ekteleo denotes bringing a building project through to completion after it has been begun.

The attested use concerns completing a building project already begun: the same infinitive describes a builder’s inability to carry the work through after laying a foundation.

1. Complete a begun building project · dominant

   In Luke 14:29 and Luke 14:30, the aorist active infinitive occurs in the warning about a person who begins building after laying a foundation but is unable to bring the construction to its completion. The APB renders the relevant outcome as being unable to “finish” in both verses.

   Luke 14:29Luke 14:30

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across Luke 14:29 and Luke 14:30, the APB presents the failed outcome with “finish.” This reflects the building clause as a whole rather than establishing a finer distinction.