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μεταμέλλομαι

metaméllomai

G3338 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To experience a change of concern or regret after an action or decision; to feel remorse, to regret. In some contexts, it refers to changing one’s mind or attitude upon reconsideration, typically with an emotional sense of wishing an action had been different. This word does not primarily denote an active moral reformation, but rather a sense of being regretful or remorseful about past actions.

Semantic Range

to feel regret, to be remorseful, to care afterwards, to change one’s mind (with emotional overtones); at times, to repent in the sense of emotional regret rather than moral or behavioral change

Root / Etymology

From μετά (after, with) and the verb μέλω (to care for, to be a concern). μεταμέλλομαι is the middle/passive form, meaning 'to care differently afterwards.' The word is a compound formation typical of Koine Greek vocabulary.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μεταμέλλομαι is attested with the meaning ‘to regret’ or ‘to feel sorry about something.’ By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, it retains these emotional overtones, commonly denoting a sense of regret after the fact but less frequently associated with active change. In the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 21:29, 32; 27:3; Hebrews 7:21), μεταμέλλομαι refers to experiencing regret or remorse over an action or decision, as with Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:3), who felt remorse without a clear sense of repentance as reformation. It contrasts with μετανοέω (G3340), which more distinctly indicates a change of mind or repentance leading to behavioral change. Standard English translations often render μεταμέλλομαι as 'repent,' but this can be misleading, as the Greek term focuses on the emotional reaction (regret or remorse) rather than genuine transformation; thus, 'regret' or 'feel remorse' is a closer English equivalent in most contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "regret" 2 occurrences

metaméllomai primarily expresses feeling remorse or being sorry / changing one’s mind with emotional regret rather than active moral reformation. "Regret" is a natural, common English verb that captures the typical semantic range (feel remorse, be sorry, wish one had acted differently) and can be consistently inflected for all forms.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"having felt remorse" (2x) "felt remorse" (1x) "regretted" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μετά and the middle voice of μέλω; to care afterwards, i.e. regret:--repent (self).

Root Family

μεταμέλλομαι (metamellomai) — to care afterwards, to feel regret, to be concerned after the fact

Root μετα- + μελ- to care, to be concerned, to have regret

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3338-01 μεταμεληθεὶς metameletheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG having-repented having felt remorse having felt remorse 2
G3338-03 μεταμέλομαι metamelomai V PRS MID IND 1P SG regret I am feeling regret I regret 1
G3338-05 μετεμελόμην metemelomen V IMPF MID IND 1P SG I regretted I was regretting I regretted 1
G3338-04 μετεμελήθητε metemelethete V AOR PASS IND 2P PL you repented you felt remorse you felt remorse 1
G3338-02 μεταμεληθήσεται metamelethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will change his mind will feel regret will feel regret 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3338-01 Matthew 21:29 μεταμεληθεὶς metameletheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG having-repented having felt remorse having felt remorse
G3338-04 Matthew 21:32 μετεμελήθητε metemelethete V AOR PASS IND 2P PL you repented you felt remorse you felt remorse
G3338-01 Matthew 27:3 μεταμεληθεὶς metameletheis V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG he felt remorse having felt remorse having felt remorse
G3338-03 2 Corinthians 7:8 μεταμέλομαι metamelomai V PRS MID IND 1P SG regret I am feeling regret I regret
G3338-05 2 Corinthians 7:8 μετεμελόμην metemelomen V IMPF MID IND 1P SG I regretted I was regretting I regretted
G3338-02 Hebrews 7:21 μεταμεληθήσεται metamelethesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will change his mind will feel regret will feel regret
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