μνημεῖον (G3419) — Greek Lexicon

μνημεῖον

mnēmeîon

G3419 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A structure or monument for remembering the dead, specifically a tomb, sepulchre, or grave; more broadly, any commemorative monument. In most contexts, refers to a constructed burial place such as a tomb or mausoleum, rather than an unmarked grave. Contextual senses include both actual tombs (where remains are interred) and memorial monuments (cenotaphs) that serve as reminders of a person's life or death.

Semantic Range

tomb, sepulchre, grave, commemorative monument, memorial, cenotaph

Root / Etymology

From μνήμη ('memory, remembrance'), itself deriving from μιμνήσκω ('to remind, remember'), with the suffix -εῖον indicating a place or receptacle. Thus, μνημεῖον means 'place of remembrance.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, μνημεῖον broadly denoted any commemorative monument, including but not limited to tombs. In Hellenistic and Koine contexts, and especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, the term predominantly denotes a constructed burial site—typically hewn out of rock or stone—such as those used by wealthier individuals or families in Judea and the wider eastern Mediterranean. This is distinct from humble or unmarked graves, which are referred to by the term τάφος. The English translations 'tomb,' 'sepulchre,' or 'grave' often obscure the architectural or commemorative aspect of μνημεῖον, which can refer to elaborate burial structures rather than mere burial places. Notably, 'cenotaph' (a monument without remains) is a less common but attested sense in non-biblical Greek. The word does not carry religious connotations beyond its function as a memorial; it enters the biblical lexicon primarily reflecting Near Eastern and Greco-Roman burial practices. Usage in the New Testament reflects both private/family and public tombs, including renowned or venerated sites (e.g., the tombs of the prophets, the tomb of Jesus).

Translation Consistency

primary "tomb" 39 occurrences

Most contexts refer to a constructed burial place or commemorative monument; 'tomb' is the natural, concrete English noun that captures the typical sense (burial chamber/mausoleum) while remaining usable for memorial monuments, and it reads more naturally than the broader 'memorial' in biblical contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μνήμη; a remembrance, i.e. cenotaph (place of interment):--grave, sepulchre, tomb.

Root Family

μνημεῖον (mnēmeion) — remembrance, memorial structure, tomb, place of remembrance

Root μνημ- to remember, to be mindful, to recall

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3419-04`	μνημείων	mnemeion	`N GEN N PL`	tomb	of memorial tombs	tomb	20
`G3419-05`	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	of the memorial tomb	10
`G3419-01`	μνημεῖα	mnemeia	`N ACC N PL`	tombs	memorial tombs	memorial tombs	4
`G3419-02`	μνημείῳ	mnemeio	`N DAT N SG`	tomb	in a memorial tomb	memorial tomb	4
`G3419-03`	μνημείοις	mnemeiois	`N DAT N PL`	graves	to memorial tombs	memorial tombs	1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3419-04`	Matthew 8:28	μνημείων	mnemeion	`N GEN N PL`	tombs	of memorial tombs	memorial tombs
`G3419-01`	Matthew 23:29	μνημεῖα	mnemeia	`N ACC N PL`	monuments	memorial tombs	memorial tombs
`G3419-01`	Matthew 27:52	μνημεῖα	mnemeia	`N NOM N PL`	tombs	memorial tombs	memorial tombs
`G3419-04`	Matthew 27:53	μνημείων	mnemeion	`N GEN N PL`	tombs	of memorial tombs	of memorial tombs
`G3419-02`	Matthew 27:60	μνημείῳ	mnemeio	`N DAT N SG`	tomb	in a memorial tomb	memorial tomb
`G3419-05`	Matthew 27:60	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	memorial tomb
`G3419-05`	Matthew 28:8	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	of the memorial tomb
`G3419-04`	Mark 5:2	μνημείων	mnemeion	`N GEN N PL`	tombs	of memorial tombs	of memorial tombs
`G3419-02`	Mark 6:29	μνημείῳ	mnemeio	`N DAT N SG`	a tomb	in a memorial tomb	in a memorial tomb
`G3419-05`	Mark 15:46	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	of the memorial tomb
`G3419-04`	Mark 16:2	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	tomb
`G3419-05`	Mark 16:3	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	memorial tomb
`G3419-04`	Mark 16:5	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	memorial tomb
`G3419-05`	Mark 16:8	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	memorial tomb
`G3419-01`	Luke 11:44	μνημεῖα	mnemeia	`N NOM N PL`	graves	memorial tombs	memorial tombs
`G3419-01`	Luke 11:47	μνημεῖα	mnemeia	`N ACC N PL`	tombs	memorial tombs	memorial tombs
`G3419-04`	Luke 23:55	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	memorial tomb
`G3419-05`	Luke 24:2	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	memorial tomb
`G3419-05`	Luke 24:9	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	of the memorial tomb
`G3419-04`	Luke 24:12	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	tomb
`G3419-04`	Luke 24:22	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	memorial tomb
`G3419-04`	Luke 24:24	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	memorial tomb
`G3419-03`	John 5:28	μνημείοις	mnemeiois	`N DAT N PL`	graves	to memorial tombs	memorial tombs
`G3419-02`	John 11:17	μνημείῳ	mnemeio	`N DAT N SG`	tomb	in a memorial tomb	memorial tomb
`G3419-04`	John 11:31	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	grave	of memorial tombs	tomb
`G3419-04`	John 11:38	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	tomb
`G3419-05`	John 12:17	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	memorial tomb
`G3419-04`	John 19:41	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N NOM N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	tomb
`G3419-04`	John 19:42	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N NOM N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	tomb
`G3419-04`	John 20:1	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	tomb
`G3419-05`	John 20:1	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	of the memorial tomb
`G3419-05`	John 20:2	μνημείου	mnemeiou	`N GEN N SG`	tomb	of the memorial tomb	of the memorial tomb
`G3419-04`	John 20:3	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	tomb
`G3419-04`	John 20:4	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	of memorial tombs
`G3419-04`	John 20:6	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	tomb
`G3419-04`	John 20:8	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	tomb
`G3419-02`	John 20:11	μνημείῳ	mnemeio	`N DAT N SG`	tomb	in a memorial tomb	memorial tomb
`G3419-04`	John 20:11	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	tomb	of memorial tombs	memorial tomb
`G3419-04`	Acts 13:29	μνημεῖον	mnemeion	`N ACC N SG`	a tomb	of memorial tombs	a tomb

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