μεθύω (G3184) — Greek Lexicon

μεθύω

methýō

G3184 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to become intoxicated from consuming wine or strong drink; to get drunk. The primary sense is to experience the effects of inebriation due to alcohol consumption. Less commonly, in extended or figurative senses, it can denote being metaphorically overwhelmed or under the influence of a passion or stimulus, though this is rare.

Semantic Range

to become drunk, to be intoxicated, to drink to excess, to be under the influence of wine or strong drink; rarely, to be overcome (figurative)

Root / Etymology

From μέθη (methē, 'wine, drunkenness') plus thematic verb ending. The verb form expresses the action of becoming or being in a state of drunkenness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

μεθύω appears in both classical and Koine Greek, beginning as early as Homeric poetry, where it refers to literal intoxication from wine. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term consistently denotes the physical state of drunkenness—an altered state caused by excessive drinking—without technical or ceremonial connotation. It stands in contrast to νηφεύω ('to be sober, to abstain from wine'), highlighting a moral or social boundary. English translations as 'be drunk' or 'get drunk' are generally precise, but do not always convey the negative social or ethical evaluations implicit in some contexts. Figurative or metaphorical uses ('to be overcome by') are attested in broader Greek but rare or absent in biblical usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "get drunk" 0 occurrences

μεθύω primarily means ‘to become intoxicated’ — the natural, ordinary English rendering is “get drunk.” This phrase captures the intransitive sense (become intoxicated) that occurs in the vast majority of occurrences, is easily inflected for person/tense, and avoids the overly formal or transitive connotations of words like “intoxicate” or “inebriate.” Rare figurative senses (be overcome) can still be expressed with context while keeping a consistent base verb.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):

"getting drunk" (3x) "those getting drunk" (1x) "become intoxicated" (1x) "intoxicated" (1x) "drunk" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from another form of μέθη; to drink to intoxication, i.e. get drunk:--drink well, make (be) drunk(-en).

Root Family

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

Root μεθυ- to be drunk, to become intoxicated

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G3182	μεθύσκω	to be made drunk
G3183	μέθυσος	habitual drunkards

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3184-05`	μεθύουσιν	methuousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	are drunk	they are getting drunk	are getting drunk	2
`G3184-01`	ἐμεθύσθησαν	emethusthesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	have been made drunk	they were intoxicated	they were intoxicated	1
`G3184-02`	μεθύει	methuei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is drunk	is getting drunk	is getting drunk	1
`G3184-03`	μεθυόντων	methuonton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	drunkards	of those getting drunk	of those getting drunk	1
`G3184-04`	μεθύουσαν	methuousan	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC F SG`	drunk	becoming drunk	being drunk	1
`G3184-06`	μεθυσθῶσιν	methusthosin	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL`	they have drunk freely	they might be intoxicated	they have become intoxicated	1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3184-03`	Matthew 24:49	μεθυόντων	methuonton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	drunkards	of those getting drunk	of those getting drunk
`G3184-06`	John 2:10	μεθυσθῶσιν	methusthosin	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P PL`	they have drunk freely	they might be intoxicated	they have become intoxicated
`G3184-05`	Acts 2:15	μεθύουσιν	methuousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	are drunk	they are getting drunk	are getting drunk
`G3184-02`	1 Corinthians 11:21	μεθύει	methuei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is drunk	is getting drunk	is getting drunk
`G3184-05`	1 Thessalonians 5:7	μεθύουσιν	methuousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	are drunk	they are getting drunk	they are getting drunk
`G3184-01`	Revelation 17:2	ἐμεθύσθησαν	emethusthesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	have been made drunk	they were intoxicated	they were intoxicated
`G3184-04`	Revelation 17:6	μεθύουσαν	methuousan	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC F SG`	drunk	becoming drunk	being drunk

← G3183 Greek Lexicon G3185 →