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μέγας

mégas

G3173 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Large in size, extent, or intensity; principal, important, or eminent. Used both literally (of physical size or magnitude) and metaphorically (of status, degree, significance, or intensity). Commonly denotes something or someone of notable greatness, whether spatially, quantitatively, or qualitatively. In various contexts, can refer to intensity (e.g. great fear), importance (the greatest commandment), or eminence (a great leader).

Semantic Range

great in size, large in extent, high in rank or status, intense in degree or emotion, eminent or important, loud (of voice or sound), powerful, numerous, extraordinary

Root / Etymology

From the root μεγ- (meg-), indicating greatness or largeness. Cognate with Latin 'magnus.' The word has Indo-European origins, with related forms found in many languages (Sanskrit: mahā-, Latin: magnus, Old English: micel). λόγος is a root meaning 'word'/'reason', but is unrelated.

Historical & Contextual Notes

μέγας is extensively attested in classical Greek, where it often describes physical size, rank, importance, or intensity. In the Septuagint and New Testament, usage widens to include social or moral magnitude, such as 'great prophet,' 'great fear,' or 'great city.' The word can describe quantity (a 'great crowd'), status (a 'great person'), or abstract qualities (e.g., 'great joy'). Superlative and comparative forms (μεγίστος, μείζων) mark exceptional or relative greatness. English translations ('great', 'large', 'mighty', 'loud', etc.) do not always reflect the nuance of magnitude versus eminence or intensity, and syntactical context guides interpretation. In both LXX and NT, μέγας interacts with local languages' concepts of greatness. While related to Latin magnus (via Indo-European root), Greek usage retains distinct structural and comparative forms in the language.

Translation Consistency

primary "great" 188 occurrences

'Great' is the natural, idiomatic English adjective that captures the full, typical range of μέγας—large in size or extent, important/eminent, intense in degree (fear, power), and numerous. It is by far the most frequent rendering in the data and works both literally and metaphorically, making it the best single, consistent choice for all forms of this lemma.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"loud" (5x) "much" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(including the prolonged forms, feminine , plural , etc.; compare also μέγιστος, μείζων); big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application):--(+ fear) exceedingly, great(-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.

Root Family

μέγας (megas) — great, large, mighty, intense, important

Root μεγ- great, large, mighty, intense, important

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3173-06 μεγάλη megale ADJ.P NOM F SG great great (feminine singular) great (feminine singular) 69
G3173-15 μέγας megas ADJ.P NOM M SG great great great 25
G3173-07 μεγάλην megalen ADJ.A ACC F SG great great (feminine singular accusative) great (feminine singular accusative) 19
G3173-01 μέγα mega ADJ.S ACC N SG great great thing great 18
G3173-08 μεγάλης megales ADJ.A GEN F SG great of great of great 16
G3173-14 μέγαν megan ADJ.A ACC M SG great great great 13
G3173-02 μεγάλα megala ADJ.A ACC N PL great great things great things 8
G3173-12 μεγάλου megalou ADJ.A GEN M SG great of a great one great 7
G3173-09 μεγάλῳ megalo ADJ.A DAT M SG great to a great one great 5
G3173-10 μεγάλοι megaloi ADJ.S NOM M PL great ones great ones great ones 4

Occurrences in Scripture

194 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3173-07 Matthew 2:10 μεγάλην megalen ADJ.A ACC F SG great great (feminine singular accusative) great (feminine singular accusative)
G3173-01 Matthew 4:16 μέγα mega ADJ.S ACC N SG great great thing great
G3173-15 Matthew 5:19 μέγας megas ADJ.P NOM M SG great great great
G3173-12 Matthew 5:35 μεγάλου megalou ADJ.A GEN M SG great of a great one great
G3173-06 Matthew 7:27 μεγάλη megale ADJ.P NOM F SG great great (feminine singular) great (feminine singular)
G3173-15 Matthew 8:24 μέγας megas ADJ.A NOM M SG great great great
G3173-06 Matthew 8:26 μεγάλη megale ADJ.A NOM F SG great great (feminine singular) great (feminine singular)
G3173-06 Matthew 15:28 μεγάλη megale ADJ.P NOM F SG great great (feminine singular) great (feminine singular)
G3173-10 Matthew 20:25 μεγάλοι megaloi ADJ.S NOM M PL great ones great ones great ones
G3173-15 Matthew 20:26 μέγας megas ADJ.P NOM M SG great great great
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