Lexical Summary methuó: To be drunk, to become intoxicated Original Word: μεθύω 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 Originfrom 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: μεθύωμεθύω (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. 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. 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 methysthō̂sinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 24:49 V-PPA-GMPGRK: 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 Acts 2:15 V-PIA-3P 1 Corinthians 11:21 V-PIA-3S 1 Thessalonians 5:7 V-PIA-3P Revelation 17:6 V-PPA-AFS Strong's Greek 3184 |