Strong's Lexicon
meta: with, after, among
Original Word:μετά
Part of Speech:Preposition
Transliteration:meta
Pronunciation:meh-tah'
Phonetic Spelling:(met-ah')
Definition:with, after, among
Meaning:(a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.
Word Origin:A primary preposition in Greek
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: -H5973 (עִם, 'im): Often translated as "with," similar in usage to "meta" in expressing companionship or association.
-H310 (אַחַר, achar): Translated as "after," indicating sequence or following, akin to the temporal use of "meta."
Usage:The Greek preposition "meta" is versatile, primarily denoting accompaniment or association. It can indicate a spatial relationship ("with"), a temporal sequence ("after"), or a figurative connection ("among"). In the New Testament, "meta" is often used to describe the presence or companionship of individuals, the sequence of events, or the inclusion within a group.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the Greco-Roman world, prepositions like "meta" were crucial for expressing relationships and connections, both physical and abstract. The use of "meta" in the New Testament reflects the importance of community and fellowship in early Christian teachings, as well as the chronological unfolding of events in the narrative of Jesus' life and the early church.
HELPS Word-studies
3326metá (a preposition) – properly,with ("after with"), implying "change afterward" (i.e. what results after the activity). As anactive "with,"3326 (metá) looks towards theafter-effect (change, result) which is only defined by the context.
[3326 (metá) before a vowel is writtenmet (meth).]
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. preposition
Definitionwith, among, after
NASB Translationaccompanied (1), accompanied* (2), accompany* (1), after (82), afterward* (3), against (4), amid (1), among (5), away (1), before* (1), behind (1), companions* (5), end (1), follow* (1), gratefully* (1), hereafter* (1), later (12), now* (1), together (2), together* (1), toward (3), without* (2).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3326: μετάμετά (on its neglect of elision before proper names beginning with a vowel, and before sundry other words (at least in
Tdf.s text) see
Tdf. Proleg., p. 95; cf.
WH. Introduction, p. 146b;
Winers Grammar, § 5, 1 a.;
Buttmann, p. 10), a preposition, akin to
μέσος (as German
mit to Mitte, mitten) and hence, properly,
in the midst of, amid, denoting association, union, accompaniment; (but some recent etymologists doubt its kinship to
μέσος; some connect it rather with
ἅμα, German
sammt, cf.
Curtius, § 212;
Vanicek, p. 972). It takes the genitive and accusative (in the Greek poets also the dative). (On the distinction between
μετά and
σύν, see
σύν, at the beginning)
I. with the genitive; (theSept. forאֵת,עִם,אַחַר, etc.),among, with (cf.Winer's Grammar, 376f (352f));
1.amid, among;
a. properly:μετάτῶννεκρῶν, among the dead,Luke 24:5 (μετάνεκρῶνκείσομαι,Euripides, Hec. 209;θάψετεμεμετάτῶνπατέρωνμου,Genesis 49:29, theSept.;μετάζώντωνεἶναι, to be among the living,Sophocles Phil. 1312);λογίζεσθαιμετάἀνόμων, to be reckoned, numbered, among transgressor's,Mark 15:28 (GTWH omit;Tr brackets the verse) andLuke 22:37, fromIsaiah 53:12 (where theSept.ἐνἀνόμοις);μετάτῶνθηρίωνεἶναι,Mark 1:13;γογγύζεινμετ'ἀλλήλων,John 6:43;σκηνήτοῦΘεοῦμετάτῶνἀνθρώπων,Revelation 21:3; add,Matthew 24:51;Matthew 26:58;Mark 14:54;Luke 12:46;John 18:5, 1S;Acts 1:26, etc.
