◄ 3338. metamelomai ►
Strong's Lexicon metamelomai: To repent, to regret, to change one's mind Original Word: μεταμέλομαι Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: metamelomai Pronunciation: meh-tah-MEH-loh-my Phonetic Spelling: (met-am-el'-lom-ahee) Definition: (lit: I change one care or interest for another), I change my mind (generally for the better), repent, regret. Meaning: The verb μεταμέλομαι generally means to feel remorse, regret, or to change one's mind, often with a focus on the emotional aspect of repentance. Word Origin: From the Greek preposition "μετά" (meta), meaning "after" or "beyond," and the verb "μέλω" (melo), meaning "to care" or "to be concerned." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • The Hebrew equivalent often associated with μεταμέλομαι is נָחַם (nacham, Strong's 5162), which can mean to be sorry, to console oneself, or to repent. This term is used in the Old Testament to describe both human and divine expressions of regret or change of mind, such as in Genesis 6:6, where God expresses regret over creating humanity due to their wickedness. Usage: This term is used in the New Testament to describe a change of heart or mind, often accompanied by a sense of regret or remorse for past actions. It is distinct from "μετανοέω" (metanoeō), which emphasizes a change in one's way of life or purpose. Context: • The verb μεταμέλομαι appears in several key passages in the New Testament, illustrating the concept of regret or remorse. In Matthew 21:29, it is used in the parable of the two sons, where one son initially refuses to work in the vineyard but later changes his mind and goes. This change of mind is described using μεταμέλομαι, highlighting the son's regret and subsequent action. • In Matthew 27:3, Judas Iscariot experiences μεταμέλομαι after betraying Jesus, indicating his deep remorse for his actions. However, this remorse does not lead to true repentance or a change in behavior, as seen in his tragic end. • The term is also used in Hebrews 7:21, where it is applied to God's unchanging promise, contrasting human regret with divine constancy: "The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: 'You are a priest forever.'" • Theologically, μεταμέλομαι underscores the emotional aspect of repentance, focusing on the internal experience of regret. It serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning one's heart and actions with God's will, while also distinguishing between mere emotional regret and genuine repentance that leads to transformation. HELPS Word-studies 3338 metaméllomai (from 3326 /metá, "change after being with," and 3199 /mélō, "care, be concerned with") – properly, to experience a change of concern after a change of emotion and usually implying to regret, i.e. falling into emotional remorse afterwards (note the force of 3326 /metá). [3338 (metaméllomai) in the papyri (P Thead 51.15, iv/ad) also means "regret" and for example is used of a thief, "Otherwise you will have reason to be sorry for it" (MM, 403).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin from meta and meló Definition to regret, repent NASB Translation change his mind (1), feel remorse (1), felt remorse (1), regret (2), regretted (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3338: μεταμέλομαι μεταμέλομαι; imperfect μετεμελόμην; passive, 1 aorist μετεμελήθην; 1 future μεταμεληθήσομαι; (from μέλομαι, middle of μέλω); from Thucydides down; the Sept. for נִחַם; a deponent passive; properly, it is a care to one afterward (see μετά, III. 2), i. e. it repents one; to repent oneself (in R. V. uniformly with this reflexive rendering (except 2 Corinthians 7:8, where regret)): Matthew 21:29, 32; Matthew 27:3; 2 Corinthians 7:8; Hebrews 7:21 from Psalm 109:4 (). [SYNONYMS: μεταμέλομαι, μετανοέω: The distinctions so often laid down between these words, to the effect that the former expresses a merely emotional change the latter a change of choice, the former has reference to particulars the latter to the entire life, the former signifies nothing but regret even though amounting to remorse, the latter that reversal of moral purpose known as repentance — seem hardly to be sustained by usage. But that μετανοέω is the fuller and nobler term, expressive of moral action and issues, is indicated not only by its derivation, but by the greater frequency of its use, by the fact that it is often employed in the imperative (μεταμέλομαι never), and by its construction with ἀοπ, ἐκ (cf. ἡ εἰς Θεόν μετάνοια, Acts 20:21). Cf. Trench, N. T. Synonyms, § lxix.; especially Gataker, Adv. Post. xxix.] Strong's Exhaustive Concordance repent From meta and the middle voice of melo; to care afterwards, i.e. Regret -- repent (self). see GREEK meta see GREEK melo Forms and Transliterations μεταμεληθεις μεταμεληθείς μεταμεληθεὶς μεταμεληθής μεταμεληθήσεσθε μεταμεληθησεται μεταμεληθήσεται μεταμεληθήση μεταμελήση μεταμελομαι μεταμέλομαι μετάμελον μετάμελος μεταμεμέλημαι μετεμελήθη μετεμελήθην μετεμεληθητε μετεμελήθητε μετεμελομην μετεμελόμην οὐκ metameletheis metameletheìs metamelētheis metamelētheìs metamelethesetai metamelethḗsetai metamelēthēsetai metamelēthḗsetai metamelomai metamélomai metemelethete metemelēthēte metemelḗthete metemelḗthēte metemelomen metemelomēn metemelómen metemelómēn ouk Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance matthew 21:29 V-APP-NMS GRK: ὕστερον δὲ μεταμεληθεὶς ἀπῆλθεν INT: afterward also he repented he went Matthew 21:32 V-AIP-2P GRK: ἰδόντες οὐδὲ μετεμελήθητε ὕστερον τοῦ NAS: [this], did not even feel remorse afterward KJV: when ye had seen [it], repented not INT: having seen not even did repent afterward Matthew 27:3 V-APP-NMS GRK: ὅτι κατεκρίθη μεταμεληθεὶς ἔστρεψεν τὰ NAS: that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned KJV: he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again INT: that he was condemned having regretted [it] returned the 2 Corinthians 7:8 V-PIM/P-1S GRK: ἐπιστολῇ οὐ μεταμέλομαι εἰ καὶ NAS: by my letter, I do not regret it; though KJV: I do not repent, though I did repent: INT: letter not I do regret [it] if even 2 Corinthians 7:8 V-IIM/P-1S GRK: εἰ καὶ μετεμελόμην βλέπω γὰρ NAS: it; though I did regret it -- [for] I see KJV: though I did repent: for INT: if even I did regret I see indeed Hebrews 7:21 V-FIP-3S GRK: καὶ οὐ μεταμεληθήσεται Σὺ ἱερεὺς NAS: HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, 'YOU ARE A PRIEST KJV: will not repent, Thou [art] a priest INT: and not will repent You [are] a priest Strong's Greek 3338 6 Occurrences μεταμεληθήσεται — 1 Occ. μεταμεληθεὶς — 2 Occ. μεταμέλομαι — 1 Occ. μετεμελήθητε — 1 Occ. μετεμελόμην — 1 Occ.