μέριμνα (merimna)
merimna
concern
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun merimna describes a state of deep concern or anxiety that occupies the mind. It refers to the weight of worldly cares that can become so heavy they distract a person from spiritual priorities. The sources trace its root to an idea of being divided or pulled in different directions, suggesting that this worry is not just sadness but a fragmentation of attention.
In the New Testament, it appears six times, primarily in the Synoptic Gospels. Jesus uses it to illustrate how life’s pressures can choke spiritual growth, as when he notes that "the cares of this world" (Matthew 13:22) compete for space with God’s message. Mark 4:19 and Luke 8:14 echo this same imagery, showing merimna as a competing force that stifles faith.
While often translated simply as "worry," the term carries a specific theological weight regarding focus. It is not merely emotional distress but a preoccupation that displaces trust. Peter later echoes this in 1 Peter 5:7 by urging believers to cast all their anxiety on God, implying that merimna is a burden meant to be shared rather than carried alone.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word merimna describes a state of being pulled in different directions. It is not simply sadness or fear, but a fragmentation of attention where worldly pressures compete with spiritual focus. When we worry, our minds become divided, trying to hold onto security while also seeking God’s guidance. This division can choke the growth of faith, much like thorns crowd out young plants in soil.
Jesus speaks directly about this in Matthew 13:22, noting how the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches can choke the word. He does not dismiss our struggles but invites us to examine what holds our attention. The goal is not to ignore reality, but to align our hearts with God’s provision.
Instead of carrying these heavy burdens alone, we are invited to cast them on Him. As 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us, He cares for you. This act of casting is a choice to trust that God sees the details of your life. It brings peace by replacing divided attention with single-minded reliance on His love and power.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- cares3×
- care1×
- anxiety1×
- [is my] care1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μέριμνα2×
- μέριμναν1×
- μέριμναι1×
- μερίμναις1×
- μεριμνῶν1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 13:22
What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
This verse identifies merimna as a choking force that prevents spiritual fruitfulness by competing with God's message.
-
Luke 8:14
What fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life; and they bring no fruit to maturity.
Here the word describes how daily cares and pleasures crowd out maturity, showing it as an active hindrance to growth.
-
I Peter 5:7
casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
Peter uses this term to describe the specific anxieties believers should actively transfer to God because of His personal care.