b. tropically:μετάδιωγμῶν, amid persecutions,Mark 10:30 (μετάκινδύνων, amid perils,Thucydides 1, 18);ἡἀγάπημεθ'ἡμῶν, love among us, mutual love,1 John 4:17 (others understandμεθ'ἡμῶν here of the sphere or abode, and connect it with the verb; cf. DeWette, or Huther, or Westcott, in the place cited). Hence, used,
2. of association and companionship,with (Latincum; Germanmit, often alsobei);
a. after verbs of going, coming, departing, remaining, etc., with the genitive of the associate or companion:Matthew 20:20;Matthew 26:36;Mark 1:29;Mark 3:7;Mark 11:11;Mark 14:1;Luke 6:17;Luke 14:31;John 3:22;John 11:54;Galatians 2:1; Jesus the Messiah it is said will come hereafterμετάτῶνἀγγέλων,Matthew 16:27;Mark 8:38;1 Thessalonians 3:13;2 Timothy 1:7; on the other band, with the genitive of the person to whom one joins himself as a companion:Matthew 5:41;Mark 5:24.;Luke 2:51;Revelation 22:12;ἄγγελοιμετ'αὐτοῦ,Matthew 25:31;μετάτίνος, contextually equivalent towith one as leader,Matthew 25:10;Matthew 26:47;Mark 14:43;Acts 7:45.περιπατεῖνμετάτίνος, to associate with one as his follower and adherent,John 6:66;γίνομαιμετάτίνος, to come into fellowship and contact with, become associated with, one:Mark 16:10;Acts 7:38;Acts 9:19;Acts 20:18.παραλαμβάνειντιναμεθ'ἑαυτοῦ, to take with or to oneself as an attendant or companion:Matthew 12:45;Matthew 18:16;Mark 14:33;ἄγειν,2 Timothy 4:11;ἔχεινμεθ'ἑαυτοῦ, to have with oneself:τινα,Matthew 15:30;Matthew 26:11;Mark 2:19;Mark 14:7;John 12:8;τί,Mark 8:14;λαμβάνειν,Matthew 25:3;ἀκολουθεῖνμετάτίνος, seeἀκολουθέω, 1 and 2 (cf.Winers Grammar, 233f (219)).
b.εἶναιμετάτίνος is used in various senses,α. properly, of those who associate with one and accompany him wherever he goes: in which sense the disciples of Jesus are saidto be (or to have been)with him,Mark 3:14;Matthew 26:69, 71;Luke 22:59, cf.Mark 5:18; withἀπ'ἀρχῆς added,John 15:27; of those who at a particular time associate with one or accompany him anywhere,Matthew 5:25;John 3:26;John 9:40;John 12:17;John 20:24, 26;2 Timothy 4:11; sometimes the participleὤν,ὄντα, etc., must be added mentally:Matthew 26:51;Mark 9:8;John 18:26;οἱ (ὄντες)μετάτίνος, his attendants or companions,Matthew 12:4;Mark 2:25;Luke 6:3;Acts 20:34; namely,ὄντες,Titus 3:15. Jesus says that he is or has been with his disciples,John 13:33;John 14:9; and that, to advise and help them,John 16:4;Matthew 17:17 (Mark 9:19 andLuke 9:41πρόςὑμᾶς), even as one whom they could be said to have with them,Matthew 9:15;Luke 5:34; just as he in turn desires that his disciples may hereafter be with himself,John 17:24. ships also are saidto be with one who is travelling by vessel, i. e. to attend him,Mark 4:36.β. tropically, the phrase (to be with, see b.) is used of God, if he is present to guide and help one:John 3:2;John 8:29;John 16:32;Acts 7:9;Acts 10:38;2 Corinthians 13:11;Philippians 4:9; withεἶναι omitted,Matthew 1:23;Luke 1:28;Romans 15:33; here belongsὅσαἐποίησενὁΘεόςμετ'αὐτῶν namely,ὤν, by being present with them by his divine assistance (cf.Winers Grammar, 376 (353);Green, p. 218),Acts 14:27;Acts 15:4 (cf.
b. below); and conversely,πληρώσειςμεεὐφροσύνηςμετάτοῦπροσώπουσου namely,ὄντα, i. e. being in thy presence (yet cf.Winer's Grammar, 376 (352) note),Acts 2:28 fromPsalm 15:11 ();ἡχείρκυρίου is used as a substitute for God himself (by a Hebraism (seeχείρ, under the end)) inLuke 1:66;Acts 11:21; of Christ, who is to be present with his followers by his divine power and aid:Matthew 28:20;Acts 18:10 (μένεινμετά is used of the Holy Spirit as a perpetual helper,John 14:16RG); at the close of the Epistles, the writers pray that there may be with the readers (i. e., always present to help them) —ὁΘεός,2 Corinthians 13:11; —ὁκύριος,2 Thessalonians 3:16;2 Timothy 4:22; —ἡχάριςτοῦκυρίουἸησοῦΧριστοῦ (whereἔστω must be supplied (cf.Winers Grammar, § 64, 2 b.;Buttmann, § 129, 22)),Romans 16:20, 24 (BG);1 Corinthians 16:23;2 Corinthians 13:13 (14);Galatians 6:18;Philippians 4:23;1 Thessalonians 5:28;2 Thessalonians 3:18;Philemon 1:25;Revelation 22:21; —ἡχάρις simply,Ephesians 6:24;Colossians 4:18;1 Timothy 6:21(22);Titus 3:15;Hebrews 13:25;2 John 1:3; —ἡἀγάπημου,1 Corinthians 16:24; the same phrase is used also of truth, compared to a guide,2 John 1:2.