What does μερίζω (merízō) mean in the Bible?
Μερίζω means to divide, distribute, apportion, or assign a share. Paul uses the verb both negatively and positively.
Greek · G3307
μερίζω
To divide
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μερίζω G3307
Pronunciation merízō
What does μερίζω (merízō) mean in the Bible?
Μερίζω means to divide, distribute, apportion, or assign a share. Paul uses the verb both negatively and positively.
Reader summary
Full entry for μερίζω (G3307) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G3307?
The BSB source-word alignment has 14 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include divided (3), is divided (3), [his interests] are divided (1), apportioned (1), has assigned (1).
Where does μερίζω (merízō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 12:25. Its strongest book concentrations include Mark (4), 1 Corinthians (3), Matthew (3), 2 Corinthians (1).
What This Word Actually Means
Μερίζω means to divide, distribute, apportion, or assign a share. Paul uses the verb both negatively and positively. In 1 Corinthians 1, the rhetorical question “Is Christ divided? ” exposes the absurdity of factions built around favored teachers. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul speaks of the field God apportioned to his ministry, refusing limitless boasting. Romans 12 says God has assigned a measure of faith as Paul calls each believer to sober judgment and differentiated service within one body.
The verb therefore does not make every distinction divisive. God can distribute gifts and responsibilities without fragmenting Christ. Sinful division turns portions into rival ownership; faithful apportionment receives limits and gifts for mutual service.
How the Bible Uses It
Paul uses μερίζω for division and apportionment. Christ cannot be partitioned among factions, while God rightly assigns measures, gifts, and fields of service within one body.
- 1Cor.1.13
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
The question denies that Christ can be divided into party possessions and exposes the folly of grounding identity in Paul, Apollos, or Cephas.
- 2Cor.10.13
We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you.
God's apportioned field gives Paul a real but limited sphere, so apostolic boasting must remain within assignment and in the Lord.
- Rom.12.3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
The measure God assigns supports sober self-estimation and diverse gifts exercised as members of one body.
Book contextPassage 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 divided 3× Matthew 12:25, 1 Corinthians 1:13
is divided 3× Mark 3:24, Mark 3:25, Mark 3:26
[his interests] are divided 1× 1 Corinthians 7:34
apportioned 1× Hebrews 7:2
has assigned 1× 2 Corinthians 10:13
has assigned [to him] 1× 1 Corinthians 7:17
has given 1× Romans 12:3
He divided 1× Mark 6:41
he is divided 1× Matthew 12:26
to divide 1× Luke 12:13
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 12:25 μερισθεῖσα to divided Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular Matthew 12:25 μερισθεῖσα to divided Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular Matthew 12:26 ἐμερίσθη to he is divided Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Mark 3:24 μερισθῇ to is divided Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular Mark 3:25 μερισθῇ to is divided Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular Mark 3:26 ἐμερίσθη to is divided Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Mark 6:41 ἐμέρισεν to He divided Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Luke 12:13 μερίσασθαι to to divide Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle Romans 12:3 ἐμέρισεν to has given Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 1 Corinthians 1:13 Μεμέρισται to divided Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 12:25
Aligned rows 14
Books represented 7
Matthew 3 Mark 4 Luke 1 Romans 1 1 Corinthians 3 2 Corinthians 1 Hebrews 1
Source forms
ἐμέρισεν 4x emerisen Mark 6:41, Romans 12:3, 2 Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 7:2
ἐμερίσθη 2x emeristhē Matthew 12:26, Mark 3:26
μερισθεῖσα 2x meristheisa Matthew 12:25
μερισθῇ 2x meristhē Mark 3:24, Mark 3:25
ἐμέρισεν* 1x emerisen 1 Corinthians 7:17
μεμέρισται 1x memeristai 1 Corinthians 7:34
Μεμέρισται 1x Memeristai 1 Corinthians 1:13
μερίσασθαι 1x merisasthai Luke 12:13
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 5x Mark 6:41, Romans 12:3, 1 Corinthians 7:17, 2 Corinthians 10:13
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular 2x Matthew 12:26, Mark 3:26
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular 2x Matthew 12:25
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular 2x Mark 3:24, Mark 3:25
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular 2x 1 Corinthians 1:13, 1 Corinthians 7:34
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle 1x Luke 12:13
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Ask whether the passage condemns fragmentation or describes legitimate distribution before applying division language.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that every difference of role, gift, or ministry field divides Christ; Paul also describes God-given apportionment.
- Do not use an assigned field to create personal ownership of people or territory beyond accountability to the one Lord.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Division into parts or distribution; often implies factional splitting or apportioning among recipients.
