μεταδίδωμι
metadídōmi
G3330 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To give a portion of something to another, to share or distribute; in broader usage, to impart, transfer, or communicate something (physical or non-physical) to others. In the New Testament and broader Koine contexts, it often refers to the act of granting a share of one's possessions, resources, knowledge, or experience to someone else, either concretely (such as giving material aid) or abstractly (such as sharing a spiritual benefit or teaching).
Semantic Range
to give a share, to share, to distribute, to impart, to donate, to communicate, to transfer
Root / Etymology
Compound of μετα- (meta-, indicating change, transfer, or association) and διδώμι (didōmi, 'to give'); thus, 'to give with/among' or 'to give over/away.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, μεταδίδωμι is used to denote the act of giving part of one's own possessions or attributes to another, and thus implies sharing rather than a simple act of giving away all. In the New Testament, the word appears in contexts of both material and nonmaterial impartation (e.g., Acts 4:32 concerning the sharing of resources; Romans 1:11, where Paul desires to 'impart' a spiritual gift). English translations such as 'to give' or 'to impart' do not always capture the sense of sharing or partial giving implied. The term stands in contrast to διδώμι (didōmi, 'to give', generally, not specifying the quantity or portion) and can take on the nuance of making others participants or beneficiaries in something one possesses. Within the Septuagint, similar uses are attested in passages referring to the distribution of goods. The verb does not inherently specify the type of thing given—whether material, instruction, or experience—so context determines precise meaning.
Translation Consistency
metadídōmi typically means to give someone a portion or to impart something (material or immaterial). “Share” naturally covers the common sense of distributing or imparting a part to others, reads well in both concrete and abstract contexts, and matches the majority of attested renderings better than more formal alternatives like “impart.”
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from μετά and δίδωμι; to give over, i.e. share:--give, impart.
Root Family
διδο- (metadídōmi) — to give, to share, to impart
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3330-01 |
μεταδιδόναι | metadidonai | V PRS ACT INF |
to share | to share out | to share out | 1 |
G3330-02 |
μεταδιδοὺς | metadidous | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
gives | sharing | giving | 1 |
G3330-03 |
μεταδῶ | metado | V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG |
I may impart | that I may impart | that I may impart | 1 |
G3330-04 |
μεταδότω | metadoto | V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG |
let him share | let him share | let him share | 1 |
G3330-05 |
μεταδοῦναι | metadounai | V AOR ACT INF |
to share | to impart a share | to impart a share | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3330-04 |
Luke 3:11 | μεταδότω | metadoto | V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG |
let him share | let him share | let him share |
G3330-03 |
Romans 1:11 | μεταδῶ | metado | V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG |
I may impart | that I may impart | that I may impart |
G3330-02 |
Romans 12:8 | μεταδιδοὺς | metadidous | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
gives | sharing | giving |
G3330-01 |
Ephesians 4:28 | μεταδιδόναι | metadidonai | V PRS ACT INF |
to share | to share out | to share out |
G3330-05 |
1 Thessalonians 2:8 | μεταδοῦναι | metadounai | V AOR ACT INF |
to share | to impart a share | to impart a share |