γ. opposed toεἶναικατάτίνος,to be with one i. e.on one's side:Matthew 12:30;Luke 11:23, (and often in classical Greek); similarlyμένεινμετάτίνος, to side with one steadfastly,1 John 2:19.c. with the genitive of the person who is another's associate either in acting or in his experiences; so after verbs of eating, drinking, supping, etc.:Matthew 8:11;Matthew 9:11;Matthew 24:49;Matthew 26:18, 23, 29;Mark 14:18, 20;Luke 5:30;Luke 7:36;Luke 22:11, 15;Luke 24:30;John 13:18;Galatians 2:12;Revelation 3:20, etc.;γρηγορεῖν,Matthew 26:38, 40;χαίρειν,κλαίειν,Romans 12:15;εὐφραίνεσθαι,Romans 15:10;παροικεῖν,Hebrews 11:9;δουλεύειν,Galatians 4:25;βασιλεύειν,Revelation 20:4, 6;ζῆν,Luke 2:36;ἀποθνῄσκειν,John 11:16;βάλλεσθαιεἰςτήνγῆν,Revelation 12:9;κληρονομεῖν,Galatians 4:30;συνάγειν,Matthew 12:30;Luke 11:23, and other examples d. with a genitive of the person with whom one (of two) does anything mutually or by turns: so afterσυναίρεινλόγον, to make a reckoning, settle accounts,Matthew 18:23;Matthew 25:19;συνάγεσθαι,Matthew 28:12;John 18:2;συμβούλιονποιεῖν,Mark 3:6;λαλεῖν (seeλαλέω, 5);συλλαλεῖν,Matthew 17:3;Acts 25:12;μοιχεύειν,Revelation 2:22;μολύνεσθαι,Revelation 14:4;πορνεύειν,Revelation 17:2;Revelation 18:3, 9;μερίζομαι,Luke 12:13; after verbs of disputing, waging war, contending at law:πολεμεῖν,Revelation 2:16;Revelation 12:7 (whereRec.κατά); (so forפעִםגִּלְחַם,1 Samuel 17:33;1 Kings 12:24, a usage foreign to the native Greeks, who sayπολεμεῖντίνι, alsoπρόςτινα,ἐπίτινα,to wage war against one; butπολεμεῖνμετάτίνος,to wage ware with one as an ally, in conjunction with,Thucydides 1, 18;Xenophon, Hell. 7,1,27; (cf.Buttmann, § 133, 8;Winer's Grammar, § 28, 1; 214 (201); 406 (379) note));πόλεμονποιεῖν,Revelation 11:7;Revelation 12:17;Revelation 13:7;Revelation 19:19 (so in Latinbellare cum etc.Cicero, Verr. 2, 4, 33;bellum gerere,Cicero, de divinat. 1, 46);ζήτησιςἐγένετο,John 3:25;ζητεῖν,John 16:19;κρίνεσθαι,κρίματαἔχειν,1 Corinthians 6:6f; after verbs and phrases which indicate mutual inclinations and pursuits, the entering into agreement or relations with, etc.; asεἰρηνεύειν,εἰρήνηνδιώκειν,Romans 12:18;2 Timothy 2:22;Hebrews 12:14;φίλος,;συμφώνειν,Matthew 20:2;μερίςμετάτίνος,2 Corinthians 6:15;ἔχεινμέρος,John 13:8;συγκατάθεσις,2 Corinthians 6:16;κοινωνίανἔχεινv,1 John 1:3, 6f;αἰτία (see the word, 3),Matthew 19:10.e. of divers other associations of persons or things; — where the action or condition expressed by the verb refers to persons or things besides those specified by the dative or accusative (somewhat rare in Greek authors, asἰσχύντέκαίκάλλοςμετάὑγιείαςλαμβάνειν,Plato, rep. 9, p. 591 b. (cf.Winer's Grammar, § 47, h.)):εἶδον (Rec.εὗρον)τόπαιδίονμετάΜαρίας,Matthew 2:11;ἀνταποδοῦναι ...ὑμῖν ...μεθ'ἡμῶν,2 Thessalonians 1:6f; afterἐκδέχεσθαι,1 Corinthians 16:11; after verbs of sending,Matthew 22:16;2 Corinthians 8:18.ἀγάπημετάπίστεως,Ephesians 6:23;ἐνπίστει ...μετάσωφροσύνης,1 Timothy 2:15;ἡεὐσέβειαμετάαὐταρκείας,1 Timothy 6:6; in this way the term which follows is associated as secondary with its predecessor as primary; but whenκαί stands between them they are coordinated.Colossians 1:11;1 Timothy 1:14. of mingling one thing with another,μίγνυμιτίμετάτίνος (in classical authorsτίτίνι (cf.Buttmann, § 133, 8)):Luke 13:1; passiveMatthew 27:34.
