Greek word · G3112

μακρός

makros

long/distant

"Far off, at a distance" in space. In some uses it also means time: "far into the future, for a long time to come."

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μακράν (prop. fem. accusative of μακρός, Sc. ὁδόν), adv. ,

[in LXX for רָחוֹק hi., רָחַק, etc. ;]

a long way, far: Luke 15:20, Acts 22:21; before ἀπό, Matthew 8:30, Luke 7:6, John 21:8, Acts 17:27; id. metaphorically, Mark 12:34; οἱ εἰς μ., Acts 2:39 (cf. Isaiah 2:2); metaphorically, οἱ ποτὲ ὄντες μ. (opposite to ἐγγύς), Ephesians 2:13; οἱ μ., Ephesians 2:17.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 2:39

Range of meaning

"Far off, at a distance" in space. In some uses it also means time: "far into the future, for a long time to come."

Against the English

"Far off" is accurate. English cannot keep the echo of Isaiah that a Jewish hearer would have caught, and it leaves open whether the distance is geography, ethnicity, or time.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Isaiah 57:19: "peace upon peace to those far off (tois makran) and to those near." In its original setting this addressed scattered and returning Israel. LXX 2 Samuel 7:19 uses eis makran of time: God has spoken about David's house "for a long time to come." Acts 22:21: "I will send you far away (makran) to the Gentiles." Ephesians 2:13, 17 applies Isaiah 57:19 directly to Gentiles: "you who were once far off."

From the study of Acts 22:21

Range of meaning

An adverb, originally the feminine accusative of makros ('long'), meaning 'far, far away, at a distance' in space. It can also be used figuratively for being remote from God or from his covenant people ('not far from the kingdom,' Mark 12:34). Used as a noun, hoi makran means 'those far off' (BDAG s.v. μακράν).

Against the English

'Far away' (BSB, NIV, ESV) and 'far hence' (KJV, 'far from here') read it as describing the sending. YLT's 'nations far off' reads it as describing the nations. Either is possible, but the second brings out the scriptural echo more clearly.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Isa 57:19: 'peace upon peace to those far off (tois makran) and to those near.' Acts 2:39: the promise is 'for you and your children and for all who are far off (pasin tois eis makran).' Ephesians 2:13, 17 uses the same Isaiah text for Gentiles brought near.

From the study of Ephesians 2:13

Range of meaning

An adverb meaning 'far, far away, at a distance'. It is used literally of space ('not far from the kingdom' Mark 12:34; the prodigal 'still far off' Luke 15:20) and, in Jewish usage, of people standing outside the circle of God's people or presence.

Against the English

'Far away' / 'far off' is accurate as a word. The problem is what English readers fill it with: usually an individual's moral or emotional distance from God. The Greek, in this paragraph, places the distance mainly on the map of peoples: Gentiles outside Israel.

How it drifted

The verse is often lifted out of its paragraph. Without verses 11–12 ('you Gentiles… alienated from the commonwealth of Israel') and 14–16 ('made the two one'), 'far' becomes a general picture of any sinner's estrangement.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 57:19 (LXX: 'peace upon peace to those far off and to those near') is quoted in Eph 2:17. In Isaiah the 'far' were probably scattered Israelites. Daniel 9:7 also speaks of Israel 'near and far'. Acts 2:39 ('to all who are far off') and Acts 22:21 ('I will send you far away to the Gentiles') use the same language for the nations. Later rabbinic texts use 'far/near' for Gentiles and proselytes (converts to Judaism).

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 8:30 μακρὰν far off

    In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding.

    Here: An adverb meaning 'a long way off.' It is relative and not a measured distance. The herd was a good way off from Jesus and the two men, but close enough for the demons to point to it in verse 31.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 12:34 μακρὰν far

    When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further.

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 7:6 μακρὰν far

    So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.

    Here: Used as an adverb, 'far off'. With 'not', it puts Jesus within sight of the house.

  2. Luke 15:20 μακρὰν far

    So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

    Here: 'Far away.' Used as an adverb. It recalls the 'far country' (χώραν μακράν) of v. 13: the son is still on the road back from far away.

John · 1

  1. John 21:8 μακρὰν far

    The other disciples came ashore in the boat. They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.

Acts · 3

  1. Acts 2:39 μακράν, a distance,

    This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

    Here: "Far off." It echoes Isaiah 57:19, "peace to the far and to the near." Scholars debate whether Peter means scattered Jews, Gentiles, or later generations (see debates).

  2. Acts 17:27 μακρὰν far

    God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

    Here: This is spatial distance. Paul denies that God is remote, a view held by the Epicureans in his audience.

  3. Acts 22:21 μακρὰν far away

    Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

    Here: An adverb meaning 'far off.' It can describe the sending ('send you far away') or the nations ('nations far off,' as in YLT). Either way it echoes Isaiah's 'those who are far off' (Isa 57:19), which Peter already used at Pentecost (Acts 2:39).

Ephesians · 2

  1. Ephesians 2:13 μακρὰν far off

    But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

    Here: 'Far off'. It echoes Isaiah 57:19 (quoted in v.17) and is spatial language for being outside God's people, its covenants and its access to God.

  2. Ephesians 2:17 μακρὰν far off

    He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

    Here: 'Far off'. Here it describes covenant distance more than physical distance: Gentiles were 'alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants' (2:12). It picks up 2:13, 'you who once were far off'.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.