μελετάω
meletáō
G3191 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To give careful thought or attention to something; to practice or rehearse; to meditate upon or deliberate. The verb fundamentally means to apply one's mind or energy to a matter, either in mental reflection, planning, or in physical training/rehearsal. Senses in context include: deliberate mentally, consider thoroughly, plan carefully, study, practice (in a performance context), or meditate upon (as with a text or subject).
Semantic Range
to rehearse, to practice, to exercise, to meditate upon, to study, to plan carefully, to deliberate, to give careful thought
Root / Etymology
From the root μελετ- (melet-), cognate with μέλω (to be of concern, to care for), perhaps through a derivative form indicating sustained attention or care. The basic idea is that of attentive engagement with an object, whether intellectually or practically.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In earlier Greek (classical), μελετάω was frequently used for purposeful practice or preparation, especially regarding recitation, rhetoric, or martial training (e.g., rehearsing speeches, preparing exercises). In Hellenistic and Koine usage, the scope expanded to include mental attentiveness and deliberate reflection—hence, in the Septuagint and New Testament, μελετάω often means to meditate upon, especially with reference to sacred texts or wisdom. English translations sometimes narrow the word to 'meditate,' but both 'practice'/'rehearse' and 'meditate upon' are contextually valid. The verb always implies focused, purposeful activity, contrasting with more passive contemplation (cf. συλλογίζομαι) or mere intention (βουλεύω). The semantic overlap with μέλω (to care, to be an object of concern) underlines the sense of intentional, sustained concentration. All senses are unified by the idea of deliberate, attentive engagement—whether practical or intellectual.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a presumed derivative of μέλω; to take care of, i.e. (by implication) revolve in the mind:--imagine, (pre-)meditate.
Root Family
μελετάω (meletaō) — to attend to, to practice, to deliberate, to give careful thought
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3191-02 |
μελέτα | meleta | V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG |
meditate | Keep practicing | 1 |
G3191-01 |
ἐμελέτησαν | emeletesan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
imagine | they deliberated | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3191-01 |
Acts 4:25 | ἐμελέτησαν | emeletesan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
imagine | they deliberated |
G3191-02 |
1 Timothy 4:15 | μελέτα | meleta | V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG |
meditate | Keep practicing |