μεθύσκω (G3182) — Greek Lexicon

μεθύσκω

methýskō

G3182 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make drunk, to cause intoxication; to inebriate. In most contexts, refers to the active causing of drunkenness, as by giving someone an intoxicating beverage. Less commonly, used in the passive or middle voice to mean 'to become drunk' or 'to be drunk.'

Semantic Range

to cause drunkenness, to give drink so as to intoxicate, to make someone drunk, to become drunk (in passive/middle), to be drunk

Root / Etymology

From the root μεθυ- ('wine,' 'strong drink') plus causative suffix -σκω; thus, 'to make drunk' or 'to cause to be affected by wine.' Shares its root with μεθύω ('to be drunk'), but μεθύσκω expresses the causative idea more directly. The root is pre-Greek, cf. μεθύ ('wine').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μεθύσκω is generally used as a transitive verb meaning 'to intoxicate' or 'to cause drunkenness in another.' In the passive or middle voice, or in later/Hellenistic usage, it can mean 'to become drunk' or 'to be drunk.' The verb appears only a few times in the LXX and New Testament (e.g., Luke 12:45; 1 Thess 5:7), usually in contexts connected to drunkenness as a social or moral failing. English translations often render it simply as 'get drunk' or 'be drunk,' but the Greek more specifically denotes the act of making drunk or the process of becoming inebriated. It contrasts with μεθύω, which typically describes the state of being drunk rather than the causing of intoxication. Over time, the distinction between the two forms partly blurred in Koine usage, especially in passive constructions. The semantic nuance of agency (to cause vs. to experience drunkenness) is not always preserved in translation. The word is not commonly found outside biblical or Hellenistic-Jewish literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a prolonged (transitive) form of μεθύω; to intoxicate:--be drunk(-en).

Root Family

μεθυ- (methýskō) — to intoxicate, to make drunk

Root μεθυ- to intoxicate, to make drunk

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G3183	μέθυσος	habitual drunkards
G3184	μεθύω	they were intoxicated

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3182-01`	μεθύσκεσθαι	methuskesthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	to be drunk	to be made drunk	to be drunk	1
`G3182-02`	μεθύσκεσθε	methuskesthe	`V PRS PASS IMP 2P PL`	be drunk	be getting drunk	be getting drunk	1
`G3182-03`	μεθυσκόμενοι	methuskomenoi	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	get drunk	being intoxicated	getting drunk	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3182-01`	Luke 12:45	μεθύσκεσθαι	methuskesthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	to be drunk	to be made drunk	to be drunk
`G3182-02`	Ephesians 5:18	μεθύσκεσθε	methuskesthe	`V PRS PASS IMP 2P PL`	be drunk	be getting drunk	be getting drunk
`G3182-03`	1 Thessalonians 5:7	μεθυσκόμενοι	methuskomenoi	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	get drunk	being intoxicated	getting drunk

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