μένω G3306
To remain, abide, stay; in a place: lodge, dwell temporarily; in a state or relationship: continue, persist, indwell; of things: last, endure; also to wait for, await.
Meno is one of the New Testament's most theologically charged verbs, though its basic meaning is disarmingly simple: to stay put. In ordinary narrative it describes lodging at someone's house (Luke 19:5, 'today I must stay at your house') or remaining in a city (Acts 9:43). But in the Fourth Gospel, meno undergoes a profound spiritual transformation. 'Abide in me, and I in you' (John 15:4) — here staying becomes the language of mystical union, and the verb carries the full weight of covenant fidelity, spiritual indwelling, and persevering faith. Arabic thabata ('to stand firm, persevere') captures this theological dimension remarkably well, as does Korean kohada ('to abide, dwell'). A third sense describes endurance through time: 'the word of God abides forever' (1 Pet 1:25), where permanence rather than presence is the point. German bleiben covers all senses with remarkable economy, as does French demeurer. Spanish permanecer gravitates toward the 'persist, endure' dimension. The rare sense of 'waiting' in Acts 20:5, 23 returns the verb to its classical Greek usage, where meno could mean to wait — soldiers standing their ground, travelers awaiting companions.
Senses
1. abide, continue, persist in — To abide, continue, or persist in a state, relationship, or condition — the most frequent sense at 79 occurrences, theologically dominant in Johannine literature. In John 15:4-10 Jesus commands 'abide in me' (meinate en emoi) repeatedly, making meno the signature verb of spiritual indwelling and covenant union. In 1 John 2:6 the one who says he 'abides in him' must walk as Christ walked; in 1 John 4:12-16 'God abides in us.' Beyond John, 1 Cor 7:8 uses meno for remaining in one's current social state, and 2 Tim 3:14 urges Timothy to 'continue in what you have learned.' Arabic thabata/yathbutu ('hold firm, persevere') captures the spiritual-relational dimension precisely, while Korean kohada selects abiding vocabulary that mirrors John's intimacy language. German bleiben and French demeurer serve as the default translation across Johannine and Pauline contexts alike. The theological weight is immense: meno becomes the New Testament's primary metaphor for the ongoing mutual presence of God and believer. 79×
AR["تَبقى", "تَبْقَى", "تَثبُتُ", "يَبقى", "يَبْقى", "يَبْقَى", "يَثبُتُ", "يَثْبُتُ"]·ben["থাকে", "থাকে,", "থাকেন", "থাকেন;", "থেকে-যায়"]·DE["bleiben"]·EN["remains"]·FR["demeurer"]·heb["יִשָּׁאֵר", "נִשְׁאֶרֶת", "נִשְׁאָר", "נִשְׁאָרוֹת", "עוֹמֵד", "עוֹמֶדֶת", "שׁוֹכֵן", "שׁוֹכֶנֶת"]·HI["ठहरती-है", "बना-रहता-है", "रहत;", "रहता", "रहता-है", "रहता-है,", "रहता-है।", "रहती-है"]·ID["tetap", "tinggal", "tinggal,"]·IT["dimorare", "rimanere"]·jav["langgeng", "lenggah", "lenggah,", "lenggah.", "tetep", "tetep,", "tetep;"]·KO["거하느냐", "거하니", "거하지-않는다", "거한다", "남는다", "남는다고", "남아-있다", "머무르나니", "머무른다", "머물른다;", "영원히"]·PT["permanece", "permanece,"]·RU["остаётся", "остаётся.", "пребывает", "пребывает,"]·ES["permanece"]·SW["anabaki", "anakaa", "inabaki", "inakaa", "kaa", "linadumu", "linakaa", "unabaki,", "unakaa", "vinabaki"]·TR["kalır", "kalıyor"]·urd["اور-میں", "رہتا", "رہتا-ہے", "رہتا-ہے،", "رہتی-ہے", "رہتے-ہیں", "قائم-رہتا-ہے"]
Matt 10:11, Matt 26:38, Mark 6:10, Mark 14:34, Luke 9:4, Luke 10:7, John 1:33, John 3:36, John 6:56, John 8:35, John 8:35, John 9:41 (+38 more)
