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μεταβαίνω

metabaínō

G3327 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To move from one location or position to another; specifically, to change one's place by departing, passing over, or transferring oneself. The verb is primarily used of physical movement, but can also carry metaphorical senses such as transitioning from one state to another or passing from life to death.

Semantic Range

to move from one place to another, to cross over, to depart, to pass (in location or state), to transfer, to remove, to migrate

Root / Etymology

From μετά (with, after) and the verbal root βαίνω (to go, to walk); literally, 'to go or move after,' hence 'to depart' or 'to pass over.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

μεταβαίνω is attested from the Classical period and remains in use through the Hellenistic and Koine periods. In classical Greek, it often signified changing position, moving from one place to another, or removing troops in a military context. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term frequently appears with the sense of departing or going from one place to another, both in literal travel (e.g., migration, departure) and in metaphorical or existential transitions (such as passing from life to death, John 5:24; 1 John 3:14). English Bible translations often render the word as 'depart,' 'pass,' or 'move,' but these may not always capture its broader metaphorical range, including spiritual or existential transition. There is overlap with other terms for departure or movement (like ἀπερχομαι or πορεύομαι), but μεταβαίνω emphasizes the transition or change of locale or state more specifically than merely going or traveling.

Translation Consistency

primary "pass" 3 occurrences

“Pass” naturally covers the primary senses of μεταβαίνω — to move or go from one place to another, to cross over, to depart, and metaphorically to pass from one state to another (including death). It is a common, idiomatic English rendering in Biblical contexts and is flexible enough to be inflected consistently for all forms of G3327.

Alternatives (9 occurrences):
"having departed" (3x) "might depart" (2x) "departed" (1x) "move on" (1x) "depart" (1x) "crossed over" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μετά and the base of βάσις; to change place:--depart, go, pass, remove.

Root Family

μεταβαίνω (metabainō) — to go, to walk, to step, to move, to pass over, to depart

Root βαίν- to go, to walk, to step, to move

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3327-03 μεταβὰς metabas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG departing having departed having departed 3
G3327-04 μεταβῇ metabe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he should depart he/she might depart he might depart 2
G3327-08 μετάβηθι metabethi V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG leave Depart! Depart 1
G3327-05 μεταβεβήκαμεν metabebekamen V PRF ACT IND 1P PL we have passed we have crossed over we have crossed over 1
G3327-09 μετέβη metebe V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he departed he/she departed he departed 1
G3327-07 μεταβήσεται metabesetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG it will move he will depart it will pass over 1
G3327-01 μετάβα metaba V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG Move Pass over! pass over 1
G3327-02 μεταβαίνετε metabainete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL go Move yourselves onward move on 1
G3327-06 μεταβέβηκεν metabebeken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG has passed has passed over has passed over 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3327-04 Matthew 8:34 μεταβῇ metabe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he would depart he/she might depart he might depart
G3327-09 Matthew 11:1 μετέβη metebe V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he departed he/she departed he departed
G3327-03 Matthew 12:9 μεταβὰς metabas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having departed having departed having departed
G3327-03 Matthew 15:29 μεταβὰς metabas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG departing having departed having departed
G3327-01 Matthew 17:20 μετάβα metaba V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG Move Pass over! pass over
G3327-07 Matthew 17:20 μεταβήσεται metabesetai V FUT MID IND 3P SG it will move he will depart it will pass over
G3327-02 Luke 10:7 μεταβαίνετε metabainete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL go Move yourselves onward move on
G3327-06 John 5:24 μεταβέβηκεν metabebeken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG has passed has passed over has passed over
G3327-08 John 7:3 μετάβηθι metabethi V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG leave Depart! Depart
G3327-04 John 13:1 μεταβῇ metabe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he should depart he/she might depart he might depart
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