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μνημεῖον

mnēmeîon

G3419 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A structure or monument for remembering the dead, specifically a tomb, sepulchre, or grave; more broadly, any commemorative monument. In most contexts, refers to a constructed burial place such as a tomb or mausoleum, rather than an unmarked grave. Contextual senses include both actual tombs (where remains are interred) and memorial monuments (cenotaphs) that serve as reminders of a person's life or death.

Semantic Range

tomb, sepulchre, grave, commemorative monument, memorial, cenotaph

Root / Etymology

From μνήμη ('memory, remembrance'), itself deriving from μιμνήσκω ('to remind, remember'), with the suffix -εῖον indicating a place or receptacle. Thus, μνημεῖον means 'place of remembrance.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, μνημεῖον broadly denoted any commemorative monument, including but not limited to tombs. In Hellenistic and Koine contexts, and especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, the term predominantly denotes a constructed burial site—typically hewn out of rock or stone—such as those used by wealthier individuals or families in Judea and the wider eastern Mediterranean. This is distinct from humble or unmarked graves, which are referred to by the term τάφος. The English translations 'tomb,' 'sepulchre,' or 'grave' often obscure the architectural or commemorative aspect of μνημεῖον, which can refer to elaborate burial structures rather than mere burial places. Notably, 'cenotaph' (a monument without remains) is a less common but attested sense in non-biblical Greek. The word does not carry religious connotations beyond its function as a memorial; it enters the biblical lexicon primarily reflecting Near Eastern and Greco-Roman burial practices. Usage in the New Testament reflects both private/family and public tombs, including renowned or venerated sites (e.g., the tombs of the prophets, the tomb of Jesus).

Translation Consistency

primary "tomb" 39 occurrences

Most contexts refer to a constructed burial place or commemorative monument; 'tomb' is the natural, concrete English noun that captures the typical sense (burial chamber/mausoleum) while remaining usable for memorial monuments, and it reads more naturally than the broader 'memorial' in biblical contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μνήμη; a remembrance, i.e. cenotaph (place of interment):--grave, sepulchre, tomb.

Root Family

μνημ- (mnēmeîon) — to remember, to be mindful, to recall

Root μνημ- to remember, to be mindful, to recall
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3421 μνημονεύω he/she remembered
G3422 μνημόσυνον a commemorative reminder

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3419-04 μνημείων mnemeion N GEN N PL tomb of memorial tombs tomb 20
G3419-05 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb of the memorial tomb 10
G3419-01 μνημεῖα mnemeia N ACC N PL tombs memorial tombs memorial tombs 4
G3419-02 μνημείῳ mnemeio N DAT N SG tomb in a memorial tomb memorial tomb 4
G3419-03 μνημείοις mnemeiois N DAT N PL graves to memorial tombs memorial tombs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3419-04 Matthew 8:28 μνημείων mnemeion N GEN N PL tombs of memorial tombs memorial tombs
G3419-01 Matthew 23:29 μνημεῖα mnemeia N ACC N PL monuments memorial tombs memorial tombs
G3419-01 Matthew 27:52 μνημεῖα mnemeia N NOM N PL tombs memorial tombs memorial tombs
G3419-04 Matthew 27:53 μνημείων mnemeion N GEN N PL tombs of memorial tombs of memorial tombs
G3419-02 Matthew 27:60 μνημείῳ mnemeio N DAT N SG tomb in a memorial tomb memorial tomb
G3419-05 Matthew 27:60 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb memorial tomb
G3419-05 Matthew 28:8 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb of the memorial tomb
G3419-04 Mark 5:2 μνημείων mnemeion N GEN N PL tombs of memorial tombs of memorial tombs
G3419-02 Mark 6:29 μνημείῳ mnemeio N DAT N SG a tomb in a memorial tomb in a memorial tomb
G3419-05 Mark 15:46 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb of the memorial tomb
G3419-04 Mark 16:2 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs tomb
G3419-05 Mark 16:3 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb memorial tomb
G3419-04 Mark 16:5 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs memorial tomb
G3419-05 Mark 16:8 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb memorial tomb
G3419-01 Luke 11:44 μνημεῖα mnemeia N NOM N PL graves memorial tombs memorial tombs
G3419-01 Luke 11:47 μνημεῖα mnemeia N ACC N PL tombs memorial tombs memorial tombs
G3419-04 Luke 23:55 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs memorial tomb
G3419-05 Luke 24:2 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb memorial tomb
G3419-05 Luke 24:9 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb of the memorial tomb
G3419-04 Luke 24:12 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs tomb
G3419-04 Luke 24:22 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs memorial tomb
G3419-04 Luke 24:24 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs memorial tomb
G3419-03 John 5:28 μνημείοις mnemeiois N DAT N PL graves to memorial tombs memorial tombs
G3419-02 John 11:17 μνημείῳ mnemeio N DAT N SG tomb in a memorial tomb memorial tomb
G3419-04 John 11:31 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG grave of memorial tombs tomb
G3419-04 John 11:38 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs tomb
G3419-05 John 12:17 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb memorial tomb
G3419-04 John 19:41 μνημεῖον mnemeion N NOM N SG tomb of memorial tombs tomb
G3419-04 John 19:42 μνημεῖον mnemeion N NOM N SG tomb of memorial tombs tomb
G3419-04 John 20:1 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs tomb
G3419-05 John 20:1 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb of the memorial tomb
G3419-05 John 20:2 μνημείου mnemeiou N GEN N SG tomb of the memorial tomb of the memorial tomb
G3419-04 John 20:3 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs tomb
G3419-04 John 20:4 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs of memorial tombs
G3419-04 John 20:6 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs tomb
G3419-04 John 20:8 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs tomb
G3419-02 John 20:11 μνημείῳ mnemeio N DAT N SG tomb in a memorial tomb memorial tomb
G3419-04 John 20:11 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG tomb of memorial tombs memorial tomb
G3419-04 Acts 13:29 μνημεῖον mnemeion N ACC N SG a tomb of memorial tombs a tomb
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