μιμέομαι (mimeomai)
mimeomai
to imitate
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb mimeomai means to imitate or follow someone closely, acting as their mirror in behavior. Its root connects to mimos, a word for a mimic or actor, suggesting that this imitation involves conscious role-playing rather than accidental similarity. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, carrying significant weight in how early Christians understood community life.
Paul uses it to point believers toward tangible models of faithfulness. He urges the Thessalonians to imitate him because he imitates Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:6), and later tells them to copy his own disciplined lifestyle (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9). Similarly, Hebrews 13:7 instructs readers to remember their leaders who spoke God’s word and to imitate the results of their faith. In 3 John 11, the advice is simple: follow what is good.
This word implies a deliberate choice to align one’s actions with a specific example. It is not about blind copying but about adopting the character and direction shown by those who are already walking in truth. The emphasis remains on visible conduct as the primary way faith is transmitted from one generation to the next.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word mimeomai invites us to look at the lives of others as living mirrors for our own walk with God. It suggests a conscious, deliberate choice to align our daily actions with those who are already walking in truth. This is not about blind copying or perfect performance, but about adopting the character and direction shown by faithful examples.
When Paul urges believers to imitate him because he imitates Christ, he offers a clear chain of influence. We follow leaders who speak God’s word, and they follow Jesus. Hebrews 13:7 encourages us to consider the results of their conduct and imitate their faith. This creates a community where faith is passed down through visible, tangible examples rather than abstract ideas alone.
Even in simple commands like those in 3 John, the call remains practical: follow what is good. By observing how others live out their trust in God, we find encouragement and direction for our own lives. This word reminds us that we are never walking alone; we are part of a long line of believers learning to reflect Christ to one another.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do imitate2×
- you to imitate1×
- to imitate1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μιμεῖσθαι2×
- μιμοῦ1×
- μιμεῖσθε1×
Key Verses
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II Thessalonians 3:9
This was not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.
Paul explicitly states his purpose in withholding rights is to create a tangible example for the church to copy.
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Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.
This verse links imitation directly to observing the 'results of conduct,' emphasizing that faith is seen in outcomes.
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III John 1:11
Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God.
The command provides a clear moral boundary, urging believers to actively choose good over evil by following its example.