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Greek · G3306 · unreviewed

μένω

To stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)

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μένω G3306
Pronunciation ménō

What does μένω (ménō) mean in the Bible?

μένω (ménō) is a Greek word meaning "to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)". μένω, [in LXX for קוּם ,עמד, etc. Describes enduring indwelling presence. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Faith, Messiah.

Full entry for μένω (G3306) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)
Extended definition

Abiding presence in relationship with God; enduring union rather than temporary coexistence.

to stay, abide, remain.

1Intrans.;
iof place: before ἐν, Luk.8:27, al.; παρά, with dative of person(s), Jhn.1:40, al; σύν, Luk.1:56; καθ᾽ ἑαυτόν, Act.28:16; with adv., ἐκεῖ, Mat.10:11; ὧδε, Mat.26:38; metaphorically, 1Jn.2:18; of the Holy Spirit, Jhn.1:32, 33 14:17; of Christ, Jhn.6:56 15:4, al.; ὁ θεός, 1Jn.4:15, conversely, of Christians, Jhn.6:56 15:4, 1Jn.4:15, al.; ὁ λόγος τ. θεοῦ, 1Jn.2:14; ἡ ἀλήθεια, II Jo 2, al. __(ii) Of time;
aof persons: Php.1:25; before εἰς τ. αἰῶνα, Jhn.12:34, Heb.7:24, 1Jn.2:17; ὀλίγον, Rev.17:10; ἕως ἔρχομαι, Jhn.21:22, 23;
bof things, lasting or enduring: cities, Mat.11:23, Heb.13:14; λόγος θεοῦ, 1Pe.1:23; ἁμαρτία, Jhn.9:41. __(iii) Of condition: with pred., μόνος, Jhn.12:24; ἄγαμος, 1Co.7:11; πιστός, 2Ti.2:13; ἱερεύς, Heb.7:3; with adv., οὕτως, 1Co.7:40; ὡς κἀγώ, ib. 8; before ἐν, ib. 20, 24.
2Trans. (Bl., §34, 1; Field, Notes, 132): with accusative of person(s), Act.20:5, 23 (cf. ἀνα-, δια-, ἐν-, ἐπι-, κατα-, παρα-, συν-παρα-, περι-, προσ-, ὑπο-μένω).
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Describes enduring indwelling presence. 1 John 2:24-27
Describes continuous relational union. 1 John 2:28-29
Christ's sovereign will over lifespan. 1 John 2:3-6
Describes ongoing union with Christ. 1 John 2:7-11
Describes persevering faith and covenant loyalty. 1 John 3:19-24
Defines continuous dependence on Christ. Wuest and Mounce help clarify that abiding is ongoing relational dependence, not passive inactivity. 1 John 4:13-16
Defines authentic discipleship as enduring loyalty.
Describes persevering union with Christ that produces conformity to His life.
Describes the enduring presence of God’s word as the source of spiritual strength.
Contrasts fleeting worldly systems with enduring participation in God’s will.
Describes covenant perseverance in the Son and the Father through ongoing loyalty to the gospel.
Describes ongoing relational union with Christ that shapes both present conduct and future assurance.
Describes mutual indwelling between God and believers sustained by the Spirit.
Christian perseverance is defined as remaining in Christ and in the apostolic message about Him.
Present perseverance directly shapes future confidence at Christ’s return.
Christian obedience flows from sustained union with Christ. Abiding is the root; Christlike walking is the fruit.
Abiding in the light produces stability and clarity, preventing spiritual stumbling.
Obedient faith sustains abiding fellowship with God.
Abiding language underscores ongoing fellowship rather than momentary experience.
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Present Aorist Imperfect Future Pluperfect
Voices
Active
Indicative states a fact or reality 57×
Present Active John 1:39 · John 3:36 · John 6:56 · John 8:35 · John 9:41 · John 12:24 · John 12:34 · John 14:17 · 1 Cor 13:13 · 2 Cor 3:14 · 2 Cor 9:9 · 2 Tim 2:13 · Heb 7:3 · 1 Pet 1:25 · 1 John 2:10 · 1 John 2:14 34×
Aorist Active Matt 11:23 · Luke 1:56 · John 1:32 · John 4:40 · John 7:9 · John 10:40 · John 11:6 · John 11:54 · Acts 27:41 · 2 Tim 4:20 · John 1:39 · John 2:12 · Acts 21:7 · Acts 21:8 14×
Imperfect Active Luke 8:27 · Acts 5:4 · Acts 18:3 · Acts 20:5 4×
Future Active John 15:10 · 1 John 2:24 · 1 Cor 3:14 · Phil 1:25 4×
Pluperfect Active 1 John 2:19 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 17×
Present Active John 14:10 · John 14:25 · John 15:5 · 1 John 3:6 · 1 John 4:16 · 2 John 1:9 · John 6:27 · Heb 10:34 · Heb 13:14 · 1 John 3:15 · 2 John 1:2 · Acts 5:4 · 2 Cor 3:11 · John 1:33 · John 5:38 · 1 Pet 1:23 17×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 11×
Aorist Active Luke 19:5 · Luke 24:29 · John 4:40 · Acts 9:43 · Acts 18:20 · Rev 17:10 6×
Present Active John 21:22 · John 21:23 · Acts 28:16 · Heb 7:24 · 1 John 2:6 5×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 16×
