What does μανθάνω (manthánō) mean in the Bible?
Manthano means to learn, be instructed, come to understand, or acquire a pattern through practice. Jesus invites the weary to learn from His gentle and lowly heart.
Greek · G3129
μανθάνω
To learn (in any way)
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μανθάνω G3129
Pronunciation manthánō
What does μανθάνω (manthánō) mean in the Bible?
Manthano means to learn, be instructed, come to understand, or acquire a pattern through practice. Jesus invites the weary to learn from His gentle and lowly heart.
Reader summary
Full entry for μανθάνω (G3129) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G3129?
The BSB source-word alignment has 25 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include learn (5), have learned (2), you have learned (2), [and] learn (1), came to know (1).
Where does μανθάνω (manthánō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 9:13. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Corinthians (3), 1 Timothy (3), 2 Timothy (3), Matthew (3).
What This Word Actually Means
Manthano means to learn, be instructed, come to understand, or acquire a pattern through practice. Jesus invites the weary to learn from His gentle and lowly heart. The Pastoral Epistles apply learning to receiving instruction, caring for family, continuing in trusted truth, and devoting oneself to good works that meet urgent needs. They also expose continual learning that never arrives at knowledge of truth.
Biblical learning therefore includes reception, discernment, imitation, memory, and embodied obedience. It is not passive data collection, unquestioning submission, or perpetual novelty. Teachers remain accountable to Christ, learners may test claims by Scripture, and growth becomes visible when truth reshapes worship, relationships, household responsibility, endurance, and service to neighbors.
How the Bible Uses It
Manthano describes learning that ranges from receiving teaching to acquiring faithful practice. Its contexts contrast formation under Jesus and trusted truth with educational motion that never reaches obedient recognition.
- Matt.11.29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29 invites burdened people to take Jesus' yoke and learn from Him because He is gentle and lowly in heart. The teacher's character and the disciple's rest belong together.
- 1Tim.2.11
A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.
First Timothy 2:11 commands that a woman learn in quietness and full receptivity. The imperative to learn grants participation even as interpreters debate the surrounding order.
- 1Tim.5.4
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
First Timothy 5:4 says children and grandchildren must first learn to practice godliness toward their own household and repay their parents. Learning becomes concrete care.
- 2Tim.3.7
Who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Second Timothy 3:7 portrays people always learning yet never able to reach knowledge of the truth. Accumulation and arrival can diverge.
- 2Tim.3.14
But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them.
Second Timothy 3:14 tells Timothy to remain in what he learned and firmly believed, knowing the trustworthy people from whom he received it.
- Titus.3.14
And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.
Titus 3:14 says believers must learn to devote themselves to good works for urgent needs so they will not be unfruitful.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It learn 5× Matthew 11:29, Matthew 24:32, Mark 13:28, Titus 3:14
have learned 2× Romans 16:17, Philippians 4:11
you have learned 2× Philippians 4:9, 2 Timothy 3:14
[and] learn 1× Matthew 9:13
came to know 1× Ephesians 4:20
For I had learned 1× Acts 23:27
having studied 1× John 7:15
He learned 1× Hebrews 5:8
learned 1× John 6:45
learning 1× 2 Timothy 3:7
may be instructed 1× 1 Corinthians 14:31
must learn 1× 1 Timothy 2:11
they must first learn 1× 1 Timothy 5:4
they will also learn 1× 1 Timothy 5:13
to inquire about 1× 1 Corinthians 14:35
to learn 1× Galatians 3:2
you have learned [them] 1× 2 Timothy 3:14
You learned [it] 1× Colossians 1:7
you may learn 1× 1 Corinthians 4:6
