μεθερμην-εύω G3177
To translate, interpret; to render a word or phrase from one language into another.
Methermeneuo means to translate or interpret, specifically to render a term from one language into another. In the New Testament it appears almost exclusively in the passive ('being translated' or 'which is translated'), used when Gospel writers explain Semitic names and phrases for Greek-speaking audiences — such as 'Emmanuel' (Matt 1:23), 'Talitha koum' (Mark 5:41), 'Golgotha' (Mark 15:22), and 'Rabbi' (John 1:38). These translation glosses are among our earliest evidence of multilingual biblical practice. The Spanish 'traducir' and German 'uebersetzen' both carry the same sense of linguistic transfer.
Senses
1. translate / interpret (render into another language) — To render speech or a name from one language into another, functioning as a metalinguistic marker in the NT text. Used almost exclusively in the passive participle (methermēneuomenon, 'being translated') when the evangelists explain Semitic terms to Greek readers: 'Emmanuel... being translated, God with us' (Matt 1:23), 'Talitha koum... being translated, Girl, arise' (Mark 5:41), 'Golgotha... being translated, Place of a Skull' (Mark 15:22). These verses are themselves acts of cross-linguistic glossing, mirroring the very project of multilingual Bible translation. 8×
AR["مُتَرْجَمًا", "يُتَرجَمُ"]·ben["অনুবাদ-করলে", "অনুবাদ-করলে,", "অনুবাদ-হয়", "অনুবাদিত", "অনুবাদে"]·DE["uebersetzen", "μεθερμηνευόμενον", "μεθερμηνεύεται"]·EN["being-interpreted", "being-translated", "is-translated"]·FR["interpréter"]·heb["בְּתַרְגּוּם", "מְתֹרְגָּם", "מְתֻרְגָּם"]·HI["अनुवाद-में", "अनुवाद-में,", "अनुवाद-होता-है", "अर्थ", "लड़की"]·ID["diterjemahkan", "diterjemahkan,"]·IT["tradurre"]·jav["dipun-jarwakaken", "dipun-jarwakaken,", "dipuntegesi", "dipunterjemahaken", "dipunterjemahaken,", "diterjemahaken,", "menawi-dipun-jarwakaken,"]·KO["번역되는", "번역되면,", "번역된다", "번역하면", "통역하면"]·PT["sendo-traduzido", "sendo-traduzido,", "traduzido", "traduzido:", "é-traduzido"]·RU["переведённое", "переводимое", "переводимое,", "переводится"]·ES["se-traduce", "siendo-traducido", "traducido"]·SW["likitafsiriwa", "likitafsiriwa,", "linatafsiriwa"]·TR["tercüme-edilirse", "tercüme-edilmiş,", "çevrilince", "çevrilir", "çevrilmiş"]·urd["ترجمہ", "ترجمہ-کیا-جائے", "ترجمہ-کیا-جائے-تو", "ترجمہ-کیا-جائے،", "ترجمہ-کیا-گیا", "ترجمہ-کیا-ہوا", "ترجمہ-ہوتا", "ترجمہ-ہوتا-ہے"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μεθερμην-εύω, translate, LXX+1st c.BC+:—frequently in passive, NT+2nd c.BC+