Lexical Summary merizó: To divide, to distribute, to apportion Original Word: μερίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance apportion, divideFrom meros; to part, i.e. (literally) to apportion, bestow, share, or (figuratively) to disunite, differ -- deal, be difference between, distribute, divide, give participle see GREEK meros HELPS Word-studies 3307 merízō(from 3313 /méros, "a single part, member") – properly, to divide, distribute into parts (portions), i.e. separate (distinguish) one part from another. [3307 /merízō can be used positively meaning "distribute as properly needed" (1 Cor 7:17.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom meros Definition to divide NASB Translation allotted (1), apportioned (2), assigned (1), divide (1), divided (9). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3307: μερίζωμερίζω: 1 aorist ἐμέρισα; perfect μεμερικα (1 Corinthians 7:17 T Tr text WH text); passive, perfect μεμερισμαι; 1 aorist ἐμερίσθην; middle, 1 aorist infinitive μερίσασθαι; (from μέρος, as μελίζω from μέλος); from Xenophon down; the Sept. for חָלַק; to divide; i. e. a. to separate into parts, cut into pieces: passive μεμέρισται ὁ Χριστός; i. e. has Christ himself, whom ye claim as yours, been like yourselves divided into parts, so that one has one part and another another part? 1 Corinthians 1:13 (L WH text punctuate so as to take it as an exclamatory declaration; see Meyer in loc.); tropically, μεμέρισται ἡ γυνή καί ἡ παρθένος, differ in their aims, follow different interests (A. V. there is a difference between; but L Tr WH connect μεμέρισται with what precedes), 1 Corinthians 7:33 (34); to divide into parties, i. e. be split into factions (Polybius 8, 23, 9): καθ' ἐμαυτοῦ to be at variance with oneself, to rebel (A. V. divided) against oneself, Matthew 12:25; also ἐπ' ἐμαυτόν, Matthew 12:26; Mark 3:24-26. b. to distribute: τί τισί, a thing among persons, Mark 6:41; to bestow, impart: τίνι, 1 Corinthians 7:17; τί τίνι, Romans 12:3; 2 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 7:2 (Sir. 45:20; Polybius 11, 28, 9); middle μερίζομαι τί μετά τίνος, to divide (for oneself) a thing with one, Luke 12:13 (Demosthenes, p. 913, 1). (Compare: διαμερίζω, συμμερίζω.) Strong’s Greek 3307 (merizō) centers on the idea of dividing, distributing, or apportioning. Its New Testament appearances span narrative, parable, exhortation, and doctrinal argument, giving the term a rich range of connotations that together communicate both God’s orderly generosity and the self-destructive nature of sinful division. In the Miracle of the Loaves (Mark 6:41) At the feeding of the five thousand Jesus “kept giving the loaves to His disciples to set before them, and He divided the two fish among them all”. The verb highlights Christ’s sovereign ability to portion out limited resources until every need is met (Mark 6:42). The action is intentional and measured; the same Lord who created abundance in Genesis deliberately parcels food through His servants, foreshadowing the apostolic distribution of spiritual gifts and practical aid in Acts 2:45; 6:1. Warnings Against Spiritual Schism (Matthew 12:25-26; Mark 3:24-26) In answering accusations that He cast out demons by Beelzebul, Jesus states, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste” (Matthew 12:25). Here merizō underscores the self-defeating nature of internal conflict. Division is not simply unfortunate; it is ruinous. The teaching grounds later apostolic pleas for unity, revealing that spiritual warfare cannot be waged effectively when the household of God fragments. Is Christ Divided? (1 Corinthians 1:13) Paul presses the same principle upon the Corinthian church: “Is Christ divided?” The question expects an emphatic negative. Merizō exposes party spirit as an assault on the indivisible person and work of Christ. Any attempt to portion Christ among competing leaders—Paul, Apollos, Cephas—denies the single sacrifice and unified headship that bind believers together (compare Ephesians 4:4-6). Gifts and Ministry Allotments (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 2 Corinthians 10:13) God’s purposeful distribution is equally prominent. “God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3), encouraging believers to serve within their appointed spheres without envy or pride. Paul applies the same truth to marital status (1 Corinthians 7:17) and apostolic field (2 Corinthians 10:13). Merizō therefore functions positively, teaching contentment with God’s particular calling while affirming the diversity of service that flourishes under Christ’s lordship. An Illustration of Earthly Stewardship (Luke 12:13) When an onlooker requests Jesus to “tell my brother to divide the inheritance,” merizō surfaces in the context of family assets. Jesus declines arbitration, then warns against covetousness (Luke 12:14-15). Earthly partitions of wealth pale beside the eternal riches found in being “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). The incident redirects attention from human calculations of fairness to divine priorities of generosity and trust. Typology in the Priest-King Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:2) Melchizedek “apportioned a tenth of everything” to Abram, prefiguring Christ’s greater priesthood. The term highlights the transfer of blessing and ownership: what was Abram’s is willingly handed back to God’s representative. Merizō here connects worship with tangible giving, underscoring that stewardship flows from recognizing Christ’s superiority. Singleness, Marriage, and Undivided Devotion (1 Corinthians 7:34) Paul notes that the unmarried woman “is divided” in her concerns—whether to attend to the Lord or to a husband. The verb surfaces to contrast earthly obligations with undistracted service. Far from denigrating marriage, the passage clarifies that each state, divinely assigned, carries its own distribution of responsibilities; spiritual attentiveness must govern them all. Systematic Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty in Distribution Merizō portrays God as the deliberate Allocator—of food, faith, fields of ministry, and even covenantal roles—affirming meticulous providence that leaves no believer overlooked. 2. Call to Unity Whenever humans divide what God means to keep whole—whether kingdoms, households, or the body of Christ—the result is decay. Merizō becomes a warning sign flashing against factionalism. 3. Stewardship and Contentment Whether in inheritances or life situations, believers are summoned to trust God’s portions, avoid greed, and redirect divided attention toward undivided devotion. 4. Christological Center All rightful division (of bread, gifts, tithes) originates from and points back to the undivided Christ, whose body was “broken” yet whose person remains the single sufficient Savior. Pastoral Implications • Encourage congregations to receive their God-given measure of faith and ministry without comparison. By tracing merizō across Scripture, one sees both the beauty of God’s ordered generosity and the peril of human self-segmentation. Embracing the divine portion and shunning divisive attitudes preserves the church’s unity and magnifies the sufficiency of Christ. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 12:25 V-APP-NFSGRK: Πᾶσα βασιλεία μερισθεῖσα καθ' ἑαυτῆς NAS: kingdom divided against KJV: Every kingdom divided against itself INT: Every kingdom having divided against itself Matthew 12:25 V-APP-NFS Matthew 12:26 V-AIP-3S Mark 3:24 V-ASP-3S Mark 3:25 V-ASP-3S Mark 3:26 V-AIP-3S Mark 6:41 V-AIA-3S Luke 12:13 V-ANM Romans 12:3 V-AIA-3S 1 Corinthians 1:13 V-RIM/P-3S 1 Corinthians 7:17 V-AIA-3S 1 Corinthians 7:34 V-RIM/P-3S 2 Corinthians 10:13 V-AIA-3S Hebrews 7:2 V-AIA-3S Strong's Greek 3307 |
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