What does μέλλω (méllō) mean in the Bible?
Μέλλω (méllō) describes what is about to happen, intended, expected, or destined within a passage's horizon. Herod is about to search for Jesus in order to kill Him.
Greek · G3195
μέλλω
To ensue
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
μέλλω G3195
Pronunciation méllō
What does μέλλω (méllō) mean in the Bible?
Μέλλω (méllō) describes what is about to happen, intended, expected, or destined within a passage's horizon. Herod is about to search for Jesus in order to kill Him.
Reader summary
Full entry for μέλλω (G3195) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G3195?
The BSB source-word alignment has 109 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include will (8), is about (7), would (7), . . . (5), to come (5).
Where does μέλλω (méllō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 2:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (34), Revelation (13), John (12), Luke (12).
What This Word Actually Means
Μέλλω (méllō) describes what is about to happen, intended, expected, or destined within a passage's horizon. Herod is about to search for Jesus in order to kill Him. Judas will later betray Jesus. Conspirators are ready and intend to kill Paul during a planned transfer. Faithful generosity lays hold of life for the future. Revelation says the beast is about to rise from the Abyss and go to destruction.
The verb can express immediate threat, developing intention, future action, or appointed destiny; it does not supply one fixed interval. Narrators may use it from a later vantage point, speakers may reveal a plan, and visions may announce what remains future. The agent, infinitive, discourse time, and explicit outcome decide what kind of prospect is in view and how certain or near it is.
How the Bible Uses It
Μέλλω points toward impending, intended, or destined action: Herod's search, Judas's betrayal, a plot against Paul, life in the coming age, and the beast's rise toward destruction.
- Matt.2.13
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
The angel warns Joseph that Herod is about to search for the child to kill Him, making imminent danger the reason for immediate, obedient flight.
- John.6.71
He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.
John identifies Judas from the narrator's later vantage point as the disciple who was going to betray Jesus, joining foreknown treachery to membership among the Twelve.
- Acts.23.15
Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
The conspirators say they are ready to kill Paul during the proposed transfer, so μέλλω belongs to a deliberate human plan that providence will expose and frustrate.
- 1Tim.6.19
Treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Generous believers store up a good foundation for the future and grasp true life, directing wealth away from uncertain riches toward the coming age.
- Rev.17.8
The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.
The beast is about to ascend from the Abyss yet goes to destruction, so its threatening appearance remains bounded by God's announced end.
Passage contextBook context
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 will 8× Matthew 16:27, Matthew 17:12, Acts 23:3, Acts 27:10
is about 7× Matthew 17:22, Luke 9:44, Luke 21:36, Revelation 2:10
would 7× Luke 19:11, Luke 24:21, John 11:51, Acts 11:28
. . . 5× Acts 20:13, Acts 23:15, Acts 23:20, Acts 27:30
to come 5× Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 2:17, 1 Timothy 4:8, Hebrews 2:5
about 3× Acts 3:3, Acts 27:2, Revelation 8:13
coming 3× Matthew 3:7, Luke 3:7, Acts 24:25
the future 3× Romans 8:38, 1 Corinthians 3:22, Hebrews 11:20
[one] to come 2× Matthew 12:32, Romans 5:14
are about 2× Mark 13:4, Luke 21:7
are You going 2× John 14:22, Acts 22:26
He was about 2× Luke 9:31, John 6:6
He was going 2× John 12:33, John 18:32
they were about 2× John 6:15, Acts 21:37
vvv 2× Romans 4:24, 1 Peter 5:1
was about 2× Luke 10:1, Acts 18:14
was going 2× Mark 10:32, John 12:4
were about 2× Acts 22:29, Acts 23:27
who was about 2× John 4:47, Revelation 12:4
you are about 2× Acts 5:35, Revelation 2:10
You will 2× Matthew 24:6, Romans 8:13
- 1× Acts 19:27
[and] about 1× Luke 7:2
[and] was about 1× Acts 16:27
[as] he was about 1× Acts 20:3
[city] that is to come 1× Hebrews 13:14
[Jesus] was about 1× Luke 19:4
[of the] coming 1× Hebrews 6:5
[that] there will 1× Acts 24:15
{he was} later 1× John 6:71
am 1× Acts 25:4
am going 1× Matthew 20:22
are you waiting for 1× Acts 22:16
fine 1× Luke 13:9
future 1× 1 Timothy 6:19
going 1× Luke 22:23
he begins 1× Revelation 10:7
He will 1× Acts 17:31
he would later 1× Hebrews 11:8
I am about 1× Revelation 3:16
I was about 1× Revelation 10:4
I will 1× 2 Peter 1:12
intend 1× John 7:35
is going 1× Matthew 2:13
of what is coming on 1× 2 Peter 2:6
should be 1× Galatians 3:23
that will 1× Hebrews 10:27
that will be 1× Romans 8:18
they would [never] 1× Acts 20:38
those who are going 1× James 2:12
to 1× Acts 28:6
to see 1× Acts 13:34
to stand 1× Acts 26:2
was 1× Acts 12:6
was ready 1× Acts 20:7
we were to 1× Acts 20:13
we would 1× 1 Thessalonians 3:4
were 1× Revelation 6:11
were almost 1× Acts 21:27
were later 1× John 7:39
when he was about 1× Hebrews 8:5
who was 1× Matthew 11:14
Will He 1× John 7:35
