Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
γεμω
The verb γεμω (gemo) means to be full (of a ship), or fully laden (of a beast of burden). It's of unclear pedigree although it also occurs in Latin, with the meaning of to groan, bemoan or creak (of things). That would suggest that our verb does not so much speak of merely being full (the opposite of being empty) but rather of being heavily burdened, or rather burdened to capacity and nearing the limits of what one can bear or take (Matthew 11:28 comes to mind). In the Greek classics this verb only appears in the present and imperfect tenses. In the New Testament it occurs 11 times, see full concordance, and from it derive:
- The verb γεμιζω (gemizo), meaning to load or burden to capacity. In Mark 4:37 this verb is used to describe how waves smashed into a boat to the point where the boat was stressed to capacity and nearly broke (and not was "nearly filled up" as most translations curiously have). This verb is used 9 times; see full concordance.
- The noun γομος (gomos), which describes the load of a ship or beast, cargo, which is obviously always the maximum of what either the ship or the animal can possibly take. This noun is used in Acts 21:3, Revelation 18:11 and 18:12 only.