μετάθεσις (G3331) — Greek Lexicon

μετάθεσις

metáthesis

G3331 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Act of transferring, shifting from one place or situation to another; generally, a change or removal from one state, condition, or location to another. In specific contexts, can refer to the transfer or removal of an individual, a change in circumstances or institutions (such as a law), or (in later usage) the translation or assumption of a person from earthly to heavenly existence. The primary sense is the process of being moved or altered from an original state or position.

Semantic Range

transfer, removal, change, transposition, transformation, translation (transfer from earth to heaven), alteration, disestablishment

Root / Etymology

From μετατίθημι (to transfer, remove, change), itself derived from μετά (after, with, among) and τίθημι (to set, place, put). The noun formation follows the common Greek suffix -σις indicating action or result, hence 'the act/result of transferring.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μετάθεσις occurs in general prose and technical literature to denote any type of change, removal, or transfer (e.g., change of residence, assignment, transposition of letters in grammar). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, it can refer both to physical movement and to abstract change, such as the transfer or replacement of laws or conditions. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term appears rarely but can signify a significant transformation, as in Hebrews 7:12 (change of priesthood/law), and 11:5 (removal/translation of Enoch). Standard English renderings like 'change,' 'removal,' or 'translation' may each highlight only one aspect of the term's broader sense of transference or substantive alteration; in specific theological or narrative contexts, 'translation' can refer to supernatural removal to another realm (as in Enoch's story). The underlying idea is not limited to religious usage, as secular Greek employs μετάθεσις for any major transfer or alteration.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μετατίθημι; transposition, i.e. transferral (to heaven), disestablishment (of a law):--change, removing, translation.

Root Family

μετάθεσις (metathesis) — transfer, change, removal

Root μεταθέ- to transfer, to change, to remove

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3331-03`	μετάθεσις	metathesis	`N NOM F SG`	change	transfer	transfer	1
`G3331-02`	μετάθεσιν	metathesin	`N ACC F SG`	removal	transfer	removal	1
`G3331-01`	μεταθέσεως	metatheseos	`N GEN F SG`	translation	of transfer	of transfer	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3331-03`	Hebrews 7:12	μετάθεσις	metathesis	`N NOM F SG`	change	transfer	transfer
`G3331-01`	Hebrews 11:5	μεταθέσεως	metatheseos	`N GEN F SG`	translation	of transfer	of transfer
`G3331-02`	Hebrews 12:27	μετάθεσιν	metathesin	`N ACC F SG`	removal	transfer	removal

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