f. with the genitive of mental feelings desires and emotions, of bodily movements, and of other acts which are so to speak the attendants of what is done or occurs; so that in this way the characteristic of the action or occurrence is described — which in most cases can be expressed by a cognate adverb or participle (cf.Winer's Grammar, as above):μετάαἰδοῦς,1 Timothy 2:9;Hebrews 12:28 (Rec.);αἰσχύνης,Luke 14:9;ἡσυχίας,2 Thessalonians 3:12;χαρᾶς,Matthew 13:20;Mark 4:16;Luke 8:13;Luke 10:17;Luke 24:52;Philippians 2:29;1 Thessalonians 1:6;Hebrews 10:34;προθυμίας,Acts 17:11;φοβοῦκαίτρόμου,2 Corinthians 7:15;Ephesians 6:5;Philippians 2:12;φοβοῦκαίχαρᾶς,Matthew 28:8πραΰτητοςκαίφοβοῦ,1 Peter 3:16 (15);παρρησίας,Acts 2:29;Acts 4:29, 31;Acts 28:31;Hebrews 4:16;εὐχαριστίας,Acts 24:3;Philippians 4:6;1 Timothy 4:3f;ἀληθινῆςκαρδίας,Hebrews 10:22;ταπεινοφροσύνηςκτλ.,Ephesians 4:2:Acts 20:19;ὀργῆς,Mark 3:5;εὐνοίας,Ephesians 6:7;βίας,Acts 5:26;Acts 24:7Rec.;μετάδιακρυων, with tears,Mark 9:24 (RGWH (rejected) marginal reading);Hebrews 5:7;Hebrews 12:17 (Plato, Apology, p. 34 c.);εἰρήνης,Acts 15:33;Hebrews 11:31;ἐπιθέσεωςτῶνχειρῶν,1 Timothy 4:14 (Winer's Grammar, as above);φωνῆςμεγάλης,Luke 17:15;νηστειῶν,Acts 14:23;ὅρκου orὁρκωμοσίας,Matthew 14:7;Matthew 26:72;Hebrews 7:21;θορύβου,Acts 24:18;παρακλήσεως,2 Corinthians 8:4;παρατηρήσεως,Luke 17:20;σπουδῆς,Mark 6:25;Luke 1:39;ὕβρεωςκαίζημίας,Acts 27:10;φαντασίας,;ἀφροῦ,Luke 9:39; to this head may be referredμετάκουστωδίας, posting the guard,Matthew 27:66 (soWiners Grammar (at the passage cited), et al. (cf. Meyer at the passage); others 'in company with the guard'; cf. James Morison at the passage;Green, p. 218).g. after verbs of coining, departing, sending, with the genitive of the thing with which one is furnished or equipped:μετάδόξηςκαίδυνάμεως,Matthew 24:30;Mark 13:26;Luke 21:27;ἐξουσίαςκαίἐπιτροπῆς,Acts 26:12;μαχαιρῶνκαίξύλων,Matthew 26:47, 55;Mark 14:43, 48;Luke 22:52;φανῶνκαίὅπλων,John 18:3;μετάσάλπιγγος,Matthew 24:31 (cf.Buttmann, § 132, 10); where an instrumental dative might have been used (cf.Winer's Grammar, § 31, 8 d.),μετάβραχίονοςὑψηλοῦἐξάγειντινα,Acts 13:17. h. in imitation of the Hebrew:ἔλεοςποιεῖνμετάτίνος, to show mercy toward one, andμεγαλύνεινἐλ.μετάτ'., to magnify, show great, mercy toward one; seeτόἔλεος, 1. To this head many referὅσαἐποίησενὁΘεόςμετ'αὐτῶν,Acts 14:27;Acts 15:4, but see above, 2 b.β.
