μέριμνα (G3308) — Greek Lexicon

μέριμνα

mérimna

G3308 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Concern or anxious thought, typically connected with worrying about possible difficulties or things which require attentive management; can refer to anxiety, preoccupation, or solicitude in relation to daily needs, wellbeing, or uncertain outcomes. In some contexts, it denotes the mental state of being pulled in different directions by various concerns, whether personal, familial, or communal.

Semantic Range

anxious care, worry, concern for needs, solicitude, preoccupation, mental distraction, divided attention

Root / Etymology

From the verb μερίζω ('to divide, to separate'), with the noun form indicating that which divides or distracts the mind; thus 'care' in the sense of divided or anxious attention. Ultimately related to the notion of dividing one's thoughts or energy.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μέριμνα appears as concern, care, or anxious thought, with the nuance of being pulled or divided in mind. Hellenistic sources, including the Septuagint, often use it for anxious concern over food, clothing, or life circumstances (cf. LXX Psalm 54:23). In the New Testament, μέριμνα typically refers to anxiety or worry over practical and material matters (Matthew 13:22, 'the care of this world'), but can also designate positive concern or solicitude for others (e.g., 2 Corinthians 11:28, concern for assemblies). Later Christian literature often retains the negative connotation of distracting cares that hinder devotion or simplicity. English translations as 'care' or 'anxiety' do not always capture the full sense of internal division or distraction conveyed by the Greek.

Translation Consistency

primary "worry" 0 occurrences

"Worry" is the most natural, common English word that captures the typical sense of μέριμνα — anxious concern, preoccupation, or solicitude about needs and outcomes. It fits both the negative/anxious uses and the idea of being mentally pulled in different directions, and adapts cleanly to all forms (worries, worried, worrying) for consistent rendering.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):

"divided concern" (2x) "cares" (1x) "anxieties" (1x) "divided anxieties" (1x) "care" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μερίζω (through the idea of distraction); solicitude:--care.

Root Family

μερίζ- (mérimna) — to divide, to distribute, to separate

Root μερίζ- to divide, to distribute, to separate

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G3311	μερισμός	to distributions

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3308-01`	μέριμνα	merimna	`N NOM F SG`	anxiety	divided concern	divided concern	2
`G3308-02`	μέριμναι	merimnai	`N NOM F PL`	cares	divided concerns	cares	1
`G3308-03`	μερίμναις	merimnais	`N DAT F PL`	cares	to divided anxieties	with divided anxieties	1
`G3308-04`	μέριμναν	merimnan	`N ACC F SG`	care	anxious preoccupation	care	1
`G3308-05`	μεριμνῶν	merimnon	`N GEN F PL`	cares	being anxious	anxieties	1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3308-01`	Matthew 13:22	μέριμνα	merimna	`N NOM F SG`	care	divided concern	divided concern
`G3308-02`	Mark 4:19	μέριμναι	merimnai	`N NOM F PL`	cares	divided concerns	cares
`G3308-05`	Luke 8:14	μεριμνῶν	merimnon	`N GEN F PL`	cares	being anxious	anxieties
`G3308-03`	Luke 21:34	μερίμναις	merimnais	`N DAT F PL`	cares	to divided anxieties	with divided anxieties
`G3308-01`	2 Corinthians 11:28	μέριμνα	merimna	`N NOM F SG`	anxiety	divided concern	divided concern
`G3308-04`	1 Peter 5:7	μέριμναν	merimnan	`N ACC F SG`	care	anxious preoccupation	care

← G3307 Greek Lexicon G3309 →