3184. methuó

Lexical Summary

methuó: To be drunk, to become intoxicated

Original Word: μεθύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: methuó
Pronunciation: meh-thoo'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (meth-oo'-o)
KJV: drink well, make (be) drunk(-en)
NASB: drunk, drunk freely, drunkards, get drunk, made drunk
Word Origin: [from another form of G3178 (μέθη - drunkenness)]

1. to drink to intoxication, i.e. get drunk

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

be drunk.

From another form of methe; to drink to intoxication, i.e. Get drunk -- drink well, make (be) drunk(-en).

see GREEK methe

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from methu (wine)
Definition
to be drunken
NASB Translation
drunk (3), drunk freely (1), drunkards (1), get drunk (1), made drunk (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3184: μεθύω

μεθύω (from μέθυ, see μέθη); from Homer down; the Sept. for רָוָה and שָׁכַר; to be drunken: Matthew 24:49; Acts 2:15; 1 Corinthians 11:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:7 (cf. Buttmann, 62 (54)); ἐκ τοῦ αἵματος (see ἐκ, II. 5; Tr marginal reading τῷ αἵματι), of one who has shed blood profusely, Revelation 17:6 (Pliny, h. n. 14, 28 (22)ebrius jam sanguine civium et tanto magis eum sitiens).

Topical Lexicon

Root Imagery of Intoxication

Strong’s Greek 3184 pictures the loss of clear-minded self-control that comes when wine (or any substance) dominates the faculties. In Scripture this literal state becomes a ready metaphor for moral dullness and spiritual unpreparedness.

Old Testament Background

Though the verb itself is Greek, the idea of drunkenness is already treated with gravity in the Hebrew Scriptures. Noah’s shame (Genesis 9:21), the mocking of wine-led scoffers (Proverbs 20:1), and the priests’ prohibition against serving while impaired (Leviticus 10:9) lay the moral foundation that the New Testament writers assume.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. John 2:10 shows ordinary social custom: “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the fine wine until now.” Even in a festive context, the narrative quietly reveals the normal outcome of indulgence.
2. Acts 2:15 denies that Pentecost’s Spirit-filled worship resembles drunkenness: “These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!” The verb marks a decisive contrast between fleshly exhilaration and Holy Spirit empowerment.
3. 1 Corinthians 11:21 exposes selfish abuse at the Lord’s Table: “While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.” Drunkenness desecrates the sacramental meal and fractures fellowship.
4. 1 Thessalonians 5:7 uses the habit of night-time drinking to frame a call to vigilance: “For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.”
5. Matthew 24:49 depicts the unfaithful servant who “begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards,” illustrating reckless disregard for the Master’s return.
6. Revelation 17:6 portrays Babylon “drunk with the blood of the saints,” dramatizing utter moral intoxication with violence and idolatry.

Moral and Ecclesial Implications

Drunkenness is never treated neutrally in the New Testament. Wherever 3184 appears, it signals neglect of duty, breakdown of community, or outright rebellion. The church at Corinth learns that careless liberty endangers sacramental purity; Thessalonian believers discover that habitual nightlife dulls eschatological alertness; Matthew’s parable warns ministers against allowing dissipated living to replace servant leadership.

Eschatological and Prophetic Usage

Both Matthew 24:49 and Revelation 17:6 place μεθύω in end-times contexts. Intoxication typifies those oblivious to coming judgment. Babylon’s drunkenness with martyr blood shows how far human systems can stray when numbed by sin—an antithetic backdrop for the sober, watchful bride of Christ.

Positive Contrast: Fullness of the Spirit

Acts 2:15 implicitly anticipates Paul’s later exhortation, “Do not get drunk on wine… instead be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). The same loss of self-control that wine produces is replaced by Spirit-empowered self-control, joy, and clarity. The verb’s negative force thus magnifies the beauty of Spirit-filled sobriety.

Historical Witness of the Early Church

Patristic writings echo the apostolic stance. Clement of Alexandria counseled moderation and linked drunkenness to idolatry, while Tertullian contrasted pagan revelry with Christian temperance. Early church canons barred clergy from serving while impaired, reflecting Acts 2’s defense of spiritual earnestness.

Pastoral Counsel and Contemporary Application

1. Stewardship of body and mind: believers are temples of the Holy Spirit; surrendering faculties to alcohol contradicts that stewardship.
2. Readiness for Christ’s appearing: just as night-drinking dulls watchfulness, any habit that clouds judgment must be laid aside.
3. Protection of community: Corinth’s example warns that private excess quickly becomes a public stumbling block, especially around the Lord’s Table.
4. Gospel witness: a sober life commends the transforming power of grace in cultures where intoxication is normalized.

The six occurrences of μεθύω together form a consistent biblical testimony: God calls His people to clarity, self-control, and Spirit-filled joy, in sharp contrast to the bondage and blindness produced by drunkenness.

Forms and Transliterations

εμέθυσα εμέθυσας εμέθυσέ εμεθύσεν εμεθύσθη εμεθύσθησαν μεθυει μεθύει μεθύοντες μεθυοντων μεθυόντων μεθύουσα μεθυουσαν μεθύουσαν μεθυουσιν μεθύουσιν μεθύσατε μεθύσει μεθύση μεθυσθήσεται μεθυσθήση μεθυσθήσονται μεθύσθητε μεθυσθώσι μεθυσθωσιν μεθυσθῶσιν μέθυσον μεθύσω μεθύων μεμεθυσμένω methuei methuonton methuontōn methuousan methuousin methusthosin methusthōsin methyei methýei methyonton methyontōn methyónton methyóntōn methyousan methýousan methyousin methýousin methysthosin methysthôsin methysthōsin methysthō̂sin

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 24:49 V-PPA-GMP
GRK: μετὰ τῶν μεθυόντων
NAS: and eat and drink with drunkards;
KJV: drink with the drunken;
INT: with the drunkards

John 2:10 V-ASP-3P
GRK: καὶ ὅταν μεθυσθῶσιν τὸν ἐλάσσω
NAS: and when [the people] have drunk freely, [then he serves] the poorer
KJV: when men have well drunk, then
INT: and when they might have drunk freely the inferior

Acts 2:15 V-PIA-3P
GRK: ὑπολαμβάνετε οὗτοι μεθύουσιν ἔστιν γὰρ
NAS: For these men are not drunk, as you suppose,
KJV: are not drunken, as ye
INT: take it these are drunkards it is indeed

1 Corinthians 11:21 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ὃς δὲ μεθύει
NAS: is hungry and another is drunk.
KJV: and another is drunken.
INT: one moreover is drunke

1 Thessalonians 5:7 V-PIA-3P
GRK: μεθυσκόμενοι νυκτὸς μεθύουσιν
NAS: who get drunk get drunk at night.
KJV: they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
INT: are drunkards by night get drunk

Revelation 17:6 V-PPA-AFS
GRK: τὴν γυναῖκα μεθύουσαν ἐκ τοῦ
NAS: the woman drunk with the blood
KJV: I saw the woman drunken with the blood
INT: the woman drunk with the

Strong's Greek 3184
6 Occurrences

μεθύει — 1 Occ.
μεθυόντων — 1 Occ.
μεθύουσαν — 1 Occ.
μεθύουσιν — 2 Occ.
μεθυσθῶσιν — 1 Occ.