μέγεθος (megethos)
megethos
greatness
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun megethos denotes greatness or vastness in scale and magnitude. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Ephesians 1:19, where Paul describes the immeasurable greatness of God’s power toward believers.
Its root connects to megas, meaning "great" or "large," suggesting a focus on size or extent rather than moral excellence. The Septuagint often uses this term for physical stature or height, highlighting its concrete sense of dimension. Here, Paul applies it to divine strength, emphasizing the sheer scale of God’s energy at work in Christians.
Translators typically render it as "greatness," capturing the idea of overwhelming magnitude. The word underscores that God’s power is not just strong but vast beyond human comprehension, offering reassurance of His supreme capability.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word megethos points to a vastness that defies our normal measurements. It describes greatness in terms of scale and magnitude rather than moral quality. When we encounter this term, we are reminded that God’s power is not merely strong but immeasurably large.
In Ephesians 1:19, Paul uses this word to describe the exceeding greatness of God’s power toward those who believe. This is not abstract theology but a concrete reality for your life. The same energy that raised Christ from the dead is at work in you now.
This understanding brings deep comfort. You are not relying on your own limited strength. Instead, you stand within the scope of divine might that knows no bounds. It is a reminder that no challenge is too great for the One who holds all things together.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- greatness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μέγεθος1×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 1:19
and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
This verse uniquely applies megethos to God's power toward believers, emphasizing its immeasurable scale rather than just its intensity.