Strong's G3307
Lexical occurrences 14 verses Greek text appearances 14 times Word forms 4 forms 14 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Source Gloss
to divide
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
14 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 12:25 Verb Aorist Passive Participle Nominative Singular Feminine
μερισθεῖσα merisqeisa
I divide, part, share
Read verse Matthew 12:25 Verb Aorist Passive Participle Nominative Singular Feminine
μερισθεῖσα merisqeisa
I divide, part, share
Read verse Matthew 12:26 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐμερίσθη· emerisqh
I divide, part, share
Read verse Mark 3:24 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Subjunctive
μερισθῇ, merisqh
I divide, part, share
Read verse Mark 3:25 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Subjunctive
μερισθῇ, merisqh
I divide, part, share
Read verse Mark 3:26 Verb Third Person Singular Perfect Passive Indicative
μεμέρισται, memeristai
I divide, part, share
Read verse Mark 6:41 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐμέρισε emerisen
I divide, part, share
Read verse Luke 12:13 Verb Aorist Middle Infinitive
μερίσασθαι merisasqai
I divide, part, share
Read verse Romans 12:3 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐμέρισε emerisen
I divide, part, share
Read verse 1 Corinthians 1:13 Verb Third Person Singular Perfect Passive Indicative
μεμέρισται memeristai
I divide, part, share
Read verse 1 Corinthians 7:17 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐμέρισεν emerisen
I divide, part, share
Read verse 1 Corinthians 7:34 Verb Third Person Singular Perfect Passive Indicative
μεμέρισται memeristai
I divide, part, share
Read verse 2 Corinthians 10:13 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐμέρισεν emerisen
I divide, part, share
Read verse Hebrews 7:2 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐμέρισεν emerisen
I divide, part, share
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 14 Tenses Aorist, Perfect Voices Active, Passive, Middle
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 9×
Aorist Active Mark 6:41 · Rom 12:3 · 1 Cor 7:17 · 2 Cor 10:13 · Heb 7:2 5×
Aorist Passive Matt 12:26 · Mark 3:26 2×
Perfect Passive 1 Cor 1:13 · 1 Cor 7:34 2×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 2×
Aorist Passive Matt 12:25 2×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 2×
Aorist Passive Mark 3:24 · Mark 3:25 2×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 1×
Aorist Middle Luke 12:13 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 14 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 12 perfect 2
Voice
passive 8 active 5 middle 1
Mood
indicative 9 subjunctive 2 participle 2 infinitive 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 12:25 μερισθεῖσα aorist passive participle participle Matthew 12:25 μερισθεῖσα aorist passive participle participle Matthew 12:26 ἐμερίσθη aorist passive indicative completed Mark 3:24 μερισθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Mark 3:25 μερισθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Mark 3:26 ἐμερίσθη aorist passive indicative completed Mark 6:41 ἐμέρισεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 12:13 μερίσασθαι aorist middle infinitive infinitive Romans 12:3 ἐμέρισεν aorist active indicative completed 1 Corinthians 1:13 μεμέρισται perfect passive indicative resultant 1 Corinthians 7:17 ἐμέρισεν aorist active indicative completed 1 Corinthians 7:34 μεμέρισται perfect passive indicative resultant 2 Corinthians 10:13 ἐμέρισεν aorist active indicative completed Hebrews 7:2 ἐμέρισεν aorist active indicative completed
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 Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Factional division among believers, split into competing groups or parties
Divided attention or concern, split between worldly and spiritual matters
Distribution of food among people, breaking bread to give portions
Distribution of inheritance or property between persons, allotting shares
Bestowal or allocation of spiritual gifts and faith to believers
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 14 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
μερίζω is built from this root:
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
Unity and diversity are not enemies in Paul's theology. The Corinthians sin by treating teachers as badges of rival belonging, as though the one Christ could be divided and His cross claimed by a party. Yet Paul gladly speaks of measures and fields God apportions. Romans 12 uses assigned measure to humble self-importance and place diverse gifts within one body.
Second Corinthians 10 uses assigned territory to limit boastful comparison and encroachment on another's labor. The issue is ownership and purpose. Divine distribution produces mutual dependence and service; proud division produces rivalry and self-exaltation. Churches should not erase roles, gifts, cultures, or callings in the name of unity. They must also refuse to let those differences become competing identities that displace baptism into Christ.
Each member receives a share to steward, while the whole church belongs to one Lord.
Anchor passage
1Cor.1.13
Doctrinal connections
- 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, factions confronted by the indivisible Christ and His cross
- Romans 12:3-8, apportioned measure and diverse gifts in one body
- 2 Corinthians 10:12-18, assigned fields and boasting in the Lord
- Numbers 26:52-56, inheritance apportioned under God's command
- Psalm 16:5-6, the Lord as chosen portion and assigned lot
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-27, one Spirit distributing gifts within one body
Μερίζω is related to μέρος, a part or share. It can mean divide into parts, distribute, assign, or apportion. The passive may describe a share assigned by God, while divisive contexts emphasize fragmentation. Translation must follow the agent, object, and purpose.
From Old to New Testament
God apportions land and responsibilities among His covenant people while demanding covenant unity. In the church, the Spirit distributes gifts and God assigns service, but all members confess one Christ and belong to one body.
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