What does μιμέομαι (miméomai) mean in the Bible?
μιμέομαι (miméomai): Imitation involving deliberate modeling of behavior, character, or faith—not mere copying but purposeful emulation.
Greek · G3401
μιμέομαι
To imitate
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 theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
μιμέομαιG3401
Pronunciationmiméomai
What does μιμέομαι (miméomai) mean in the Bible?
μιμέομαι (miméomai): Imitation involving deliberate modeling of behavior, character, or faith—not mere copying but purposeful emulation.
Full entry for μιμέομαι (G3401) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G3401?
The BSB source-word alignment has 4 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include imitate (2), [and] imitate (1), to imitate (1).
Where does μιμέομαι (miméomai) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 2 Thessalonians 3:7. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Thessalonians (2), 3 John (1), Hebrews (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itimitate2×2 Thessalonians 3:9, 3 John 1:11
[and] imitate1×Hebrews 13:7
to imitate1×2 Thessalonians 3:7
Show sample aligned rows
2 Thessalonians 3:7μιμεῖσθαιtoto imitateVerb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive2 Thessalonians 3:9μιμεῖσθαιtoimitateVerb - Present Infinitive Middle or PassiveHebrews 13:7μιμεῖσθεto[and] imitateVerb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural3 John 1:11μιμοῦtoimitateVerb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row2 Thessalonians 3:7
Aligned rows4
Books represented3
2 Thessalonians2Hebrews13 John1
Source forms
μιμεῖσθαι2xmimeisthai2 Thessalonians 3:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:9
μιμεῖσθε1xmimeistheHebrews 13:7
μιμοῦ1xmimou3 John 1:11
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive2x2 Thessalonians 3:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:9
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural1xHebrews 13:7
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular1x3 John 1:11
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Imitation involving deliberate modeling of behavior, character, or faith—not mere copying but purposeful emulation.
Strong'sG3401
Lexical occurrences4 versesGreek text appearances4 timesWord forms2 forms4 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study link2 Thessalonians 3:7Source Gloss
to imitate
Extended definitionSource: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Imitation involving deliberate modeling of behavior, character, or faith—not mere copying but purposeful emulation.
(μῖμος, a mimic, an actor), [in LXX: Psa.31:6, Wis.4:2 15:9, 4Ma.9:23 4Mac 9:13 : * ;] to imitate: 2Th.3:7 3:9 Heb.13:7, 3Jn.11.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
4 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
2 Thessalonians 3:7Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Infinitive
μιμεῖσθαιmimeisqai
I imitate
Read verse2 Thessalonians 3:9Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Infinitive
μιμεῖσθαιmimeisqai
I imitate
Read verseHebrews 13:7Verb Second Person Plural Present Middle or Passive Deponent Imperative
μιμεῖσθεmimeisqe
I imitate
Read verse3 John 1:11Verb Second Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Imperative
μιμοῦmimou
I imitate
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 groups2Aligned forms4TensesPresentVoicesMiddle
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract2×
Present Middle2 Thess 3:7 · 2 Thess 3:92×
Imperativecommand or strong request2×
Present MiddleHeb 13:7 · 3 John 1:112×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 4 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present4
Voice
middle4
Mood
infinitive2imperative2
NT 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)
Where It Appears in Scripture
Where this word appears in Scripture: passage, original form, and sense in context.
Biblical Witnesses
followers urged to imitate apostolic example and conduct
imitation of apostle's behavior as model for proper living
followers to imitate faith and conduct of spiritual leaders
warning against imitating evil, exhortation to imitate good