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 9:13 μάθετε to [and] learn Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural Matthew 11:29 μάθετε to learn Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural Matthew 24:32 μάθετε to learn Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural Mark 13:28 μάθετε to learn Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural John 6:45 μαθὼν to learned Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular John 7:15 μεμαθηκώς to having studied Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Acts 23:27 μαθὼν to For I had learned Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Romans 16:17 ἐμάθετε to have learned Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural 1 Corinthians 4:6 μάθητε to you may learn Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural 1 Corinthians 14:31 μανθάνωσιν to may be instructed Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 9:13
Aligned rows 25
Books represented 15
Matthew 3 Mark 1 John 2 Acts 1 Romans 1 1 Corinthians 3 Galatians 1 Ephesians 1 Philippians 2 Colossians 1 1 Timothy 3 2 Timothy 3 Titus 1 Hebrews 1 Revelation 1
Source forms
ἐμάθετε 4x emathete Romans 16:17, Ephesians 4:20, Philippians 4:9, Colossians 1:7
μάθετε 4x mathete Matthew 9:13, Matthew 11:29, Matthew 24:32, Mark 13:28
μαθεῖν 3x mathein 1 Corinthians 14:35, Galatians 3:2, Revelation 14:3
ἔμαθες 2x emathes 2 Timothy 3:14
μαθὼν 2x mathōn John 6:45, Acts 23:27
μανθανέτωσαν 2x manthanetōsan 1 Timothy 5:4, Titus 3:14
ἔμαθεν 1x emathen Hebrews 5:8
ἔμαθον 1x emathon Philippians 4:11
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural 4x Matthew 9:13, Matthew 11:29, Matthew 24:32, Mark 13:28
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural 4x Romans 16:17, Ephesians 4:20, Philippians 4:9, Colossians 1:7
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active 3x 1 Corinthians 14:35, Galatians 3:2, Revelation 14:3
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular 2x 2 Timothy 3:14
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular 2x John 6:45, Acts 23:27
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Plural 2x 1 Timothy 5:4, Titus 3:14
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular 1x Philippians 4:11
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 1x Hebrews 5:8
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not use calls to quiet learning to silence questions, conceal abuse, deny education, or exempt teachers from biblical and moral scrutiny.
- Do not measure learning only by content consumed, vocabulary gained, credentials earned, or years spent in a classroom.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not use calls to quiet learning to silence questions, conceal abuse, deny education, or exempt teachers from biblical and moral scrutiny.
- Do not measure learning only by content consumed, vocabulary gained, credentials earned, or years spent in a classroom.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. to learn (in any way)
Strong's G3129
Lexical occurrences 25 verses Greek text appearances 25 times 16 shown below Word forms 5 forms 25 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
to learn (in any way)
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 25 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 9:13 Verb Second Person Plural Second Aorist Active Imperative
μάθετε maqete
I learn, ascertain
Read verse Matthew 11:29 Verb Second Person Plural Second Aorist Active Imperative
μάθετε maqete
I learn, ascertain
Read verse Matthew 24:32 Verb Second Person Plural Second Aorist Active Imperative
μάθετε maqete
I learn, ascertain
Read verse Mark 13:28 Verb Second Person Plural Second Aorist Active Imperative
μάθετε maqete
I learn, ascertain
Read verse John 6:45 Verb Second Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
μαθών, maqwn
I learn, ascertain
Read verse John 7:15 Verb Perfect Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
μεμαθηκώς; memaqhkwv
I learn, ascertain
Read verse Acts 23:27 Verb Second Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
μαθὼν maqwn
I learn, ascertain
Read verse Romans 16:17 Verb Second Person Plural Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἐμάθετε, emaqete
I learn, ascertain
Read verse 1 Corinthians 4:6 Verb Second Person Plural Second Aorist Active Subjunctive
μάθητε maqhte
I learn, ascertain
Read verse 1 Corinthians 14:31 Verb Third Person Plural Present Active Subjunctive
μανθάνωσι, manqanwsin
I learn, ascertain
Read verse 1 Corinthians 14:35 Verb Second Aorist Active Infinitive
μαθεῖν maqein
I learn, ascertain
Read verse Galatians 3:2 Verb Second Aorist Active Infinitive
μαθεῖν maqein
I learn, ascertain
Read verse Ephesians 4:20 Verb Second Person Plural Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἐμάθετε emaqete
I learn, ascertain
Read verse Philippians 4:9 Verb Second Person Plural Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἐμάθετε emaqete
I learn, ascertain
Read verse Philippians 4:11 Verb First Person Singular Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἔμαθον, emaqon
