μετατίθημι
metatíthēmi
G3346 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to transfer or move from one place, person, or state to another; to alter the position or arrangement of something (literal sense); to change, alter, or transform (broader sense, including change of allegiance, opinion, or character); to remove or take away; to translate (as in transferring a person from life to another state); in some contexts, to distort or pervert (figuratively, to misrepresent or alter in a negative sense).
Semantic Range
to transfer, move or remove (physically or spatially); to alter, change, or transform (state, character, allegiance); to exchange; to translate (as in a person translated without dying); to distort, misrepresent, or pervert (figuratively)
Root / Etymology
from μετά ('with, after, change of place or condition') and τίθημι ('to place, set'), thus meaning 'to put across or after, to transfer.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, μετατίθημι frequently denotes literal physical transfer or removal, such as relocating an object or person. In New Testament and Koine usage, it broadens to mean to change, to transfer allegiance (e.g., Galatians 1:6: 'You are so quickly deserting [changing from] him who called you'), or even to distort or pervert (the sense of changing something from its correct or original form). In the Septuagint, it is used for both physical removal (e.g., Exodus 13:22: 'He did not remove [μετετίθη] the pillar of cloud...') and transfer of status or condition. In some biblical contexts (e.g., Hebrews 11:5 regarding Enoch), it describes a translation from earthly life to another mode of existence. The standard English translations such as 'remove,' 'translate,' or 'pervert' reflect only select aspects of the broader semantic range, which spans both neutral and negative senses depending on context. Distinct from related words such as μεταβαίνω ('to pass over, move across') or μεταμορφόω ('to change form'). Usage may be either literal or figural, depending on context; thus care should be taken not to limit its meaning to only one nuance.
Translation Consistency
Most occurrences and usual sense focus on moving or transferring someone or something from one place, person, or state to another. "Transfer" naturally covers literal relocation and the common figurative uses (change of allegiance, translate to another state) while remaining clear and consistent across forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from μετά and τίθημι; to transfer, i.e. (literally) transport, (by implication) exchange, (reflexively) change sides, or (figuratively) pervert:--carry over, change, remove, translate, turn.
Root Family
μετατίθημι (metatithēmi) — to place after, to transfer, to change, to remove
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3346-03 |
μετατίθεσθε | metatithesthe | V PRS MID IND 2P PL |
you are turning away | you are transferring yourselves | you are transferring yourselves | 1 |
G3346-01 |
μετατιθεμένης | metatithemenes | V PRS PASS PTCP GEN F SG |
being changed | being transferred | being transferred | 1 |
G3346-05 |
μετετέθησαν | metetethesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
they were carried over | they were transferred | they were carried over | 1 |
G3346-02 |
μετατιθέντες | metatithentes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
turning | transferring | transferring | 1 |
G3346-04 |
μετετέθη | metetethe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was translated | was transferred | was transferred | 1 |
G3346-06 |
μετέθηκεν | metetheken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
had translated | he transferred | he transferred | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3346-05 |
Acts 7:16 | μετετέθησαν | metetethesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
they were carried over | they were transferred | they were carried over |
G3346-03 |
Galatians 1:6 | μετατίθεσθε | metatithesthe | V PRS MID IND 2P PL |
you are turning away | you are transferring yourselves | you are transferring yourselves |
G3346-01 |
Hebrews 7:12 | μετατιθεμένης | metatithemenes | V PRS PASS PTCP GEN F SG |
being changed | being transferred | being transferred |
G3346-04 |
Hebrews 11:5 | μετετέθη | metetethe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was translated | was transferred | was transferred |
G3346-06 |
Hebrews 11:5 | μετέθηκεν | metetheken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
had translated | he transferred | he transferred |
G3346-02 |
Jude 1:4 | μετατιθέντες | metatithentes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
turning | transferring | transferring |