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μετά

metá

G3326 preposition

SILEX Entry

Definition

As a preposition, μετά primarily indicates spatial or associative accompaniment—with, in association with—when governing the genitive case, and denotes sequence or succession—after, following—when governing the accusative case. Used both of literal and figurative relationships, the term covers a range of senses linked to movement, participation, and temporal progression. As an adverb or in combination with verbs, it carries related senses, often conveying accompaniment, participation, or subsequent action.

Semantic Range

with, in company with, among (genitive); after, following, succeeding (accusative); amid, in the midst of, together with; as a prefix: conveying change, transition, or association

Root / Etymology

Related to the root μετα-, which occurs across a family of Greek words denoting change, movement, transition, or association. Cognate with the prepositional root found in Latin 'meta' (limit, goal) and Indo-European roots denoting 'between, among'. Not derived from any Semitic source.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, μετά with the genitive primarily indicates accompaniment, company, or association (e.g., 'with friends'); with the accusative, it indicates movement following or toward in space or time (e.g., 'after dinner', 'after the battle'). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, these uses persist but μετά also becomes entrenched as a prefix, forming compounds that suggest change, transformation, or movement (e.g., μετανοέω 'to change one's mind, repent'). The spatial sense (in company with, together with) is often less intimate than σύν, which more strongly stresses close companionship. Temporal and sequential uses (after, following) are common in narrative. In later Greek, some senses become fossilized in compound forms. English translations often render the genitive construction as 'with' and the accusative as 'after', but many nuances—especially associative and sequential connotations—can be flattened in translation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between ἀπό or ἐκ and εἰς or πρός; less intimate than ἐν and less close than σύν):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.

Root Family

μετά (meta) — accompany, associate with, follow, change, succeed

Root μετα- accompany, associate with, follow, change, succeed

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3326-02 μετὰ meta PREP ACC with after with 298
G3326-01 μετ’ met PREP GEN with with with 132
G3326-03 μεθ’ meth PREP GEN with with with 43

Occurrences in Scripture

473 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3326-02 Matthew 1:12 μετὰ meta PREP ACC after after after
G3326-03 Matthew 1:23 μεθ’ meth PREP GEN with with with
G3326-01 Matthew 2:3 μετ’ met PREP GEN with with with
G3326-02 Matthew 2:11 μετὰ meta PREP GEN with after with
G3326-02 Matthew 4:21 μετὰ meta PREP GEN with after with
G3326-01 Matthew 5:25 μετ’ met PREP GEN with with with
G3326-01 Matthew 5:41 μετ’ met PREP GEN with with with
G3326-02 Matthew 8:11 μετὰ meta PREP GEN with after with
G3326-02 Matthew 9:11 μετὰ meta PREP GEN with after with
G3326-01 Matthew 9:15 μετ’ met PREP GEN with with with
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