Lexical Summary mechri or mechris: Until, up to, as far as Original Word: μέχρι or μέχρις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance till, until. Or mechris (mekh-ris'); from mekos; as far as, i.e. Up to a certain point (as a preposition, of extent (denoting the terminus, whereas achri refers especially to the space of time or place intervening) or conjunction) -- till, (un-)to, until. see GREEK mekos see GREEK achri NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition as far as, until NASB Translation even (1), far (1), point (2), until (10). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3360: μέχριμέχρι and μέχρις (the latter never stands in the N. T. before a consonant, but μέχρι stands also before a vowel in Luke 16:16 T Tr WH; see ἄχρι, at the beginning; and on the distinction between ἄχρι and μέχρι see ἄχρι, at the end), a particle indicating the terminus ad quem: as far as, unto, until; 1. it has the force of a preposition with the genitive ((so even in Homer) Winer's Grammar, § 54, 6), and is used a. of time: Matthew 13:30 R G T WH marginal reading; Luke 16:16 T Tr WH; Acts 20:7; 1 Timothy 6:14; Hebrews 9:10; μέχρι θανάτου, Philippians 2:30; μέχρι τῆς σήμερον namely, ἡμέρας, Matthew 11:23; Matthew 28:15; μέχρι τέλους, Hebrews 3:6 (here WH Tr marginal reading brackets the clause), 14; ἀπό ... μέχρι, Acts 10:30; Romans 5:14; μέχρις οὗ (see ἄχρι, 1 d.; (Buttmann, 230f (198f); Winer's Grammar, 296 (278f))) followed by an aorist subjunctive having the force of a future perfect in Latin: Mark 13:30; Galatians 4:19 T Tr WH. b. of place: ἀπό ... μέχρι, Romans 15:19. c. of measure and degree: μέχρι θανάτου, so that he did not shrink even from death, Philippians 2:8 (2 Macc. 13:14; Plato, de rep., p. 361 c. at the end; μέχρι φόνου, Clement. hom. 1, 11); κακοπάθειν μέχρι δεσμῶν, 2 Timothy 2:9; μέχρις αἵματος ἀντικατέστητε, Hebrews 12:4. 2. with the force of a conjunction: till, followed by the subjunctive, Ephesians 4:13. Mέχρι / μέχρις (Strong’s Greek 3360) functions both as a preposition and a conjunction marking a limit—temporal (“until”), spatial (“as far as”), qualitative (“to the extent of”), or quantitative (“up to”). In the New Testament its 18 occurrences trace important contours of redemptive history, Christian discipleship, pastoral exhortation, and apostolic mission. Temporal Boundaries in Redemptive History Romans 5:14 sets a decisive era: “Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses”. The term frames the period governed by the unmitigated grip of death, preparing the reader for the contrast of grace that follows in Christ. Similarly, Hebrews 9:10 speaks of regulations “imposed until a time of reformation,” underscoring the provisional nature of the old covenant rituals awaiting Christ’s perfect sacrifice. Prophetic utterances employ the same word—Mark 13:30 “This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place”—to affirm the certainty and measured timetable of God’s eschatological plan. Spatial Extent of Mission Paul’s missionary summary highlights μέχρι as a marker of the farthest geographical reach achieved by the apostle: “from Jerusalem all the way round to Illyricum” (Romans 15:19). The phrase illustrates gospel advance from the Jewish heartland to the edge of the Roman world, fulfilling Acts 1:8’s mandate. Intensification and Total Commitment Philippians 2:8 captures the depth of Christ’s obedience: “He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.” The preposition intensifies the scope of obedience, indicating the absolute extremity of His self-surrender. The same letter uses it of Epaphroditus, who came “close to death for the work of Christ” (Philippians 2:30), modeling Christlike devotion. In 2 Timothy 2:9 Paul writes, “I suffer to the extent of being bound with chains as a criminal,” revealing that missionary hardship can reach the boundary of imprisonment yet cannot bind the word of God. Imperatives of Perseverance Hebrews repeatedly binds assurance to perseverance. “We are His house if indeed we hold firmly… until the end” (Hebrews 3:6). The identical construction in Hebrews 3:14 and Hebrews 12:4 (“You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood”) places a holy demand on believers to endure to the finishing line of faith. Matthew 28:15 records the continued circulation of the guards’ false report “to this very day,” reminding readers that error and opposition persist within divinely limited boundaries. Eschatological Outlook and Pastoral Vigilance Paul charges Timothy “to keep this command without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 6:14). The word bridges the present age of stewardship with the sure and imminent Parousia, motivating faithful service. Galatians 4:19 expresses pastoral travail “until Christ is formed in you,” reflecting the ongoing labor required for spiritual maturity within the flock. Covenantal Transition and Prophetic Fulfilment Luke 16:16 observes, “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John,” demarcating the turning point from prophetic anticipation to kingdom realization. Matthew 11:23, by contrast, employs μέχρι to measure Capernaum’s culpable unbelief “until this day,” illustrating that divine patience also has a terminus. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Ministry aims must be pursued up to the divinely appointed limits—unity, maturity, gospel reach—without self-imposed ceilings (Ephesians 4:13; Romans 15:19). Theological Reflections Μέχρι / μέχρις affirms both the sovereignty and faithfulness of God. Every limit it notes is divinely set: sin and death reign only until grace intervenes; the Old Testament rituals serve only until the Messiah comes; suffering is permitted only until God’s purpose is fulfilled; and history itself continues only until Christ returns. The word therefore breathes quiet certainty into Christian hope and summons believers to wholehearted engagement within those God-ordained boundaries. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 11:23 AdvGRK: ἔμεινεν ἂν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον KJV: it would have remained until this day. INT: it had remained anyhow until which this day Matthew 28:15 Adv Mark 13:30 Adv Luke 16:16 Adv Acts 10:30 Adv Acts 20:7 Adv Romans 5:14 Adv Romans 15:19 Adv Galatians 4:19 Adv Ephesians 4:13 Adv Philippians 2:8 Adv Philippians 2:30 Adv 1 Timothy 6:14 Adv 2 Timothy 2:9 Adv Hebrews 3:6 Adv Hebrews 3:14 Adv Hebrews 9:10 Adv Hebrews 12:4 Adv Strong's Greek 3360 |
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