Biblical Lexicon

μέλω G3199

V-PIA-3S | 10× in 1 sense

To be a concern, to matter — impersonal verb expressing whether someone cares about a person or situation

The verb μέλω (melo), used almost exclusively in impersonal constructions (μέλει + dative, 'it matters to'), expresses whether something is a concern or care to someone. The disciples ask Jesus during the storm, 'Does it not matter to you that we are perishing?' (Mark 4:38). Martha protests, 'Lord, does it not concern you that my sister has left me to serve alone?' (Luke 10:40). The hired hand 'does not care about the sheep' (John 10:13), while Gallio 'cared for none of these things' (Acts 18:17). Positively, Peter exhorts believers to cast their anxieties on God 'because he cares for you' (1 Pet 5:7). Spanish 'importar/preocupar,' Arabic يُهِمُّ, Hebrew אִכְפַּת, Korean 관심/상관, and German 'kummern' uniformly express personal concern.

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Senses

1. be a concern, matter to someone — An impersonal verb meaning 'it is a concern to, it matters to' someone, typically with μέλει + dative of person. Used negatively of indifference — the disciples reproach Jesus in the storm (Mark 4:38), the hireling does not care about the sheep (John 10:13), Judas did not care about the poor (John 12:6), Gallio cared nothing for Jewish disputes (Acts 18:17). Used positively of God's care for believers (1 Pet 5:7). Also in Jesus's impartiality statements: 'it does not matter to you about anyone' (Matt 22:16; Mark 12:14). Paul asks whether God is concerned about oxen (1 Cor 9:9). All uses share one impersonal construction expressing the presence or absence of concern. 10×

EMOTION_ATTITUDE › Attitudes and Emotions › Anxiety and Worry

AR["اهْتَمَّ", "تُبالي", "كَانَ-يَهُمُّ", "يَهتَمُّ", "يَهُمَّ", "يَهُمُّ", "يُهَمّ"]·ben["গুরুত্ব", "গুরুত্ব-ছিল", "গুরুত্ব-দেন", "চিন্তা-করেন", "যত্ন-আছে", "যত্ন-করে", "যত্ন-ছিল", "যত্ন-হয়", "যেন-চিন্তা-কর;"]·DE["kuemmern", "μέλει", "ἔμελεν"]·EN["does-it-concern", "does-it-matter", "is-it-a-care", "it-mattered", "it-matters", "let-it-concern", "mattered", "matters"]·FR["prendre-soin", "se-soucier"]·heb["אִכְפַּת", "אִכְפַּת לְ-ךָ", "אִכְפַּת-לְךָ", "אִכְפַּת-לוֹ", "הָיָה-אִכְפַּת", "יִדְאַג", "לֹא"]·HI["चिंता-थी", "चिन्ता", "चिन्ता-नहीं-थी", "चिन्ता-है", "चिन्ता-हो"]·ID["Engkau-peduli", "dipedulikan", "ia-peduli", "khawatir;", "memperhatikan", "peduli", "peduli-kah", "penting"]·IT["importare", "melei"]·jav["dipun-mikir;", "dipungatosaken", "kawigatosan", "migatosaken", "nggatosaken", "panjenengan-preduli", "perduli", "preduli"]·KO["걱정하라", "걱정하시느냐", "관심-없으십니까", "관심이-있었기에", "다루신다", "돌보시니", "돌보지", "상관이", "상관이-없었다", "상관하지"]·PT["cuida", "importa", "importas", "importe;", "te-importa"]·RU["есть-забота", "заботился", "заботит", "заботится", "заботиться", "заботишься", "не-заботило", "пусть-заботит;"]·ES["importa", "importe", "le-importa", "le-importaba", "se-preocupa", "te-importa"]·SW["alimjali", "anajali", "anawajali", "hukujali", "inakujali", "jali", "kilimjali", "kuhusu", "unajali", "usijali;"]·TR["ilgilendirmedi", "o-", "umrunda", "umurunda", "önemli", "önemlisiniz", "önemser", "önemser-misin", "önemsiyordu", "önemsiyorsun"]·urd["فکر-تھا", "فکر-ہو", "فکر-ہے", "پرواہ", "پرواہ-تھی", "پرواہ-ہے"]

Matt 22:16, Mark 4:38, Mark 12:14, Luke 10:40, John 10:13, John 12:6, Acts 18:17, 1 Cor 7:21, 1 Cor 9:9, 1 Pet 5:7

BDB / Lexicon Reference

μέλω, middle μέλομαι, used in both voices, either in neuter sense, to be an object of care or thought, or in active sense, care for, take an interest in. __A present μέλω: imperfect ἔμελον, Epic dialect μέλον Refs 8th c.BC+future μελήσω, Epic dialect infinitive μελησέμεν Refs 8th c.BC+aorist ἐμέλησα: perfect μεμέληκ; also Epic dialect and Lyric poetry μέμηλα, Doric dialect participle μεμᾱλώς…