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μανθάνω

manthánō

G3129 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To learn, acquire knowledge, or come to know something through instruction, study, observation, or experience; to be instructed, to find out, or gain understanding (not merely through passive reception, but often through purposeful seeking or apprenticeship). In some contexts, μανθάνω can also denote coming to realize or comprehend a truth or concept.

Semantic Range

to learn, to find out, to be taught, to understand, to realize, to gain knowledge, to become informed, to study

Root / Etymology

From the root μανθ-; connected etymologically to μαθητής ('learner, disciple'). The origin is native Indo-European, and it has cognates throughout the Greek dialects and in other Indo-European languages with the sense 'learn'. The word does not derive from another attested Greek verb within Koine, but reflects a primary verbal root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

μανθάνω is widely attested from Homeric Greek into the Koine period. In classical contexts, it regularly referred both to formal instruction (being taught by a teacher or mentor) and to practical or experiential learning. The verb carries the nuance not simply of receiving information but of internalizing knowledge through deliberate engagement. In the Hellenistic and New Testament periods, μανθάνω retains its fundamental sense but appears frequently in the context of discipleship, moral instruction, and receptive learning. In the NT, it often refers to learning religious, ethical, or scriptural truths, sometimes with the implication of becoming a disciple (but less specialized than μαθητεύω). English translations often render it as 'learn,' 'come to know,' or 'be taught,' but these sometimes fail to capture the process-oriented, sometimes transformative aspect present in Greek usage. The related noun μαθητής ('learner, disciple') and the verb μαθεῖν (aorist infinitive form) are central in both philosophical and religious texts. The semantic field distinguishes μανθάνω (to learn as a student) from forms of γινώσκω ('to know, recognize') and διδάσκω ('to teach'), focusing specifically on the process of acquiring and integrating knowledge rather than mere reception or recognition.

Translation Consistency

primary "learn" 25 occurrences

'Learn' is the natural, common English verb that best covers the primary semantic range of μανθάνω (to acquire knowledge, be taught, find out, come to understand). It matches the majority of attested renderings, works for both active study and being instructed, and yields natural-sounding inflections across contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

prolongation from a primary verb, another form of which, , is used as an alternate in certain tenses; to learn (in any way):--learn, understand.

Root Family

μανθ- (amathḗs) — to learn, to understand

Root μανθ- to learn, to acquire knowledge, to be taught
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G261 ἀμαθής uneducated ones
G2648 καταμανθάνω Learn thoroughly

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3129-11 μάθετε mathete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL learn Learn! Learn! 5
G3129-03 ἐμάθετε emathete V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you learned you learned you learned 4
G3129-10 μαθεῖν mathein V AOR ACT INF to learn to learn to learn 3
G3129-02 ἔμαθες emathes V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you have learned you learned you learned 2
G3129-06 μανθανέτωσαν manthanetosan V PRS ACT IMP 3P PL let them learn let them be learning let them learn 2
G3129-12 μαθὼν mathon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having learned having learned having learned 2
G3129-01 ἔμαθεν emathen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he learned he learned he learned 1
G3129-04 ἔμαθον emathon V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I-have-learned I learned I learned 1
G3129-05 μανθανέτω manthaneto V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG let her learn let him/her be learning let her learn 1
G3129-07 μανθάνοντα manthanonta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N PL learning learning ones learning 1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3129-11 Matthew 9:13 μάθετε mathete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL learn Learn! Learn!
G3129-11 Matthew 11:29 μάθετε mathete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL learn Learn! Learn!
G3129-11 Matthew 24:32 μάθετε mathete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL learn Learn! Learn!
G3129-11 Mark 13:28 μάθετε mathete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL learn Learn! Learn!
G3129-12 John 6:45 μαθὼν mathon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having-learned having learned having learned
G3129-13 John 7:15 μεμαθηκώς memathekos V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M SG having learned having learned having learned
G3129-12 Acts 23:27 μαθὼν mathon V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having learned having learned having learned
G3129-03 Romans 16:17 ἐμάθετε emathete V AOR ACT IND 2P PL learned you learned you learned
G3129-11 1 Corinthians 4:6 μάθητε mathete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL you may learn Learn! you may learn
G3129-08 1 Corinthians 14:31 μανθάνωσιν manthanosin V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL may learn they may be learning they may be learning
G3129-10 1 Corinthians 14:35 μαθεῖν mathein V AOR ACT INF to learn to learn to learn
G3129-10 Galatians 3:2 μαθεῖν mathein V AOR ACT INF to learn to learn to learn
G3129-03 Ephesians 4:20 ἐμάθετε emathete V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you learned you learned you learned
G3129-03 Philippians 4:9 ἐμάθετε emathete V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you learned you learned you learned
G3129-04 Philippians 4:11 ἔμαθον emathon V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I-have-learned I learned I learned
G3129-03 Colossians 1:7 ἐμάθετε emathete V AOR ACT IND 2P PL you learned you learned you learned
G3129-05 1 Timothy 2:11 μανθανέτω manthaneto V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG let her learn let him/her be learning let her learn
G3129-06 1 Timothy 5:4 μανθανέτωσαν manthanetosan V PRS ACT IMP 3P PL let them learn let them be learning let them learn
G3129-09 1 Timothy 5:13 μανθάνουσιν manthanousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they learn they are learning they learn
G3129-07 2 Timothy 3:7 μανθάνοντα manthanonta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N PL learning learning ones learning
G3129-02 2 Timothy 3:14 ἔμαθες emathes V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you have learned you learned you learned
G3129-02 2 Timothy 3:14 ἔμαθες emathes-2 V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you have learned you learned you learned
G3129-06 Titus 3:14 μανθανέτωσαν manthanetosan V PRS ACT IMP 3P PL let them learn let them be learning let them learn
G3129-01 Hebrews 5:8 ἔμαθεν emathen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he learned he learned he learned
G3129-10 Revelation 14:3 μαθεῖν mathein V AOR ACT INF learn to learn to learn
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