μετά
metá
G3326 preposition
SILEX Entry
Definition
As a preposition, μετά primarily indicates spatial or associative accompaniment—with, in association with—when governing the genitive case, and denotes sequence or succession—after, following—when governing the accusative case. Used both of literal and figurative relationships, the term covers a range of senses linked to movement, participation, and temporal progression. As an adverb or in combination with verbs, it carries related senses, often conveying accompaniment, participation, or subsequent action.
Semantic Range
with, in company with, among (genitive); after, following, succeeding (accusative); amid, in the midst of, together with; as a prefix: conveying change, transition, or association
Root / Etymology
Related to the root μετα-, which occurs across a family of Greek words denoting change, movement, transition, or association. Cognate with the prepositional root found in Latin 'meta' (limit, goal) and Indo-European roots denoting 'between, among'. Not derived from any Semitic source.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical Greek, μετά with the genitive primarily indicates accompaniment, company, or association (e.g., 'with friends'); with the accusative, it indicates movement following or toward in space or time (e.g., 'after dinner', 'after the battle'). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, these uses persist but μετά also becomes entrenched as a prefix, forming compounds that suggest change, transformation, or movement (e.g., μετανοέω 'to change one's mind, repent'). The spatial sense (in company with, together with) is often less intimate than σύν, which more strongly stresses close companionship. Temporal and sequential uses (after, following) are common in narrative. In later Greek, some senses become fossilized in compound forms. English translations often render the genitive construction as 'with' and the accusative as 'after', but many nuances—especially associative and sequential connotations—can be flattened in translation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between ἀπό or ἐκ and εἰς or πρός; less intimate than ἐν and less close than σύν):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.
Root Family
μετα- (metá) — accompany, associate with, follow, change, succeed
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3326-02 |
μετὰ | meta | PREP ACC |
with | after | with | 298 |
G3326-01 |
μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with | 132 |
G3326-03 |
μεθ’ | meth | PREP GEN |
with | with | with | 43 |
Occurrences in Scripture
473 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3326-02 |
Matthew 1:12 | μετὰ | meta | PREP ACC |
after | after | after |
G3326-03 |
Matthew 1:23 | μεθ’ | meth | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 2:3 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 2:11 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 4:21 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 5:25 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 5:41 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 8:11 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 9:11 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 9:15 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 12:3 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 12:4 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 12:30 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 12:30 | μετ’ | met-2 | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 12:41 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 12:42 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-03 |
Matthew 12:45 | μεθ’ | meth | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 13:20 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | after |
G3326-03 |
Matthew 14:7 | μεθ’ | meth | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-03 |
Matthew 15:30 | μεθ’ | meth | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 16:27 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-03 |
Matthew 17:1 | μεθ’ | meth | PREP ACC |
after | with | after |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 17:3 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-03 |
Matthew 17:17 | μεθ’ | meth | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 18:16 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 18:23 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 19:10 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 20:2 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 20:20 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 21:2 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 22:16 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 24:29 | μετὰ | meta | PREP ACC |
after | after | after |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 24:30 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 24:31 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 24:49 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 24:51 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-03 |
Matthew 25:3 | μεθ’ | meth | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 25:4 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 25:10 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 25:19 | μετὰ | meta | PREP ACC |
after | after | after |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 25:19 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 25:31 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 26:2 | μετὰ | meta | PREP ACC |
after | after | after |
G3326-03 |
Matthew 26:11 | μεθ’ | meth | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 26:18 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 26:20 | μετὰ | meta | PREP GEN |
with | after | with |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 26:23 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-03 |
Matthew 26:29 | μεθ’ | meth | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |
G3326-02 |
Matthew 26:32 | μετὰ | meta | PREP ACC |
after | after | after |
G3326-01 |
Matthew 26:36 | μετ’ | met | PREP GEN |
with | with | with |