μάκρο-θεν G3113
from afar, at a distance — adverb indicating spatial remoteness of an observer or traveler
Makrothen is a spatial adverb meaning 'from far off' or 'at a distance,' and it appears at some of the most emotionally charged moments in the Gospels. Peter follows Jesus makrothen after the arrest (Matt 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54). The women who had followed from Galilee watch the crucifixion makrothen (Matt 27:55; Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49). The tax collector prays standing makrothen, unwilling to approach (Luke 18:13). In each case the distance is both physical and psychological — expressing caution, grief, or unworthiness. Spanish 'de lejos,' French 'de loin,' and German 'von fern' all capture this sense of pained or reverent remoteness.
Senses
1. from afar / at a distance — An adverb of spatial distance meaning 'from far away' or 'at a distance,' used to describe observers who are physically separated from the scene they are witnessing. Marks the cautious distance of Peter following after Jesus' arrest (Matt 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54), the grieving distance of the women at Calvary (Matt 27:55; Mark 15:40), the demoniac who saw Jesus makrothen and ran to him (Mark 5:6), and the self-distancing posture of the tax collector in prayer (Luke 18:13). The distance often carries an emotional overtone — fear, sorrow, or humility — beyond mere spatial measurement. 14×
AR["بَعيدٍ", "بَعِيدٍ", "مِن-بَعيدٍ", "مِنْ-بَعيدٍ"]·ben["μακρόθεν-দূরে", "দূর-থেকে", "দূরে"]·DE["von-fern", "μακρόθεν"]·EN["a-distance", "afar", "from-a-distance", "from-afar"]·FR["de-loin"]·heb["מֵרָחוֹק", "רָחוֹק"]·HI["दूर", "दूर-से", "दौड़ा"]·ID["dari-jauh", "jauh", "kejauhan"]·IT["da-lontano", "makrothen"]·jav["kadohan,", "saking-tebih.", "tebih", "tebih,"]·KO["멀리", "멀리서", "멀리서,", "멀리에서"]·PT["longe", "longe,"]·RU["-", "далека", "издалека", "издали"]·ES["de-lejos", "lejos"]·SW["kwa-mbali", "mbali", "mbali,"]·TR["uzaktan", "uzaktan,"]·urd["دور", "دور-سے", "دُور-سے"]
Matt 26:58, Matt 27:55, Mark 5:6, Mark 8:3, Mark 11:13, Mark 14:54, Mark 15:40, Luke 16:23, Luke 18:13, Luke 22:54, Luke 23:49, Rev 18:10 (+2 more)
Related Senses
H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)H3383 1. Jordan River (proper noun) (183×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H5800a 1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) (166×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H7126 1. offer, present sacrificially (122×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)H5104 1. river, stream (119×)H7341 1. width, breadth (101×)G1563 1. there (95×)H7126 2. draw near, approach (95×)G2281 1. sea, large body of water (91×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μάκρο-θεν, adverb from afar, NT+3rd c.BC+; of Time, from long since, Refs 2nd c.BC+