μακρός G3117
Long or far; extended in spatial length, temporal duration, or geographic distance.
An adjective that stretches across both space and time. In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus condemns those who 'for a pretense make long prayers' (Matt 23:14; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47) — here makros describes temporal extension, something drawn out and prolonged. But the same word also reaches across geographic space: the prodigal son travels to a 'far country' (Luke 15:13), and the nobleman departs to a 'distant land' (Luke 19:12). Multilingual evidence makes this split vivid: Spanish uses 'largamente' (at length) for the temporal sense but 'lejano/lejos' (far, distant) for the spatial one. Peter's Pentecost declaration that the promise extends to 'all who are far off' (Acts 2:39) uses the spatial sense with theological overtones of Gentile inclusion.
Senses
1. long (in extent or duration) — Long in extent or duration — describing something physically or temporally extended, drawn out, or prolonged. All three occurrences involve the 'long prayers' of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 23:14; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47), where Jesus critiques ostentatious religiosity. Spanish 'largamente' and German 'lang' both emphasize the temporal stretching — prayers prolonged as a show of piety rather than genuine devotion. French 'long' similarly captures the sense of excessive duration. 3×
AR["طَويلًا"]·ben["এরা","দীর্ঘ"]·DE["lang","μακρὰ"]·EN["long"]·FR["long"]·heb["אֲרֻכָּה","אֲרֻכֹת"]·HI["लम्बी"]·ID["panjang","panjang-panjang"]·IT["lungo"]·jav["dangu","dawa","panjang"]·KO["길게"]·PT["longas"]·RU["долго"]·ES["largamente"]·SW["maombi-marefu","mkisali","ndefu"]·TR["uzun"]·urd["لمبی"]
2. far / distant — Far or distant in space — describing geographic or relational remoteness rather than linear extent. The prodigal son journeys to a 'far country' (Luke 15:13), the nobleman goes to a 'distant land' to receive a kingdom (Luke 19:12), and Peter promises the Holy Spirit to those who are 'far off' (Acts 2:39). Spanish 'lejano' and 'lejos' clearly distinguish this spatial remoteness from the 'long' of duration. In Acts 2:39, the 'far off' carries theological weight — it signals the inclusion of Gentiles and future generations in the covenant promise. 3×
AR["بَعيدَةٍ","بَعِيدٍ","بَعِيدَةٍ"]·ben["দূরে"]·DE["μακράν","μακρὰν"]·EN["afar","far"]·FR["long"]·heb["רְחוֹקָה","רָחוֹק"]·HI["-परमेश्वर","दूर"]·ID["jauh","kejauhan,"]·IT["lungo"]·jav["ingkang-tebih,","tebih,"]·KO["먼","예수"]·PT["distante","longe"]·RU["дальнем,","далёкую"]·ES["lejana","lejano","lejos"]·SW["mbali","ya-mbali"]·TR["-o","uzak"]·urd["دور","دُور"]
Related Senses
H5921a 1. upon, on, over (spatial) (5443×)H0413 1. directional: to, toward (5366×)H1121a 1. son, male offspring, descendant (4914×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)H4428 1. king, human ruler (2518×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H0776 1. land, country, territory (2323×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)H6440 1. before, in front of (spatial) (1870×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H3027 1. physical hand (body part) (1596×)H1697 1. word, speech, utterance (1235×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μακρός, ά, όν [ᾰ by nature], long, whether of Space or Time, __I of Space, __I.1 in length, long, δόρυ Refs 8th c.BC+; νέες, νῆες μ. ships of war, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐπὶ τὰ -ότερα measured by the longer sides, i. e. length-wise, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰ μ. τείχη the long walls of Athens, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ μακρά (i.e. γραμμή), line traced by δικασταί to indicate the heavier penalty, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὁ μ.…