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 2:13 μέλλει to is going Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 3:7 μελλούσης to coming Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Feminine Singular Matthew 11:14 μέλλων to who was Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Matthew 12:32 μέλλοντι to [one] to come Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular Matthew 16:27 μέλλει to will Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 17:12 μέλλει to will Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 17:22 Μέλλει to is about Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 20:22 μέλλω to am going Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Matthew 24:6 μελλήσετε to You will Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Mark 10:32 μέλλοντα to was going Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 2:13
Aligned rows 109
Books represented 18
Matthew 9 Mark 2 Luke 12 John 12 Acts 34 Romans 5 1 Corinthians 1 Galatians 1 Ephesians 1 Colossians 1 1 Thessalonians 1 1 Timothy 3 2 Timothy 1 Hebrews 9 James 1 1 Peter 1 2 Peter 2 Revelation 13
Source forms
μέλλει 15x mellei Matthew 2:13, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 17:12, Luke 9:44
ἤμελλεν 11x ēmellen Luke 7:2, Luke 9:31, Luke 10:1, Luke 19:4
μελλόντων 8x mellontōn Acts 26:22, Acts 27:30, Colossians 2:17, 1 Timothy 1:16
μέλλων 8x mellōn Matthew 11:14, Luke 22:23, Luke 24:21, John 12:4
μέλλειν 6x mellein Acts 11:28, Acts 19:27, Acts 24:15, Acts 25:4
μέλλοντα 6x mellonta Mark 10:32, Luke 21:36, Acts 13:34, Acts 23:27
μελλούσης 6x mellousēs Matthew 3:7, Luke 3:7, 1 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 5:1
μέλλοντος 5x mellontos Acts 24:25, Romans 5:14, 2 Timothy 4:1, Hebrews 6:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 16x Matthew 2:13, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 17:12, Matthew 17:22
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 14x Luke 7:2, Luke 9:31, Luke 10:1, Luke 19:4
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular 9x Matthew 11:14, Luke 22:23, Luke 24:21, John 12:4
Verb - Present Infinitive Active 6x Acts 11:28, Acts 19:27, Acts 24:15, Acts 25:4
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Feminine Singular 6x Matthew 3:7, Luke 3:7, 1 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 5:1
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Plural 5x Acts 26:22, Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 11:20
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular 4x John 14:22, Acts 22:16, Acts 22:26, Revelation 2:10
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Feminine Singular 4x Romans 8:18, Galatians 3:23, Hebrews 2:5, Hebrews 13:14
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not claim that μέλλω always means an event must occur within a few moments; its temporal range depends on the narrative or prophetic horizon.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that a human intention expressed with μέλλω guarantees success, as the plot against Paul demonstrates.
- Do not claim that the beast's impending ascent makes its rule ultimate when Revelation explicitly names its destruction.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Expresses certainty of future action, whether from intention, compulsion, or divine necessity.
Strong's G3195
Lexical occurrences 109 verses Greek text appearances 110 times 16 shown below Word forms 4 forms 109 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Luke 9:43b–45 Source Gloss
to ensue
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 110 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 2:13 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
μέλλει mellei
I am about to
Read verse Matthew 3:7 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Singular Feminine
μελλούσης melloushv
I am about to
Read verse Matthew 11:14 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
μέλλων mellwn
I am about to
Read verse Matthew 12:32 Verb Present Active Participle Dative Singular Masculine
μέλλοντι. mellonti
I am about to
Read verse Matthew 16:27 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
μέλλει mellei
I am about to
Read verse Matthew 17:12 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
μέλλει mellei
I am about to
Read verse Matthew 17:22 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
Μέλλει mellei
I am about to
Read verse Matthew 20:22 Verb First Person Singular Present Active Indicative
μέλλω mellw
I am about to
Read verse Matthew 24:6 Verb Second Person Plural Future Active Indicative
μελλήσετε mellhsete
I am about to
Read verse Mark 10:32 Verb Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Neuter
μέλλοντα mellonta
I am about to
Read verse Mark 13:4 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Subjunctive
μέλλῃ mellh
I am about to
Read verse Luke 3:7 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Singular Feminine
μελλούσης melloushv
I am about to
Read verse Luke 7:2 Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
ἤμελλε hmellen
I am about to
Read verse Luke 9:31 Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
ἔμελλε emellen
I am about to
Read verse Luke 9:44 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
μέλλει mellei
I am about to
Read verse Luke 10:1 Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
ἔμελλεν emellen
I am about to
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 4 Aligned forms 109 Tenses Present, Imperfect, Future Voices Active
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 47×
Present Active Matt 2:13 · Matt 16:27 · Matt 17:12 · Matt 17:22 · Luke 9:44 · Luke 19:11 · John 7:35 · Acts 17:31 · Acts 23:3 · Acts 26:23 · Rom 4:24 · Rev 1:19 · Rev 2:10 · Rev 12:5 · Rev 17:8 · John 14:22 27×
