μαραίνω
maraínō
G3133 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To wither, decay, or waste away; primarily to lose vitality, brightness, or strength, whether of plants, living things, or metaphorically of qualities. The word denotes the process of fading, withering, or degenerating, often with a sense of perishing or ceasing to function or exist. The semantic range includes literal fading or withering (such as of plants or physical strength), as well as more figurative uses referring to the decline or passing away of non-physical things (such as reputation, beauty, or glory).
Semantic Range
to wither (of plants), to fade away (physical or non-physical qualities), to be wasted (as in strength or vitality), to perish gradually, to become powerless or ineffective, to lose brightness or glory
Root / Etymology
Root/Etymology: The word μαραίνω is of uncertain etymology in Greek. It is not transparently connected to an established Greek verb root and is possibly a loan or derived from earlier forms, but the precise origin has not been determined. There is no clear connection with a Hebrew or Aramaic root. The semantic field, however, shares some features with terms relating to withering or perishing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Historical & Contextual Notes: Μαραίνω is a relatively rare verb in Greek literature, more often found in poetic or elevated diction. It appears occasionally in earlier writers (for example, Aeschylus and Theocritus) to describe the withering of plants, fading of physical beauty, or the perishing of non-material qualities. In the Koine period and the New Testament (Jas 1:11), it evokes the rapid withering and disappearance of grass or flowers under the sun’s heat, metaphorically applied to the passing glory or transitory nature of human pursuits. Standard English translations like "fade away" or "perish" do not fully capture the nuance of decline and irrecoverable loss in the Greek verb, nor the vivid natural imagery often involved. In Biblical Greek, μαραίνω is not used for "extinguishing" a fire (more commonly σβέννυμι) but rather for the wasting or withering of living things or qualities. The LXX and other Koine sources use it in similar senses. The meaning is distinct from other Greek terms for destruction by violence or abrupt cessation, emphasizing gradual loss or decay.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain affinity; to extinguish (as fire), i.e. (figuratively and passively) to pass away:--fade away.
Root Family
μαραιν- (maraínō) — to wither, to fade, to waste away, to degenerate
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3133-01 |
μαρανθήσεται | maranthesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
will fade away | will be withered | will be withered | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3133-01 |
James 1:11 | μαρανθήσεται | maranthesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
will fade away | will be withered | will be withered |