Greek word · G3184

μεθύω

methyō

to get drunk

In ordinary Greek: to be drunk or intoxicated with wine; used figuratively for being soaked or saturated. Elsewhere in the New Testament it always means real drunkenness (Matt 24:49; Acts 2:15; 1 Cor 11:21; 1 Thess 5:7; Rev 17:2, 6).

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μεθύω

(μέθυ, wine, cf. μέθη), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁכַר, רָוָה ;]

to be drunken: Matthew 24:49, John 2:10, Acts 2:15, 1 Corinthians 11:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:7; metaphorically, Revelation 17:2, 6.†

(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 John 2:10

Range of meaning

In ordinary Greek: to be drunk or intoxicated with wine; used figuratively for being soaked or saturated. In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) the related verbs can also mean drinking one's fill at a celebration, short of losing control (Gen 43:34, Joseph's brothers "drank and were merry"; Song 5:1, "drink, and be drunk with love"; Hag 1:6, "you drink but are not filled"). Elsewhere in the New Testament it always means real drunkenness (Matt 24:49; Acts 2:15; 1 Cor 11:21; 1 Thess 5:7; Rev 17:2, 6).

Against the English

KJV "well drunk", WEB/YLT/ESV/NASB "drunk freely", NIV "had too much to drink", BSB "are drunk". The softer renderings keep the possibility of "drunk plenty" open. The stronger ones bring out the common meaning of intoxication.

How it drifted

"Drunk freely" can sound to a modern ear like nothing more than "drank a generous amount", which hides the point that the guests' judgement has been dulled. The KJV's "well drunk" meant "having drunk a great deal", which is close but now sounds old-fashioned.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint: Gen 9:21 (Noah drunk); Gen 43:34 (drinking one's fill at a feast); 1 Sam 25:36 (Nabal "very drunk"). New Testament: always intoxication. BDAG gives "be drunk" as the primary meaning, with the passive meaning "get drunk".

From the study of Revelation 17:6

Range of meaning

To be drunk or intoxicated. Used literally of wine and figuratively of being saturated or overwhelmed by something: soaked with water or blood, or 'drunk' with violence, passion or judgment.

Against the English

English 'drunk with' is accurate, though 'with' makes the blood sound like the cause instead of the drink itself. Greek 'from' (ek) and the present tense picture her actually drinking blood, continually.

Used elsewhere in the period

The prophets use drunken bloodshed as an image: the Lord's sword 'drinks its fill' of blood (Jer 46:10, LXX 26:10; Isa 34:5–7), and oppressors are 'drunk on their own blood as with wine' (Isa 49:26). Babylon was 'a golden cup in the LORD's hand, making the whole earth drunk' (Jer 51:7), which Revelation echoes in 17:2, 4 and 18:3. Greek literature used the image of a tyrant 'drinking blood' for savage cruelty.

From the study of 1 Thessalonians 5:7

Range of meaning

"To be drunk", "to be intoxicated". It can also mean being soaked or saturated with something, and figuratively being overwhelmed, as in Revelation 17:6, "drunk with the blood of the saints".

Against the English

"Are drunk" (KJV, WEB, YLT) shows the state. "Get drunk" (BSB) makes it the same as the first verb.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matthew 24:49 (the servant who drinks "with the drunken"), Acts 2:15 ("these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day"), 1 Corinthians 11:21 (some at the Lord's Supper are drunk).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 24:49 μεθυόντων, being drunkards,

    And he begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.

John · 1

  1. John 2:10 μεθυσθῶσιν they may have drunk freely

    and said, “Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the fine wine until now!”

    Here: "They have become drunk" or "are well into their drinking". The subject is the guests in general. The point is that their palates are dulled and they no longer notice quality.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 2:15 μεθύουσιν, are drunkards,

    These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:21 μεθύει. is drunken.

    For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.

1 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:7 μεθύουσιν· get drunk;

    For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

    Here: A related verb that usually describes the state of being drunk. So the line runs: those who get drunk are drunk at night. The two verbs give a small play on words and complete the saying.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 17:6 μεθύουσαν being drunk

    I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.

    Here: A present participle, so the drunkenness is her ongoing condition, not one binge. She has gorged on killing until she is intoxicated by it.

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