Imperfect Active Luke 7:2 · Luke 9:31 · Luke 10:1 · Luke 19:4 · John 4:47 · John 6:6 · John 6:71 · John 11:51 · John 12:33 · John 18:32 · Acts 12:6 · Acts 16:27 · Acts 27:33 · Heb 11:8 · John 7:39 · Acts 21:27 18×
Future Active Matt 24:6 · 2 Pet 1:12 2×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 53×
Present Active Matt 11:14 · Luke 22:23 · Luke 24:21 · John 12:4 · Acts 20:7 · Acts 20:13 · Acts 21:37 · Acts 26:2 · Heb 8:5 · Matt 3:7 · Luke 3:7 · 1 Tim 4:8 · 1 Pet 5:1 · Rev 3:10 · Rev 12:4 · Acts 26:22 53×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 6×
Present Active Acts 11:28 · Acts 19:27 · Acts 24:15 · Acts 25:4 · Acts 27:10 · Acts 28:6 6×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 3×
Present Active Mark 13:4 · Luke 21:7 · Rev 10:7 3×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 109 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 89 imperfect 18 future 2
Voice
active 109
Mood
participle 53 indicative 47 infinitive 6 subjunctive 3
NT Occurrences
Matthew 2:13 μέλλει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 3:7 μελλούσης present active participle participle Matthew 11:14 μέλλων present active participle participle Matthew 12:32 μέλλοντι present active participle participle Matthew 16:27 μέλλει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 17:12 μέλλει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 17:22 Μέλλει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 20:22 μέλλω present active indicative ongoing Matthew 24:6 μελλήσετε future active indicative prospective Mark 10:32 μέλλοντα present active participle participle Mark 13:4 μέλλῃ present active subjunctive subjunctive Luke 3:7 μελλούσης present active participle participle Luke 7:2 ἤμελλεν imperfect active indicative background Luke 9:31 ἤμελλεν imperfect active indicative background Luke 9:44 μέλλει present active indicative ongoing Luke 10:1 ἤμελλεν imperfect active indicative background Luke 13:9 μέλλον present active participle participle Luke 19:11 μέλλει present active indicative ongoing Luke 19:4 ἤμελλεν imperfect active indicative background Luke 21:36 μέλλοντα present active participle participle Luke 21:7 μέλλῃ present active subjunctive subjunctive Luke 22:23 μέλλων present active participle participle Luke 24:21 μέλλων present active participle participle John 4:47 ἤμελλεν imperfect active indicative background John 6:15 μέλλουσιν present active indicative ongoing John 6:6 ἔμελλεν imperfect active indicative background John 6:71 ἔμελλεν imperfect active indicative background John 7:35 μέλλει present active indicative ongoing John 7:35 μέλλει present active indicative ongoing John 7:39 ἔμελλον imperfect active indicative background John 11:51 ἔμελλεν imperfect active indicative background John 12:33 ἤμελλεν imperfect active indicative background John 12:4 μέλλων present active participle participle John 14:22 μέλλεις present active indicative ongoing John 18:32 ἤμελλεν imperfect active indicative background Acts 3:3 μέλλοντας present active participle participle Acts 5:35 μέλλετε present active indicative ongoing Acts 11:28 μέλλειν present active infinitive infinitive Acts 12:6 ἤμελλεν imperfect active indicative background Acts 13:34 μέλλοντα present active participle participle
+69 more occurrences
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)
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
is about to
Showing 1 selected witness from 109 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
μέλλω is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Conveys impending certainty of the passion. Luke 9:43b–45
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
The future presses into the present in more than one way. Joseph must act immediately because Herod is about to search for the child. Judas's coming betrayal gives solemn shape to Jesus' knowledge and the tragedy of covenant proximity without faithfulness. Paul's enemies form a concrete plan, yet their intention is neither secret from providence nor guaranteed success.
First Timothy turns expectation toward hope: generosity loosens the grip of uncertain riches and lays hold of life that truly belongs to the future. Revelation refuses to let impending evil control the horizon. The beast may rise and astonish the earth, but the same sentence directs it toward destruction. Μέλλω therefore trains readers neither to ignore approaching events nor to absolutize them.
Warnings call for obedience, intentions expose hearts, promises reshape stewardship, and announced judgment limits evil's apparent momentum.
Anchor passage
Matt.2.13
Doctrinal connections
- Matthew 2:13-15, imminent threat and obedient flight
- John 6:60-71, Judas's coming betrayal and Jesus' knowledge
- Acts 23:12-22, a murderous plan exposed through providence
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19, generosity and life in the coming age
- Revelation 17:8-14, the beast's ascent and destined destruction
- Isaiah 46:8-11, the Lord declaring His purpose and bringing it to pass
Μέλλω commonly governs an infinitive that names the contemplated or impending action. Tense, aspect, speaker perspective, and temporal markers affect whether English favors “about to,” “going to,” “intending,” or a simple future.
From Old to New Testament
Prophets announce what the Lord is bringing, wisdom warns against boasting about tomorrow, and narrative plots reveal human intentions under providence. New Testament hope orders present life toward Christ's promised future.
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