μέσος (G3319) — Greek Lexicon

μέσος

mésos

G3319 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

in the middle, central or intermediate in position; with extension, that which occupies a position between two points or places. It may refer both to spatial relationships ('in the midst of,' 'between') and, by extension, to temporal or figurative centrality ('midday,' 'the central part' of something, or a group among which someone moves or acts). Context determines if it functions adjectivally ('middle, central'), as a substantive ('the midst'), or idiomatically ('among, between').

Semantic Range

in the middle, among, in the midst, between, central, intermediate, mid (of time: midday, midnight), the center or core of something

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root μεσ- (central, middle); closely related to the preposition μετά ('with, among, after'), though the semantic development is from the idea of a position in between.

Historical & Contextual Notes

μέσος appears in both classical and later Greek with consistent spatial meaning: that which is in the center, the midpoint, or occupying the intermediate space between other entities. In classical literature (e.g. Homer, Herodotus), it denotes either the literal middle or the midpoint of a group, place, or time ('midday'). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it frequently refers to 'the midst' or 'among' a group of people, places, or things, and can be either adjectival or substantival. The term is flexible: 'in the midst' (ἐν μέσῳ) is a common phrase for being among others. English Bible tradition often translates as 'midst' or 'among,' but the word sometimes also denotes temporal centrality ('midday' for high noon), or the core of an object or concept. The semantic range is broader in Greek than typical English renditions, which may obscure its metaphorical or idiomatic uses. There is no strong evidence of substantive theological development attached to the term itself across Jewish or early Christian usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "middle" 47 occurrences

"Middle" is the most natural, common English word that covers the adjective and substantive senses (spatial, temporal, and figurative) reflected by μέσος. It fits phrases like "in the middle," "the middle of," or "middle of the day," and is more contemporary and flexible than the more archaic "midst." It therefore supports consistent, natural renderings across all occurrences.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):

"midst" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μετά; middle (as an adjective or (neuter) noun):--among, X before them, between, + forth, mid(-day, -night), midst, way.

Root Family

μεσ- (mesítēs) — middle, intermediate, in-between

Root μεσ- middle, central, lying between

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G3316	μεσίτης	to a mediator
G3322	μεσόω	of being at midpoint

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3319-02`	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	the midst	in the middle	in the middle	29
`G3319-03`	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	midst	the middle	the middle	17
`G3319-05`	μέσου	mesou	`ADJ.S GEN N SG`	midst	of the middle	of the middle	8
`G3319-04`	μέσος	mesos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	among	middle one	the middle one	3
`G3319-01`	μέσης	meses	`DET GEN F SG`	mid-	of the middle	of the middle	2

Occurrences in Scripture

59 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3319-02`	Matthew 10:16	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-03`	Matthew 13:25	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	the midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-05`	Matthew 13:49	μέσου	mesou	`ADJ.S GEN N SG`	among	of the middle	of the middle
`G3319-02`	Matthew 14:6	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-03`	Matthew 14:24	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	in the midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-02`	Matthew 18:2	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	the midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-02`	Matthew 18:20	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-01`	Matthew 25:6	μέσης	meses	`DET GEN F SG`	midnight	of the middle	of the middle
`G3319-03`	Mark 3:3	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-02`	Mark 6:47	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	middle	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-03`	Mark 7:31	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	the midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-02`	Mark 9:36	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	the midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-03`	Mark 14:60	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	the midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-02`	Luke 2:46	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	the midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-05`	Luke 4:30	μέσου	mesou	`ADJ.S GEN N SG`	midst	of the middle	the midst
`G3319-03`	Luke 4:35	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-03`	Luke 5:19	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-03`	Luke 6:8	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-02`	Luke 8:7	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	the midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-02`	Luke 10:3	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-03`	Luke 17:11	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	the midst of	the middle	the middle
`G3319-02`	Luke 21:21	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-02`	Luke 22:27	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	middle	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-02`	Luke 22:55	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	the middle	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-04`	Luke 22:55	μέσος	mesos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	in the midst	middle one	the middle one
`G3319-03`	Luke 23:45	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	in the middle	the middle	the middle
`G3319-02`	Luke 24:36	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-04`	John 1:26	μέσος	mesos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	among	middle one	the middle one
`G3319-02`	John 8:3	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.A DAT N SG`	the midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-02`	John 8:9	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.A DAT N SG`	middle	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-03`	John 19:18	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	in the midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-03`	John 20:19	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-03`	John 20:26	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-02`	Acts 1:15	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	the midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-04`	Acts 1:18	μέσος	mesos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	in the middle	middle one	in the middle
`G3319-02`	Acts 2:22	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	the midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-02`	Acts 4:7	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-02`	Acts 17:22	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	the midst of	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-05`	Acts 17:33	μέσου	mesou	`ADJ.S GEN N SG`	midst	of the middle	of the middle
`G3319-05`	Acts 23:10	μέσου	mesou	`ADJ.S GEN N SG`	midst	of the middle	the midst
`G3319-01`	Acts 26:13	μέσης	meses	`DET GEN F SG`	mid-	of the middle	of the middle
`G3319-02`	Acts 27:21	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-03`	Acts 27:27	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	midnight	the middle	the middle
`G3319-05`	1 Corinthians 5:2	μέσου	mesou	`ADJ.S GEN N SG`	midst	of the middle	of the middle
`G3319-03`	1 Corinthians 6:5	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	between	the middle	the middle
`G3319-05`	2 Corinthians 6:17	μέσου	mesou	`ADJ.S GEN N SG`	their midst	of the middle	the midst
`G3319-03`	Philippians 2:15	μέσον	meson	`ADJ.S ACC N SG`	in the midst	the middle	the middle
`G3319-05`	Colossians 2:14	μέσου	mesou	`ADJ.S GEN N SG`	the way	of the middle	middle
`G3319-02`	1 Thessalonians 2:7	μέσῳ	meso	`ADJ.S DAT N SG`	midst	in the middle	in the middle
`G3319-05`	2 Thessalonians 2:7	μέσου	mesou	`ADJ.S GEN N SG`	of the way	of the middle	of the middle

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