Aorist Active John 12:46 · John 15:7 · John 19:31 · 1 Cor 7:40 · Heb 12:27 · 1 John 2:24 · Acts 27:31 · 1 Cor 7:8 · 1 Tim 2:15 · John 8:31 11×
Present Active John 15:4 · John 15:6 · John 15:16 · Rom 9:11 5×
Imperative command or strong request 17×
Present Active Mark 6:10 · Luke 9:4 · Luke 10:7 · Acts 16:15 · 1 John 2:28 · 1 Cor 7:11 · 1 Cor 7:20 · 1 Cor 7:24 · Heb 13:1 · 1 John 2:24 · 2 Tim 3:14 11×
Aorist Active Matt 10:11 · Matt 26:38 · Mark 14:34 · John 15:4 · John 15:9 · Luke 24:29 6×
118 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 112 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 14 ongoing 31 prospective 3 resultant 1 imperative 16 background 4 subjunctive 16 infinitive 11 participle 16
Tense
present 67 aorist 37 imperfect 4 future 3 pluperfect 1
Voice
active 112
Mood
indicative 53 subjunctive 16 imperative 16 participle 16 infinitive 11
NT Occurrences
Matthew 10:11 μείνατε aorist active imperative imperative Matthew 11:23 ἔμεινεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 26:38 μείνατε aorist active imperative imperative Mark 6:10 μένετε present active imperative imperative Mark 14:34 μείνατε aorist active imperative imperative Luke 1:56 Ἔμεινεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 8:27 ἔμενεν imperfect active indicative background Luke 9:4 μένετε present active imperative imperative Luke 10:7 μένετε present active imperative imperative Luke 19:5 μεῖναι aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 24:29 Μεῖνον aorist active imperative imperative Luke 24:29 μεῖναι aorist active infinitive infinitive John 1:32 ἔμεινεν aorist active indicative completed John 1:38 μένεις present active indicative ongoing John 1:39 μένει present active indicative ongoing John 1:39 ἔμειναν aorist active indicative completed John 2:12 ἔμειναν aorist active indicative completed John 3:36 μένει present active indicative ongoing John 4:40 μεῖναι aorist active infinitive infinitive John 4:40 ἔμεινεν aorist active indicative completed John 5:38 μένοντα present active participle participle John 6:27 μένουσαν present active participle participle John 6:56 μένει present active indicative ongoing John 7:9 ἔμεινεν aorist active indicative completed John 8:31 μείνητε aorist active subjunctive subjunctive John 8:35 μένει present active indicative ongoing John 8:35 μένει present active indicative ongoing John 9:41 μένει present active indicative ongoing John 10:40 ἔμεινεν aorist active indicative completed John 11:54 ἔμεινεν aorist active indicative completed John 11:6 ἔμεινεν aorist active indicative completed John 12:34 μένει present active indicative ongoing John 12:46 μείνῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive John 14:10 μένων present active participle participle John 14:17 μένει present active indicative ongoing John 14:25 μένων present active participle participle John 15:10 μενεῖτε future active indicative prospective John 15:10 μένω present active indicative ongoing John 15:16 μένῃ present active subjunctive subjunctive John 15:4 μείνατε aorist active imperative imperative +72 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)

Canonical Themes
Covenant Faith MessiahPresenceRevelation Spirit
Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses
1 John 2:24-27 abide ménō Indicative · Future Active
To persist in relational union and doctrinal fidelity.
1 John 2:28-29 abide ménō Imperative · Present Active
To persist in relational union and faithful dependence on Christ.
1 John 2:3-6 abide ménō Infinitive · Present Active
To dwell in ongoing relational union with Christ.
1 John 2:7-11 abide ménō Indicative · Present Active
To continue in relational union and stability.
1 John 3:19-24 abide ménō
To continue in relational union.
1 John 4:13-16 abide ménō Participle · Present Active
To continue in sustained relational union.
Additional Occurrences
1-john Abide ménō
to remain in ongoing union
1-john Abide ménō
to remain, to continue steadfastly
Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

ἐάν · αὐτός · θέλω · μένω G1437, G846, G2309, G3306
if I want him to remain
ἁμαρτία · μένω G266, G3306
your sin remains
κρείττων · ὕπαρξις · μένω G2909, G5223, G3306
better and abiding possession
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 13 — The More Excellent Way of Love Acts 27 — The Storm, the Shipwreck, and the Promise of God John 1 — The Word Made Flesh, Witnessed, and Followed John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

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

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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