II. with the accusative (Winer's Grammar, § 49, f.);
1. properly,into the middle of, into the midst of, among, after verbs of coming, bringing, moving; so especially inHomer
2. it denotes (following accompaniment),sequence, i. e.the order in which one tiring follows another;
a. in order of place;after, behind, (so fromHomer down); once in the N. T. (Winer's Grammar, as above):Hebrews 9:3 (Judith 2:4).
b. in order of Time;after (theSept. forאַחַר,אַחֲרֵי,מִקֵּץ, etc.):μεθ'ἡμέραςἕξ, after six days (had passed)Matthew 17:1;Mark 9:2; add,Matthew 26:2;Mark 14:1;Luke 1:24;Luke 2:46, etc., cf. Fritzsche, Commentary on Matthew, p. 22f;μετ'οὐπολλάςἡμέρας,Luke 15:13;μετά ...τιναςἡμέρας,Acts 15:36;Acts 24:24;οὐμετάπολλάςταύταςἡμέρας, not long after these days (A. V.not many days hence),Acts 1:5, cf. DeWette at the passage andWiners Grammar, 161 (152); (Buttmann, § 127, 4);μετάτρεῖςμῆνας,Acts 28:11;μετάἔτητρία,Galatians 1:18, etc.;μετάχρόνονπολύν,Matthew 25:19;μετάτοσοῦτονχρόνον,Hebrews 4:7. added to the names of events or achievements, and of festivals:μετάτήνμετοικεσίανΒαβυλῶνος,Matthew 1:12;μετάτήνθλῖψιν,Matthew 24:29;Mark 13:24; add,Matthew 27:53;Acts 10:37;Acts 20:29;2 Peter 1:15;μετάτήνἀνάγνωσιν,Acts 13:15;μετάμίανκαίδευτέραννουθεσίαν,Titus 3:10;μετάτόπάσχα,Acts 12:4 cf.Acts 20:6; with the names of persons or things having the notion of time associated with them:μετάτοῦτον,αὐτόν, etc.,Acts 5:37;Acts 7:5;Acts 13:25;Acts 19:4;μετάτόννόμον,Hebrews 7:28;μετάτόψωμίον, after the morsel was taken,John 13:27 (cf.Buttmann, § 147, 26); followed by the neuter demonstrative pronoun (cf.Winer's Grammar, 540 (503)):μετάτοῦτο.John 2:12;John 11:7, 11;John 19:28;Hebrews 9:27; (Revelation 7:1LTTrWH);μετάταῦτα (cf.Winer's Grammar, 162 (153)),Mark 16:12;Luke 5:27;Luke 10:1;Luke 12:4 (Winer's Grammar, as above);;Acts 7:7;Acts 13:20;Acts 15:16;Acts 18:1;John 3:22;John 5:1, 14;John 6:1;John 7:1;John 13:7;John 19:38;John 21:1;Hebrews 4:8;1 Peter 1:11;Revelation 1:19;Revelation 4:1;Revelation 7:1 (Rec.),;, and very often in Greek writings it stands before the neuter of adjectives of quantity, measure, and time:μετ'οὐπολύ, not long after (R. V.after no long time),Acts 27:14;μετάμικρόν, shortly after (A. V.after a little while),Matthew 26:73;Mark 14:70;μετάβραχύ,Luke 22:58; also before infinitives with the neuter article (Latinpostquam with a finite verb (cf.Buttmann, § 140, 11;Winer's Grammar, § 44, 6)); — the aorist infinitive:Matthew 26:32;Mark 1:14;Mark 14:28;Mark 16:19;Luke 12:5;Luke 22:20 (WH reject the passage);Acts 1:3;Acts 7:4;Acts 10:41;Acts 15:13;Acts 20:1;1 Corinthians 11:25;Hebrews 10:26.III. In Composition,μετά denotes
1. association, fellowship, participation,with: as inμεταδιδόναι,μεταλαμβάνειν,μετέχειν,μετοχή.
2. exchange, transfer, transmutation; (Latintrans, Germanum):μεταλλάσσω,μεταμέλομαι (Prof. Grimm probably means hereμετανοέω; see 3 and inμεταμέλομαι),μετοικίζω,μεταμορφόω, etc.
3.after:μεταμέλομαι. Cf. Viger. edition Herm., p. 639.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
afterward, among, hereafterA primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position betweenapo orek andeis orpros; less intimate thanen and less close thansun) -- after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.
see GREEKpros
see GREEKapo
see GREEKek
see GREEKeis
see GREEKen
see GREEKsun
Forms and Transliterations
Μεθ Μεθ' μετ μετ' μετ΄ ΜΕΤΑ μετά Μετὰ met met' META Metà Meth Meth'Links
Interlinear Greek •Interlinear Hebrew •Strong's Numbers •Englishman's Greek Concordance •Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •Parallel Texts
