Hebrew · Strong's H4393
מְלֹא
(mə-LŌ)
noun, masculine
This noun refers to the state of being full or a whole amount, often used to denote abundance or completion.
מְלֹא (mělō') typically denotes 'fullness' or 'that which fills'. It can refer to a literal filling, such as a hand full of grain or a container filled with a substance. Beyond this, it extends to a more abstract sense where it describes a complete quantity or the totality of something. For instance, it can speak of the 'fullness of the earth' or 'fullness of the sea', encompassing all that is contained within them, implying all its creatures and resources.
The theological weight of מְלֹא often gravitates around divine provision and sovereignty. When used in conjunction with "the earth and its fullness," it underscores God's ownership and abundant creation. It emphasizes that creation, in its entirety, belongs to the Lord. In sacrificial contexts, it can denote a complete or appropriate measure for an offering, highlighting adherence to divine instruction.
Key biblical usage demonstrates this range. It appears in contexts describing the contents of the earth and sea (Psalm 24:1), as well as the completeness of offerings (Leviticus 5:12). It can also describe a spatial fullness, such as a lap full of gourds, or temporal fullness, referring to a full measure of time. The term, therefore, points to both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of 'fullness' within its various biblical contexts, often implying a state of completion or plenteousness as designed or provided by God.
Common English renderings
- fullness
- all that is therein
- fill
- handful
Key verses
"Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; Let the field exult, and all that is therein;"
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"And for the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof, And the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, And upon the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren."
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"Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind."
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"and say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with fearfulness, and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and despoiled of all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein."
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"And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Jehovah, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil:"
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