ὑπολείπω

I leave behind

Definition

The verb ὑπολείπω means 'to leave behind' or 'to remain.' In its active voice, it signifies the action of leaving something or someone remaining after others have departed or perished. In the passive voice, it means 'to be left behind' or 'to survive.' Its single New Testament occurrence in Romans 11:3 uses the passive form, where Paul quotes Elijah lamenting that he alone 'is left' as a faithful servant of God. This highlights a state of being the sole survivor or remnant.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Romans 11:3. Here, Paul quotes 1 Kings 19:10, 14 from the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), where Elijah complains to God, 'I alone am left' (ὑπολέλειμμαι). The context is Paul's discussion of God's faithful remnant in Israel. The usage is passive, emphasizing a state of being the one who remains or survives after others have been removed or have fallen away.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ὑπό (hypo, meaning 'under' or 'by') and the verb λείπω (leipō, meaning 'to leave' or 'to be lacking'). The compound suggests leaving something behind as a foundation or residue. It is related to other 'remainder' words like λοιπός (loipos, G3062), meaning 'the rest' or 'remaining.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant in its single biblical appearance. In Romans 11:3-5, Paul uses Elijah's claim to be the only one 'left' (ὑπολέλειμμαι) to introduce the doctrine of God's elect remnant—a theme central to understanding God's faithfulness in salvation history. It underscores that even when faithfulness seems scarce, God preserves a chosen people by grace. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading by connecting Paul's argument directly to the Old Testament narrative and the concept of a surviving remnant.

In the Greco-Roman world, the idea of being 'left behind' could carry connotations of inheritance, survival after disaster, or being a relic of the past. In the Jewish context of the quotation, it evokes the prophetic tradition of a faithful remnant, a crucial concept in Israel's history during times of apostasy and exile.

λείπω (leipō, G3007) — The simpler root verb meaning 'to leave' or 'to lack,' without the nuance of something remaining behind. | καταλείπω (kataleipō, G2641) — Often means 'to leave behind' in the sense of abandoning or forsaking, or to leave as an inheritance. | περιλείπομαι (perileipomai, G4035) — Means 'to remain' or 'be left over,' with a focus on being left around or surviving.

Word Details

Scripture References