STRONGS NT 5240a: ὑπερεκπερισσῶςὑπερεκπερισσῶς, adverb, beyond measure: 1 Thessalonians 5:13 L T Tr WH marginal reading (R. V. exceeding highly); see ἐκπερισσῶς. (Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 20, 11 [ET].)

STRONGS NT 5240: ὑπερεκχύνωὑπερεκχύνω (ὑπερεκύννω, L T Tr WH; see ἐκχέω, at the beginning); to pour out beyond measure; passive, to overflow, run over, (Vulg.supereffluo): Luke 6:38 Joel 2:24 (Alex., etc.). (Not found elsewhere.)

Strong’s Greek 5240 captures a vivid picture of liquid spilling past the rim of its vessel—an image Scripture employs to portray the boundless generosity of God and the corresponding largeness of heart that is to characterize His people.

Root Concept of Overflowing Generosity

Where ordinary pouring stops when the container is full, 5240 invites us to visualize surplus abundance that cannot be contained. It depicts divine provision that exceeds expectation, affirming that when the Lord gives, He does so lavishly. The verb thereby highlights both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of grace: more than enough, and of a kind that is richly satisfying.

New Testament Context (Luke 6:38)

Luke 6:38 employs the participial form to crown Jesus’ teaching on radical kingdom generosity: “Give, and it will be given to you… running over, will be poured into your lap”. The overflowing measure functions as both promise and paradigm. Christ assures disciples that generosity toward others cannot impoverish them; instead, it sets in motion a divine reciprocity in which God Himself becomes the Giver, pressing down and shaking together the measure until it spills over. The term therefore underscores the inseparability of giving and receiving in the economy of the kingdom.

Connection to Old Testament Imagery

While 5240 appears only once in the Greek New Testament, its imagery resonates with earlier revelation. Psalm 23:5 rejoices, “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows”. Malachi 3:10 promises tithers that the windows of heaven will open so that “there will not be room enough to receive” the blessing. Proverbs 3:9–10 links honoring the Lord with one’s wealth to barns filling “with plenty” and vats “overflowing with new wine.” The Septuagint often uses cognate verbs to translate these scenes, setting the conceptual backdrop for Jesus’ words.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Superabundance: The God of Scripture delights to bless “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). 5240 crystallizes that theme in a single, evocative picture.
2. Measure-for-Measure Principle: Luke 6:38 ends with a sober reminder—“For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” The overflowing return is not random prosperity; it is God’s righteous assessment of the believer’s own generosity.
3. Grace Overflowing in Christ: John 1:16 celebrates that “from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.” In Christ, the imagery reaches its zenith; He is the vessel whose contents cannot be contained, the fountain that never runs dry.

Applications for Ministry

• Stewardship Teaching: Using Luke 6:38, pastors may encourage believers to adopt a lifestyle of open-handed giving, trusting God’s promise of overflow.
• Counseling: The word offers hope to those fearing scarcity—God’s supply is not barely enough but amply overflowing.
• Worship: Liturgies and songs can echo the theme of abundance, leading congregations to praise the God “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).

Historical Interpretation

Early Christian writers seized upon the image to combat ascetic extremes that equated holiness with self-imposed lack. Chrysostom, for instance, appeals to Luke 6:38 to argue that almsgiving invites divine bounty. The Reformers likewise invoked the verse to affirm God’s faithfulness to generous givers, while cautioning against treating it as a mechanistic formula for wealth.

Typology and Eschatology

The overflowing measure anticipates the marriage supper of the Lamb, where the redeemed will experience unending fullness (Revelation 19:6-9). It also prefigures the outpoured Spirit at Pentecost, when “they were all filled” (Acts 2:4), illustrating that God’s greatest gifts come in superabundant measure.

Conclusion

Strong’s Greek 5240 distills a central biblical conviction: the God who calls His people to give is Himself the God who over-gives. It summons believers to mirror that divine overflow in everyday acts of generosity, assured that the measure they extend will return—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—into their own laps.