← G3186 G3188 →

μείζων

meízōn

G3187 predicate adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Comparative form of 'large' or 'great'; greater in size, quantity, degree, importance, status, or age. Used both in literal senses (physically larger) and figurative senses (more significant, higher in status, superior, elder). Context determines the aspect of comparison: physical magnitude, exalted position, advanced age (elder), greater authority, or moral superiority.

Semantic Range

greater in size, greater in degree, more important, higher in rank, superior, elder (in age), greater (in authority), greater (in moral standing)

Root / Etymology

Comparative form of μέγας (great, large). No distinct suffix; formed irregularly according to Greek comparative patterns.

Historical & Contextual Notes

μείζων is the regular comparative of μέγας, meaning 'greater' or 'larger', and is used widely from classical through Koine Greek. It can denote literal size (a larger object), but more often in biblical and extra-biblical contexts, it expresses superiority in rank, importance, or quality (e.g., a 'greater' commandment, a person of 'greater' honor). In familial relations or among groups, μείζων denotes an 'elder' or one of advanced age, but this is contextually determined, not its primary lexical sense. The term is employed in the Septuagint and New Testament to contrast persons, precepts, places, or things. In translation traditions, the sense is often rendered as 'greater', 'more important', or 'elder' depending on context, but English does not always differentiate adequately among these nuances. Comparatively, Greek often uses the comparative form (μείζων) where English would use 'greater', but sometimes shifts to 'elder' in social or familial structures. Related term: πλείων (more numerous), which denotes greater quantity rather than size or importance.

Translation Consistency

primary "greater" 48 occurrences

The adjective 'greater' is the natural, direct comparative of 'great' and covers the full SILEX range—physically larger, more in quantity or degree, higher in rank or authority, and elder/older in status—while remaining the most common, idiomatic English rendering. Using 'greater' provides a single, consistent term that fits both literal and figurative contexts and matches the dominant existing renderings.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

irregular comparative of μέγας; larger (literally or figuratively, specially, in age):--elder, greater(-est), more.

Root Family

μεγ- (mégas) — great, large, mighty, intense, important

Root μεγ- great, large, big
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3173 μέγας great thing
G3174 μέγεθος greatness
G3176 μέγιστος greatest things
G3185 μεῖζον

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3187-02 μείζων meizon ADJ.S NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one 33
G3187-03 μείζονα meizona ADJ.S ACC N PL greater greater things greater things 7
G3187-06 μείζονος meizonos ADJ.S GEN M SG greater of a greater one of a greater one 3
G3187-01 μείζω meizo ADJ.S ACC N PL greater greater things greater 2
G3187-04 μείζονας meizonas ADJ.S ACC F PL greater greater ones (feminine) greater ones 1
G3187-05 μείζονες meizones ADJ.P NOM M PL greater greater ones greater ones 1
G3187-07 μειζοτέραν meizoteran ADJ.S ACC F SG greater greater (feminine singular) greater 1

Occurrences in Scripture

48 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3187-02 Matthew 11:11 μείζων meizon ADJ.S NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Matthew 11:11 μείζων meizon-2 ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Matthew 12:6 μεῖζόν meizon ADJ.S NOM N SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Matthew 13:32 μεῖζον meizon ADJ.P NOM N SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Matthew 18:1 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG is greatest the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Matthew 18:4 μείζων meizon ADJ.A NOM M SG COMP greatest the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Matthew 20:31 μεῖζον meizon ADJ.S ACC N SG the more the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Matthew 23:11 μείζων meizon ADJ.S NOM M SG greatest the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Matthew 23:17 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Matthew 23:19 μεῖζον meizon ADJ.P NOM N SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Mark 4:32 μεῖζον meizon ADJ.P NOM N SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Mark 9:34 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Mark 12:31 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM F SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Luke 7:28 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Luke 7:28 μείζων meizon-2 ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Luke 9:46 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greatest the greater one the greater one
G3187-04 Luke 12:18 μείζονας meizonas ADJ.S ACC F PL greater greater ones (feminine) greater ones
G3187-02 Luke 22:24 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Luke 22:26 μείζων meizon ADJ.A NOM M SG COMP greatest the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 Luke 22:27 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-01 John 1:50 μείζω meizo ADJ.S ACC N PL greater greater things greater things
G3187-02 John 4:12 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-03 John 5:20 μείζονα meizona ADJ.S ACC N PL greater greater things greater things
G3187-01 John 5:36 μείζω meizo ADJ.P ACC F SG greater greater things greater
G3187-02 John 8:53 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 John 10:29 μεῖζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 John 13:16 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 John 13:16 μείζων meizon-2 ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-03 John 14:12 μείζονα meizona ADJ.S ACC N PL greater greater things greater things
G3187-02 John 14:28 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-03 John 15:13 μείζονα meizona ADJ.S ACC F SG greater greater things greater things
G3187-02 John 15:20 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-03 John 19:11 μείζονα meizona ADJ.A ACC F SG COMP greater greater things greater things
G3187-02 Romans 9:12 μείζων meizon ADJ.A NOM M SG COMP older the greater one the greater one
G3187-03 1 Corinthians 12:31 μείζονα meizona ADJ.R ACC N PL COMP greater greater things greater things
G3187-02 1 Corinthians 13:13 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM F SG greatest the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 1 Corinthians 14:5 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-06 Hebrews 6:13 μείζονος meizonos ADJ.S GEN M SG greater of a greater one of a greater one
G3187-06 Hebrews 6:16 μείζονος meizonos ADJ.S GEN M SG greater of a greater one of a greater one
G3187-06 Hebrews 9:11 μείζονος meizonos ADJ.A GEN F SG COMP greater of a greater one of a greater one
G3187-03 Hebrews 11:26 μείζονα meizona ADJ.A ACC M SG COMP greater greater things greater things
G3187-02 James 3:1 μεῖζον meizon ADJ.A ACC N SG COMP greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-03 James 4:6 μείζονα meizona ADJ.S ACC F SG greater greater things greater things
G3187-05 2 Peter 2:11 μείζονες meizones ADJ.P NOM M PL greater greater ones greater ones
G3187-02 1 John 3:20 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 1 John 4:4 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM M SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-02 1 John 5:9 μείζων meizon ADJ.P NOM F SG greater the greater one the greater one
G3187-07 3 John 1:4 μειζοτέραν meizoteran ADJ.S ACC F SG greater greater (feminine singular) greater
← G3186 Greek Lexicon G3188 →