verb
husteramō
Strong’sG5302
I lack, fall short, suffer need
stem huster-16 times in the New Testamentin 9 of 27 books13 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
To lack, fall short, or be in need — said of a person who does not have enough of something, or who suffers want or deficiency. This covers being in need generally, such as suffering hunger or poverty 124, falling short of a standard such as the glory of God 1, failing to obtain something one seeks or needs 3, and coming short in reaching a goal, as in giving up before reaching it 1. It can be used absolutely, of a state of want or need 13, or with reference to a specific thing one is short of 13.
To be inferior to, or come short of, someone or something in comparison — used when one person or thing ranks below another, is judged worse, or fails to measure up 123. This includes a person's being inferior to others in standing or ability 13, and one part or member being reckoned less important than another 1.
Of things, to fail, run short, or be lacking — used when a supply gives out, as when wine ran out at a certain point, or when something is found to be missing or still needed 13. The basic underlying idea behind all these uses is of being behind or late, coming after another, in contrast to being ahead or arriving in time 13.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ὑστερέω, -ῶ
(< ὕστερος), [in LXX for חָסֵר, חָדַל etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G5302 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidhoos-ter-eh'-o
to be later, i.e. (by implication) to be inferior; generally, to fall short (be deficient)
Fromfrom G5306;
King Jamescome behind (short), be destitute, fail, lack, suffer need, (be in) want, be the worse.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
future -ήσωLXXaorist ὑστέρησα (frequently with variant{ὑστέρισα}) Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect ὑστέρηκα NT+1st c.BC+: pluperfect ὑστερήκειν Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, aorist ὑστερήθην NT+1st c.AD+: (ὕστερος):—to be behind or later, come late, opposed to προτερέω or φθάνω, ὑστέρησαν οἱ ἄγοντες Refs 5th c.BC+: simply, occur later, of thunder after lightning, Refs 4th c.BC+
II with genitive of things, come later than, come too late for, ὑστέρησαν (variant{ὑστέρισαν}) ἡμέρῃ μιῇ τῆς συγκειμένης came one day after the appointed day, Refs 5th c.BC+ came too late for the battle by five days, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐπειδὴ τῆς Μυτιλήνης ὑστερήκει had come too late to save M., Refs 5th c.BC+; ὑ. τῆς πατρίδος fail to assist it, Refs 5th c.BC+; τῶν λέμβων ὑ. miss them, Refs 4th c.BC+; ταύτης [τῆς ὥρας] Refs 1st c.BC+
II.2 with genitive person, come after him, ὑ. εἰς Ἁλίαρτον τοῦ Λυσάνδρου Refs 5th c.BC+: also with dative, come too late for him, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.3 ὑ. ἔς τι Refs 5th c.BC+
III metaphorically, lag behind, be inferior to, τῶν.. ἀποστόλων NT+5th c.BC+; μηδ᾽ ἐν ἄλλῳ μηδενὶ μέρει ἀρετῆς ὑ.LXX
III.2 fall below, fail to do justice to a theme, ὑστερήσας οὐδὲν τῆς τέχνης Refs 2nd c.AD+
IV fail to obtain, lack, τἀγαθοῦ Refs 4th c.BC+; ξύλων ἀκανθίνων οὐχ ὑστεροῦσι, ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ἔχουσιν ἱκανά Refs 3rd c.BC+ —middle (with aorist passive), ὑστερεῖσθαί τινος NT+1st c.BC+; ὑστερηθεὶς τῆς ὁράσεως having lost his sight, Refs 6th c.AD+; δάνιον δανιεῖς αὐτῷ ὅσον ἂν ἐπιδέηται καὶ καθ᾽ ὅσον ὑστερεῖται LXX; in future middle, παιδὸς ὑστερήσομαι (ἐστερήσομαι corr. Reiske) Refs 5th c.BC+
IV.2 absolutely, fail, come to grief, Refs 1st c.BC+; fall short of supplies, ἵνα μηθὲν ὑστερῇ τὰ ἐλαιούργια Refs 3rd c.BC+:—middle, to be in want, NT; perfect participle ὑστερημένοι those who have failed, Refs 1st c.BC+
V of things, fail, be wanting, NT+1st c.AD+; ἕν σε (variant σοι) ὑστερεῖ NT+3rd c.AD+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
1 rarer rendering are not shown; every occurrence below carries the English it was given there.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| husteramōὑστερῶ | happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular | lack | 1× |
| husteratōὑστερεῖ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | lack | 1× |
| husteronōὑστερούμεθα | happening now · wepresent middle or passive indicative 1st person plural | worse | 1× |
| husterolōὑστεροῦνται | happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | fall short | 1× |
| husteramaὑστέρησα | happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular | inferior | 1× |
| husteravaὑστερήσατε | happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural | lack | 1× |
| husterorōὑστερεῖσθαι | happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive | lacking | 3× |
| husterarēὑστερηκέναι | has happened · the “to …” formperfect active infinitive | inferior | 2× |
| husterarōntosὑστερῶν | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | falls short | 1× |
| husterarōnteὑστεροῦντι | happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative singular neuter | lacking (member) | 1× |
| husterorōntoisὑστερούμενοι | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine | destitute | 1× |
| husterarantouὑστερήσαντος | happened · of, belonging toaorist active participle genitive singular masculine | ran out | 1× |
| husterirantosὑστερηθεὶς | happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative singular masculine | in need | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 6 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | husteramō1×ὑστερῶ | husterame | husterami | husterama1×ὑστέρησα | husteramē | husteramelē |
| you 2nd person singular | husterasō | husterase | husterasi | husterasa | husterasē | husteraselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husteratō1×ὑστερεῖ | husterate | husterati | husterata | husteratē | husteratelē |
| we 1st person plural | husteranō | husterane | husterani | husterana | husteranē | husteranelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | husteravō | husterave | husteravi | husterava1×ὑστερήσατε | husteravē | husteravelē |
| they 3rd person plural | husteralō | husterale | husterali | husterala | husteralē | husteralelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | husteromō | husterome | husteromē | husteromelē |
| you 2nd person singular | husterosō | husterose | husterosē | husteroselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husterotō | husterote | husterotē | husterotelē |
| we 1st person plural | husteronō1×ὑστερούμεθα | husterone | husteronē | husteronelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | husterovō | husterove | husterovē | husterovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | husterolō1×ὑστεροῦνται | husterole | husterolē | husterolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | husterimi | husterima |
| you 2nd person singular | husterisi | husterisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husteriti | husterita |
| we 1st person plural | husterini | husterina |
| ye 2nd person plural | husterivi | husteriva |
| they 3rd person plural | husterili | husterila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | husterameiō | husterameia | husterameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | husteraseiō | husteraseia | husteraseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husterateiō | husterateia | husterateiē |
| we 1st person plural | husteraneiō | husteraneia | husteraneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | husteraveiō | husteraveia | husteraveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | husteraleiō | husteraleia | husteraleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | husteromeiō | husteromeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | husteroseiō | husteroseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husteroteiō | husteroteiē |
| we 1st person plural | husteroneiō | husteroneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | husteroveiō | husteroveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | husteroleiō | husteroleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | husterimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | husteriseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husteriteia |
| we 1st person plural | husterineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | husteriveia |
| they 3rd person plural | husterileia |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | husterasōr | husterasar | husterasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husteratōr | husteratar | husteratēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | husteravōr | husteravar | husteravēr |
| they 3rd person plural | husteralōr | husteralar | husteralēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | husterosōr | husterosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husterotōr | husterotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | husterovōr | husterovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | husterolōr | husterolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | husterisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husteritar |
| ye 2nd person plural | husterivar |
| they 3rd person plural | husterilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | husteramoiō | husteramoia |
| you 2nd person singular | husterasoiō | husterasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husteratoiō | husteratoia |
| we 1st person plural | husteranoiō | husteranoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | husteravoiō | husteravoia |
| they 3rd person plural | husteraloiō | husteraloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | husteromoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | husterosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husterotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | husteronoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | husterovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | husteroloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | husterimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | husterisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | husteritoia |
| we 1st person plural | husterinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | husterivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | husteriloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 5 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | husterarō | husterari | husterara | husterarē2×ὑστερηκέναι |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | husterorō3×ὑστερεῖσθαι | husterorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | husteriri | husterira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 5 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | husterarōntos2×ὑστερῶν | husterarintos | husterarantos1× | husterarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | husterorōntos1× | husterorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | husteririntos | husterirantos1×ὑστερηθεὶς |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
huster is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Words built on the same stem
Other words sharing the exact same stem — not merely related in meaning.
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
16 occurrences, every one of them listed
husteramō“lack”happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular1×
Matthew 19:20… neaniskos; Panteim houteim fulassama; tinem ēti husteramō?… young man. “What do I still lack?”
husteratō“lack”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Mark 10:21… auton kai legata auto; Henem sin husteratō; hupagasōr hoseim echasō pōlasar kai dōasar …… him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and …
husteronō“worse”happening now · wepresent middle or passive indicative 1st person plural1×
1 Corinthians 8:8… esthianeia, perisseuanō, oute ean mē esthianeia, husteronō.… closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and …
husterolō“fall short”happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Romans 3:23pantois gar hamartala kai husterolō tau doxau tou theou,for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
husterama“inferior”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular1×
2 Corinthians 12:11… ofeilame hupo vu sustēorō. oudenem gar husterama toiu huperlian apostoloiu, ei kai oudenem …… since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I …
husterava“lack”happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural1×
Luke 22:35… kai pērau kai hupodēmeiu, mē tineu husterava? tois de legala; Oudeneu.… or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.
husterorō“lacking”happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive3×
Luke 15:14… tan chōran ekeinan, kai autos archeta husterorō.… that country, and he began to be in need.
1 Corinthians 1:7“lacking”hōste vin mē husterorō en mēdene charisme, apekdechorōntoin tan apokalupsian …Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our …
Philippians 4:12“being in need”… chortazorō kai peinarō, kai perisseuarō kai husterorō;… being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need.
husterarē“inferior”has happened · the “to …” formperfect active infinitive2×
2 Corinthians 11:5logizomō gar mēdenem husterarē toiu huperlian apostoloiu;I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
Hebrews 4:1… katapausian autou dokateiō tinos ek vu husterarē;… of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.
husterarōntos“falls short”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Hebrews 12:15episkoparōntois mē tinos husterarōntos apo tau charitau tou theou, mē …See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and …
husterarōnte“lacking (member)”happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative singular neuter1×
1 Corinthians 12:24“lacking (member)”… tos theos sunkerannuata tem sōmem, te husterarōnte perissoteran dōarantos timan,… need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that …
husterorōntois“destitute”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine1×
Hebrews 11:37… perierchala en mēlōtai, en aigeiei dermei, husterorōntois, thliborōntois, kakouchorōntois,… went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.
husterarantou“ran out”happened · of, belonging toaorist active participle genitive singular masculine1×
John 2:3kai husterarantou oinou legatō tas mētēras tou Iēsu …When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They …
husterirantos“in need”happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative singular masculine1×
2 Corinthians 11:9kai pareiarōntos pros vin kai husterirantos ouk katanarkama oudenou; tem gar husterēmem …… when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to …