Strong’s Greek 3838 conveys a sense of absolute completeness—nothing lacking, nothing partial, nothing left to be added. When used adverbially it intensifies the action; when used substantively it denotes that which reaches its goal without deficiency.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Luke 13:11 – A woman “could not straighten up fully.” The term underscores her total incapacity before Christ intervened.
2. Hebrews 7:25 – Christ “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him.” Here it stresses the totality and perpetuity of His saving work.

Deliverance From Infirmity (Luke 13:11)

Luke presents a woman bound by a disabling spirit for eighteen years: “She was bent over and could not straighten up fully”. By recording that she was unable “in any way” to stand erect, Luke paints a portrait of comprehensive bondage. The healing that follows therefore showcases the Messiah’s authority to reverse a condition that was otherwise completely hopeless. The term magnifies the miracle by highlighting the extremity of the need and the sufficiency of Christ’s word of command (Luke 13:12-13).

Salvation to the Uttermost (Hebrews 7:25)

Hebrews ties the completeness of salvation to the permanence of Jesus’ priesthood: “Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them”. The completeness is both qualitative (nothing is lacking in the salvation provided) and temporal (it endures perpetually). The verse links Christ’s eternal life, continuous intercession, and full efficacy, assuring believers that no aspect of redemption remains unfinished or uncertain.

Christological Significance

The two occurrences together showcase the comprehensive reach of Christ’s ministry—physically in Luke, soteriologically in Hebrews. In both cases, human inability meets divine sufficiency. The same Lord who straightens a spine that was “in no way” able to stand erect now secures a redemption that is “in no way” deficient or revocable. The word thus serves as a bridge between miracle and atonement, between temporal relief and eternal salvation.

Pastoral and Practical Implications

• Assurance: Hebrews 7:25 grounds the believer’s confidence in Christ’s ongoing intercession, not in the believer’s fluctuating performance.
• Perseverance: Because the salvation is “to the uttermost,” perseverance flows from Christ’s priestly ministry rather than from mere human resolve.
• Healing and Compassion: Luke 13 encourages compassionate ministry to those in chronic affliction, reminding the church that no bondage is beyond the reach of Christ’s complete deliverance.
• Worship: The all-sufficiency captured in this term fuels adoration. Hymns and prayers that celebrate “perfect redemption” and “finished salvation” echo the scriptural emphasis.

Historical Reception

Early Christian writers such as Athanasius and Chrysostom cited Hebrews 7:25 to underscore the permanent efficacy of Christ’s priesthood in refuting views that made salvation contingent on repeated sacrifices or human merit. Reformation theologians appealed to the same verse when arguing for the perfection of Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice over against recurring sacerdotal systems.

Doctrinal Harmony

Scripture consistently presents salvation as:

• God-initiated: John 6:37.
• Christ-accomplished: Hebrews 10:14.
• Spirit-applied: Titus 3:5-6.

The term in Hebrews 7:25 integrates these strands, affirming that what God designs, Christ secures, and the Spirit seals is complete in every respect.

Homiletical Focus

Sermons drawing on Strong’s 3838 can juxtapose the woman’s straightened back with the believer’s straightened standing before God. Both narratives exalt the Savior who leaves no need unmet and no sin unforgiven.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 3838 functions as a concise biblical witness to the totality of Christ’s restorative power—healing bodies without remainder and saving souls without limitation. It invites believers to rest in a redemption that is full, final, and forever.