22, Jesus tells the rich ruler he still 'lacks' one thing—selling his possessions. In Titus, it describes tasks left incomplete (Titus 1:5, 3:13). James uses it three times: for lacking perseverance (James 1:4), wisdom (James 1:5), and basic necessities (James 2:15). The usage consistently highlights a gap between a current state and what is required or ideal, whether spiritually, practically, or materially.

Etymology

The word λείπω is a primary Greek verb meaning 'to leave,' 'to forsake,' or 'to be lacking.' It is related to the noun λείψανον (leipsanon, G3060), meaning 'a remnant' or 'what is left,' and shares a root with the idea of leaving behind. Its meaning developed from the concrete sense of abandoning or leaving something behind to the more abstract sense of being in a state of deficiency or falling short.

Semantic Range

λείπω is theologically significant as it highlights human insufficiency and dependence on God. In James 1:4–5, it frames the need for divine wisdom to complete what is lacking in human understanding. In Luke 18:22, it points to the one thing 'lacking' for eternal life—total devotion to Christ over possessions. The word underscores the biblical theme that human effort often falls short (Romans 3:23 uses a different term, ὑστερέω), and wholeness or completion is found only in God's provision.

In the Greco-Roman world, 'lacking' could carry social and ethical weight, as self-sufficiency (αὐτάρκεια) was a cultural ideal. To 'lack' wisdom or resources could imply shame or failure. Jesus' use in Luke 18:22 subverts this by showing that true lack is spiritual, not material, and that surrendering wealth (a marker of self-sufficiency) is needed to gain eternal life.

ὑστερέω (hystereō, G5302) — more often 'to come late' or 'to be inferior,' focusing on timing or rank; λείπειν emphasizes a state of deficiency or being left behind. ἐπιδεῖ (epidei, G5535) — a stronger term for 'to need' or 'to be in want,' often for basic necessities.

Word Details

Scripture References