μέτρον G3358
measure — a standard of quantity, extent, or proportion; both the instrument and the act of measuring
Metron is the Greek word for any standard of measurement — whether a container for grain, a rule for length, or a figurative benchmark of proportion. Jesus uses it in the memorable proverb about reciprocity: 'with the measure you use, it will be measured to you' (Matt 7:2; Mark 4:24; Luke 6:38). Paul employs it to describe the divinely assigned sphere or limit of apostolic authority (2 Cor 10:13) and the 'measure of the gift of Christ' distributed to each believer (Eph 4:7, 13, 16). The word always implies a standard — not arbitrary but calibrated. Spanish 'medida,' French 'mesure,' and German 'Mass' all preserve this dual sense of the measuring instrument and the quantity measured.
Senses
1. measure — A measure — a standard or instrument by which quantity, extent, or proportion is determined. Used of the reciprocal principle of divine judgment (Matt 7:2; Mark 4:24; Luke 6:38, where a 'good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over' will be given back), of the divinely apportioned scope of ministry (2 Cor 10:13; Eph 4:7), and of the full stature of Christ as the goal toward which believers grow (Eph 4:13, 16). In Matt 23:32, 'fill up the measure of your fathers' evokes a vessel of guilt reaching its limit. Across all uses, metron implies a defined, bounded standard rather than open-ended quantity. 14×
AR["-مِقْيَاسٍ", "بِكَيلٍ", "بِمِقْياسِ", "قِياسٍ", "قِياسِ", "كَيلٌ", "مِقياسِ", "مِقْدَارَ", "مِقْياسٌ", "مِكيالٍ", "مِكيالَ", "مِكْيالٍ"]·ben["পরিমাণ", "পরিমাণের", "পরিমাপ", "পরিমাপে", "মানদণ্ড", "মানদণ্ডের", "মাপ", "মাপকাঠি", "মাপে"]·DE["Mass", "μέτρον", "μέτρῳ"]·EN["a-measure", "measure", "of-measure"]·FR["mesure"]·heb["מִדַּה", "מִדַּת", "מִדָּה", "סְאַת"]·HI["उसी-से", "नअप", "नाप", "नाप-से", "माप", "माप,", "माप-के", "माप-से"]·ID["takaran", "ukuran", "ukuran,"]·IT["misura"]·jav["takeran", "ukuran", "ukuran,"]·KO["분량을", "척도를", "척도의", "측량", "측량에", "측량으로", "측량을", "측량이다", "치수", "치수-를", "치수로"]·PT["como-medida", "medida", "medida,"]·RU["мере", "мерой", "мерою", "меру"]·ES["-medida", "de-medida", "medida"]·SW["cha-", "kipimo", "kipimo,"]·TR["hediyesinin", "olcusunde", "olcusune", "ölçü", "ölçüden", "ölçünün", "ölçüsüne", "ölçüsünü", "ölçüyle"]·urd["مقدار", "ناپ", "ناپتے-ہو", "پیمائش", "پیمانہ", "پیمانے", "پیمانے-سے", "پیمانے-کے"]
Matt 7:2, Matt 23:32, Mark 4:24, Luke 6:38, Luke 6:38, John 3:34, Rom 12:3, 2 Cor 10:13, 2 Cor 10:13, Eph 4:7, Eph 4:13, Eph 4:16 (+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
μέτρον, τό, that by which anything is measured: __1 measure, rule, μέτρ᾽ ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες Refs 8th c.BC+; πάντ᾽ ἄνδρα πάντων χρημάτων μ. εἶναι is a measure of all things, Refs 5th c.BC+ __1.b in Mathematics texts, measure, divisor, Refs 3rd c.BC+ __2 measure of content, whether solid or liquid, δῶκεν μέθυ, χίλια μ. Refs 8th c.BC+; at Samos, of the μέδιμνος, Refs 2nd c.BC+; in Egypt, of the…