2. stay, lodge, remain in a place — To stay or lodge in a physical location for a period of time — 27 occurrences of concrete, spatial remaining. In Luke 1:56 Mary 'stayed with' Elizabeth about three months; in Luke 19:5 Jesus tells Zacchaeus 'I must stay at your house today'; in Luke 24:29 the Emmaus disciples urge the risen Christ to 'stay with us, for it is toward evening.' In John 1:39 Jesus invites the first disciples to 'come and see,' and they 'stayed with him that day.' Acts records Paul's lodging stops: he 'remained' in various cities for days, months, or years (Acts 18:3; 20:6; 28:14). Arabic maqatha/aqama ('sojourn, reside') and Korean meomulda ('stay, lodge') both select hospitality vocabulary. Spanish permanecer and French demeurer treat these as standard residential sojourn verbs. The Lukan and Johannine uses are not merely logistical — staying at someone's house signals intimacy, acceptance, and fellowship, so sense 2 often shades naturally into sense 1. 27×
AR["أَقَامَا", "أَقَامُوا", "أَمكُثَ", "أَن-يَبقى", "أَنْ-يَبْقَى", "اسْتَقَرَّ", "بَقِيَ", "بَقِيَتْ", "سَأَمْكُثُ", "مَكَثَ", "مَكَثْنَا", "يَبْقَى", "يَمْكُثَ"]·ben["আমরা-থাকলাম", "তিনি-থাকলেন", "থাকতে", "থাকব", "থাকলেন", "থাকিল", "থেকে-গেছে"]·DE["bleiben", "bleibt"]·EN["I-will-remain", "he-remained", "he-stayed", "it-remained", "remained", "they-stayed", "to-remain", "to-stay", "we-remained"]·FR["demeurer"]·heb["אֶשָּׁאֵר,", "לְהִשָּׁאֵר", "לִשְׁהוֹת", "נִשְׁאֲרָה", "נִשְׁאֲרוּ", "נִשְׁאַר", "שָׁהִינוּ", "שָׁהָה"]·HI["ठहरना", "ठहरे", "मैन-रहुनग,", "रह", "रहना", "रहने", "रहा", "रहे"]·ID["Ia-tinggal", "aku akan tinggal", "kami-tinggal", "mereka-tinggal", "tinggal", "tinggallah"]·IT["dimorare", "rimanere"]·jav["Panjenenganipun-lenggah", "dedalem", "kantun", "kula-badhé-tetep", "lenggah", "lereb", "nginep", "nyipeng.", "tetep"]·KO["머무르는-것-이", "머무르도록", "머무르리라,", "머무셨다", "머물기", "머물기를", "머물도록", "머물러야-한다", "머물렀다", "우리가-머물렀다"]·PT["ficamos", "ficar", "ficou", "permanecer", "permaneceram", "permanecerei", "permaneceu"]·RU["оставался", "остались", "остался", "останусь", "остаться", "пребывать", "пребыл", "пребыли", "пребыть"]·ES["permanecer", "permaneceré", "permanecieron", "permanecimos", "permaneció", "quedarse"]·SW["abaki", "akae", "akae.", "akakaa", "akikaa", "alibaki", "alikaa", "ilibaki", "kubaki", "kukaa", "nitakaa", "tulikaa", "walikaa"]·TR["kalacagim", "kaldı", "kaldık", "kaldılar", "kalmak", "kalmam", "kalması", "kalmasını", "kalmayı"]·urd["اُن-کے-ساتھ", "دو", "رہا", "رہنا", "رہوں-گا", "رہے", "ٹھہرا", "ٹھہرنا", "ٹھہرنے-کو"]
3. last, endure, remain in existence — Of things, truths, or states that last, endure, or remain in existence through time — 10 occurrences where permanence rather than presence is the focus. In 1 Cor 13:13 'faith, hope, and love remain' — the famous triad that outlasts all charisms. In John 6:27 Jesus contrasts food that perishes with food that 'endures' to eternal life. In 1 Pet 1:25 'the word of the Lord remains forever,' quoting Isa 40:8. Heb 7:24 says Christ holds his priesthood permanently because he 'remains' forever. In John 12:34 the crowd objects that 'the Christ remains forever.' Arabic baqi/yabqa ('lasting, remaining') and Korean namda ('be left, remain') both select durability vocabulary. German bleibt and French demeure use the same verbs as senses 1-2, but temporal-adverbial context (eis ton aiona, 'forever') shifts the meaning toward endurance. Matt 11:23 provides a counterfactual: Sodom 'would have remained until today' — survival through history as divine reprieve. 10×
AR["الباقي", "باقيَةٍ", "بَاقِيًا", "بَاقِيَ", "بَقيَتْ", "تَبْقَى", "لَثَبتوا", "يَبْقى", "يَبْقَى"]·ben["থাকত", "থাকবে,", "থাকা", "থাকে", "থেকলে", "থেকে-থাকত", "যা-স্থায়ী", "স্থায়ী"]·DE["bleiben", "bleibt"]·EN["abiding", "it-would-have-remained", "may-remain", "might-remain", "remaining", "remains", "they-would-have-remained"]·FR["demeurer"]·heb["יִשְׁאֲרוּ", "יִשָׁאֲרוּ", "יַעֲמֹד", "נִשְׁאֲרָה", "נִשְׁאֲרוּ", "נִשְׁאָר", "עוֹמֵד", "תַּעֲמֹד"]·HI["जो-रहती-है", "बना-रहे", "बना-रहेगा", "बनी-रहें", "बने-रहते", "बने-रहने-वाला", "रहकर", "रहतअ", "रहें", "स्थायी"]·ID["bertahan", "kekal", "mereka-akan-tinggal", "tetap", "tinggal", "yang-kekal"]·IT["dimorare", "rimanere"]·jav["ingkang-langgeng", "kang-langgeng.", "kantun", "sampun-tetep", "taksih-wonten", "tetep", "tetep,"]·KO["그들-이-남아있었을-것이다", "남게-하려-함이라", "남는-것이", "남도록", "남아-있는", "남아-있었으리라", "남아있는-동안", "남아있도록", "남으리라", "영원한"]·PT["ficassem", "permanecer", "permanecesse,", "permanente.", "permaneçam", "que-permanece", "teria-permanecido", "teriam-permanecido"]·RU["оставаясь", "остались", "остались-бы", "осталось", "остался-бы", "пребудет", "пребывающего.", "пребывающее", "пребывающую"]·ES["habría-permanecido", "habrían-permanecido", "permanece", "permanecieran", "permanezca", "permanezcan", "que-permanece", "quedando"]·SW["baki", "itabaki,", "kinachokaa", "lidumu", "likibaki", "linalo-dumu", "unaobaki", "ungeli-baki", "wangebaki", "yabaki"]·TR["içinde-", "kalan", "kalmış-olacaklardı", "kalsın", "kalıcı", "kalırdı", "kalırken", "o-"]·urd["باقی-رہیں", "رہتا", "رہتے", "رہتے-ہوئے", "رہیں", "قائم-رہنے-والا", "قائم-رہنے-والے۔", "قائم-رہے", "میں"]
4. wait for, await — To wait for or await someone — 2 occurrences in Acts. In Acts 20:5 Paul's companions 'were waiting for us' at Troas, and in Acts 20:23 Paul says bonds and afflictions 'await me' in Jerusalem. Arabic intathara ('await') and Korean gidarida ('wait') both select anticipation vocabulary distinct from their 'remain' words. Spanish me esperan ('they await me') uses a dedicated waiting verb rather than permanecer, confirming that translators perceive a distinct sense. This usage preserves a classical Greek meaning otherwise rare in the New Testament: meno in Homer and the tragedians frequently means to stand one's ground, to wait and face. Paul's use in Acts 20:23 carries exactly this valence — he awaits afflictions not passively but with resolved endurance, standing fast in the face of what is coming. 2×
AR["انْتَظَرُوا", "تَنْتَظِرُ"]·ben["অপেক্ষা-করছিলেন", "অপেক্ষা-করছে"]·DE["bleibt"]·EN["await", "were-waiting"]·FR["demeurer"]·heb["חִכּוּ", "מְחַכִּים"]·HI["ठहरे-रहे", "प्रतीक्षा-करते-हैं"]·ID["menanti", "menunggu"]·IT["rimanere"]·jav["ngentosi", "ngentosi."]·KO["기다렸다", "기다리노라"]·PT["aguardam.", "esperavam"]·RU["ожидали", "ожидают."]·ES["esperaban", "me-esperan"]·SW["walitungoja", "zinaningojea"]·TR["bekliyor", "bekliyorlardı"]·urd["انتظار-کرتی-ہیں", "ٹھہرے-تھے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)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×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μένω, Epic dialect infinitive μενέμεν Refs 8th c.BC+ present participle μίνονσαι Refs 4th c.BC+; Epic dialect, Ionic dialect imperfect μένεσκον Refs 8th c.BC+: Epic dialect, Ionic dialect future μενέω Refs 8th c.BC+; Attic dialect μενῶ Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἔμεινα Refs 8th c.BC+: perfect μεμένηκα Refs 4th c.BC+; compare μίμνω:—stay, wait: __I stand fast, in battle, οὐδ᾽ ἴφθιμοι Λύκιοι μένον,…