μεθόριος
methórios
G3181
SILEX Entry
Definition
adjective: lying next to or alongside a boundary; as noun (neuter plural, τὰ μεθόρια): the region or space at the border, frontier area. Primarily refers to land or territory immediately adjacent to a boundary, conveying the sense of being on or near the dividing line between two areas. By extension, denotes borderlands or peripheral zones.
Semantic Range
lying next to a boundary, bordering, contiguous land, frontier area, border region, area adjacent to a limit
Root / Etymology
from μετά (with, after) and ὅριον (boundary, limit); literally 'adjacent to the boundary.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Koine Greek, μεθόριος is rare, primarily attested in geographic or administrative contexts describing lands or regions bordering another territory. Used in Hellenistic and Roman imperial texts to mark boundaries between provinces or between lands owned by different parties. The Septuagint uses related boundary terms, and μεθόριος as a noun (usually neuter plural) appears for 'border region' or 'frontier,' especially regarding tribal allotments in Israelite territories. In contemporary English translations, often rendered simply as 'border,' which can obscure the nuance of 'borderlands' or 'areas alongside a limit.' Distinct from terms simply meaning 'limit' (ὅριον), as μεθόριος focuses specifically on adjacency to that limit rather than the line itself. Uncommon in classical literature; more prevalent in administrative, topographical, and legal documents in later periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from μετά and ὅριον; bounded alongside, i.e. contiguous (neuter plural as noun, frontier):--border.
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.