I learn, ascertain
Read verse Colossians 1:7 Verb Second Person Plural Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἐμάθετε emaqete
I learn, ascertain
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 5 Aligned forms 25 Tenses Aorist, Present, Perfect Voices Active
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Imperative command or strong request 7×
Aorist Active Matt 9:13 · Matt 11:29 · Matt 24:32 · Mark 13:28 4×
Present Active 1 Tim 5:4 · Titus 3:14 · 1 Tim 2:11 3×
Indicative states a fact or reality 9×
Aorist Active Rom 16:17 · Eph 4:20 · Phil 4:9 · Col 1:7 · 2 Tim 3:14 · Phil 4:11 · Heb 5:8 8×
Present Active 1 Tim 5:13 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 3×
Aorist Active 1 Cor 14:35 · Gal 3:2 · Rev 14:3 3×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 4×
Aorist Active John 6:45 · Acts 23:27 2×
Perfect Active John 7:15 1×
Present Active 2 Tim 3:7 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 2×
Aorist Active 1 Cor 4:6 1×
Present Active 1 Cor 14:31 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 23 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 16 present 6 perfect 1
Voice
active 23
Mood
imperative 7 indicative 7 participle 4 infinitive 3 subjunctive 2
NT Occurrences
Matthew 9:13 μάθετε aorist active imperative imperative Matthew 11:29 μάθετε aorist active imperative imperative Matthew 24:32 μάθετε aorist active imperative imperative Mark 13:28 μάθετε aorist active imperative imperative John 6:45 μαθὼν aorist active participle participle John 7:15 μεμαθηκώς perfect active participle participle Acts 23:27 μαθὼν aorist active participle participle Romans 16:17 ἐμάθετε aorist active indicative completed 1 Corinthians 4:6 μάθητε aorist active subjunctive subjunctive 1 Corinthians 14:31 μανθάνωσιν present active subjunctive subjunctive 1 Corinthians 14:35 μαθεῖν aorist active infinitive infinitive Galatians 3:2 μαθεῖν aorist active infinitive infinitive Ephesians 4:20 ἐμάθετε aorist active indicative completed Philippians 4:11 ἔμαθον aorist active indicative completed Colossians 1:7 ἐμάθετε aorist active indicative completed 1 Timothy 2:11 μανθανέτω present active imperative imperative 1 Timothy 5:13 μανθάνουσιν present active indicative ongoing 1 Timothy 5:4 μανθανέτωσαν present active imperative imperative 2 Timothy 3:14 ἔμαθες aorist active indicative completed 2 Timothy 3:7 μανθάνοντα present active participle participle Titus 3:14 μανθανέτωσαν present active imperative imperative Hebrews 5:8 ἔμαθεν aorist active indicative completed Revelation 14:3 μαθεῖν aorist active infinitive infinitive
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
μανθάνω is a primary verb - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Manthano makes learning a lived relationship to truth. Jesus does not merely offer lessons; He calls disciples under His yoke to learn His gentle and lowly way. Paul expects learning to reach household care, perseverance in received Scripture, and organized good works for pressing needs. He also knows that people can remain in constant educational motion without coming to truth.
More content is not automatically deeper discipleship. Churches should cultivate accessible teaching, questions, memory, practice, correction, and visible service. Those who teach must display the character of Christ and remain answerable to Scripture; those who learn should receive humbly without surrendering discernment. Mature learning knows what to continue in, what to reject, and how confessed truth becomes faithful love in ordinary responsibilities.
Anchor passage
Matt.11.29
Doctrinal connections
- Discipleship: Jesus Himself is the teacher whose yoke and character form learners.
- Christology: the gentle and lowly Lord gives rest rather than exploiting weary disciples.
- Scripture: Timothy continues in learned truth grounded in the sacred writings.
- Sanctification: learning becomes practiced godliness and fruitful good works.
- Church formation: receptive instruction belongs within a community of trustworthy transmission and testing.
- Neighbor love: learning reaches family provision and urgent needs rather than ending in private knowledge.
Manthano is the ordinary verb to learn, acquire understanding, or come to know through instruction and experience. Context shows whether the emphasis falls on content, process, or practiced behavior.
From Old to New Testament
Wisdom repeatedly calls sons and daughters to hear instruction and walk in it. Israel's failure to learn from remembered acts shows the difference between exposure and obedient formation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain