Word Study for G2005 (ἐπιτελέω)

epiteléō /ep-ee-tel-eh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐπί and τελέω

Meaningto fulfill further (or completely), i.e. execute; by implication, to terminate, undergo

KJV usageaccomplish, do, finish, (make) (perfect), perform(X -ance).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of epiteléō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word epiteléō, represented by G2005, is defined as to fulfill further or completely, to execute, finish, or make perfect. Derived from ἐπί and τελέω, it appears 13 times across 10 unique verses. The word signifies carrying out an action to its intended conclusion, encompassing concepts of accomplishing, performing, and bringing a task or process to its complete end.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G2005 is used to describe the completion of a process. It refers to God's promise to perform the good work He began in believers until the day of Jesus Christ Philippians 1:6. It is also used as a command for believers, who are called to be perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Corinthians 7:1. On a practical level, the word can refer to finishing a specific task, such as when Paul intended to perform the delivery of an offering Romans 15:28, or when the priests were accomplishing their service in the tabernacle Hebrews 9:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of completing a work:

G1728 enárchomai (to commence on): This word for beginning stands in direct contrast to finishing. The two are used together to frame a complete process, as seen in the phrase "he which hath begun a good work... will perform it" Philippians 1:6.
G4160 poiéō (to make or do): This is a general term for action. In Hebrews 8:5, Moses is told to make (poiéō) all things according to a pattern as part of the instruction to make (epiteléō) the tabernacle, linking the general act of making with the specific fulfillment of the command.
G5048 teleióō (to complete... consummate (in character)): This word often points to the final state of perfection. In Luke 13:32, Jesus speaks of the works he will do (epiteléō) before he will "be perfected" (teleióō), showing a progression from performing actions to reaching a state of completion.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2005 is significant, particularly in the context of salvation and Christian living.

God's Sovereign Completion: The promise in Philippians 1:6 that God will perform His work in believers provides assurance that salvation is ultimately secured and brought to completion by God Himself.
The Process of Sanctification: The term frames sanctification as a process that must be brought to its proper end. Galatians 3:3 warns against beginning in the Spirit only to attempt to be made perfect by the flesh, while 2 Corinthians 7:1 encourages believers in the active work of perfecting holiness.
Faithful Execution of Service: From the priests accomplishing their duties in the tabernacle Hebrews 9:6 to the apostle Paul performing his mission Romans 15:28, the word underscores the importance of faithfully executing a divinely appointed task.

Summary

In summary, G2005 is more than just "to finish." It conveys the idea of bringing an action or process to its full and intended end. It applies to God's sovereign work, human responsibility in sanctification, and the dedicated completion of ministry. By linking the start of an endeavor to its ultimate fulfillment, epiteléō underscores the importance of seeing a process through, whether it is God's work in us or our work for Him.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 11 occurrences, inflected in 10 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 2×
Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Infinitive 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Active Subjunctive 3rd Singular 1×
Future Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Present Active Infinitive 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
Present Passive Infinitive 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Middle Or Passive: Can be read as middle or passive; context decides.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 10 verses across 7 of the 27 books. Most frequent in 2 Corinthians (3 verses); never once in the other 20.

Luke

Romans

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Philippians

Hebrews

1 Peter

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.