The Greek word telestai, from the word telos, means “to end, i.e. complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt) — accomplish, make an end, expire, fill up, finish, go over, pay, perform.” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
Telestai in John 19:28 in English Bible Translations
| Translation | John 19:28 |
|---|---|
| NIV | Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” |
| NLT | Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” |
| ESV | After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” |
| KJV | After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. |
| NASB | After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” |
| HCSB | After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty!” |
Also see the meaning of I am the resurrection and the life
Tetelestai: “It Is Finished” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
- to bring to a close, to finish, to end
- to perform, execute, complete, fulfill
- to pay
Paid in full?
Bible.org offers this explanation, though some have called into question the accuracy of the resource:
“The word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating [sic] that a bill had been paid in full. The Greek-English lexicon by Moulton and Milligan says this: ‘Receipts are often introduced by the phrase [sic] tetelestai, usually written in an abbreviated manner…’ (p. 630). The connection between receipts and what Christ accomplished would have been quite clear to John’s Greek-speaking readership; it would be unmistakable that Jesus Christ had died to pay for their sins.”
Also see the meaning of I am the light of the world
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