μαρὰν ἀθά
maràn athá
G3134 Aramaic loanword
SILEX Entry
Definition
An Aramaic phrase, transliterated into Greek letters, meaning either 'Our Lord has come' or 'Our Lord, come.' Used as a liturgical or eschatological invocation, expressing appeal to the Lord's presence or imminent arrival, especially in the context of hope for divine intervention or judgment. The precise sense depends on how the phrase is punctuated and vocalized: as a declarative ('the Lord has come') or as an imperative ('Come, our Lord!').
Semantic Range
O Lord, come; Our Lord has come; eschatological invocation; prayer for divine intervention; liturgical exclamation
Root / Etymology
Transliteration of Aramaic מָרַנָּא תָּא (māránā tā or mārán’ āthā’). From מָרָא (mārā, 'lord', cognate to Hebrew אָדוֹן [adōn]), and a form of the verb אֲתָא (’athā, 'to come'). Not of native Greek origin.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The phrase μαρὰν ἀθά appears only in 1 Corinthians 16:22 in the New Testament, unique for being retained in Aramaic rather than translated. Its use likely reflects early Christian liturgical language, possibly as a standardized invocation or prayer for divine presence or eschatological fulfillment. In Greek manuscripts, the phrase is not interpreted but simply carried over phonetically. The Greek-speaking audience may have understood it as an urgent or solemn appeal related to the Lord's coming. Early Christian tradition sometimes interprets the phrase declaratively ('Our Lord has come'), yet imperative ('Our Lord, come!') is considered more likely by many modern scholars, paralleling similar prayers such as ἔρχου κύριε (Revelation 22:20). English translations traditionally render this as 'Maranatha' or paraphrase the sentiment as a plea for the Lord's coming; the historical layering of meaning (declarative vs. imperative) reflects the flexibility of the original Aramaic. This phrase is more liturgical or performative than descriptive, lacking a direct equivalent in classical Greek usage. Its use outside Christian liturgy is virtually unattested.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Chaldee origin (meaning our Lord has come); maranatha, i.e. an exclamation of the approaching divine judgment:--Maran-atha.
Root Family
μαρὰν ἀθά (maran atha) — lord, to come
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3134-01 |
μαράνα | marana | TF |
Our Lord | Come, our Lord! | Maran atha | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3134-01 |
1 Corinthians 16:22 | μαράνα | marana | TF |
Our Lord | Come, our Lord! | Maran atha |