μῆκος (mēkos)
mēkos
length
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun mēkos simply means length in a physical sense. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both times as part of a larger description of dimensions rather than as an isolated concept. It denotes a measurable extent from one end to another.
This straightforward term anchors two key visions of spatial reality. In Ephesians 3:18, Paul prays that believers might grasp the width, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love, using mēkos to describe one axis of that vast, incomprehensible space. Later, in Revelation 21:16, the angel describes the New Jerusalem as a perfect cube, specifying its length alongside its width and height to emphasize the city’s geometric perfection and symmetry.
The word carries no hidden spiritual metaphor on its own; it is a neutral measure of physical extent. Its theological weight comes entirely from what surrounds it. In Ephesians, it helps map the immensity of divine love; in Revelation, it contributes to the image of a holy place defined by absolute order and balance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mēkos simply means length. It is a physical measurement, marking how far something stretches from one end to another. In Scripture, it does not carry hidden spiritual codes on its own. Its meaning comes from what surrounds it.
In Ephesians 3:18, Paul uses this term alongside width, height, and depth. He prays that believers might grasp the vast dimensions of Christ’s love. This love is not small or confined. It stretches far beyond our understanding.
Revelation 21:16 describes the New Jerusalem as a perfect cube. Its length equals its width and height. This geometry shows perfect order and balance. These verses remind us that God’s presence and love are vast, real, and complete.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- length3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μῆκος3×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 3:18
may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,
This occurrence pairs mēkos with width, height, and depth to describe the immeasurable scale of Christ's love.
-
Revelation of John 21:16
The city is square. Its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal.
Here the term specifies one dimension of the New Jerusalem, which is a perfect cube where length equals width and height.