μένω

From the study of 1 Corinthians 13:13

Range of meaning

To stay, remain in a place; to continue or last; to hold firm, endure. It is the opposite of passing away or being removed.

Against the English

'Remain' (BSB, WEB, NIV), 'abide' (KJV, ESV, NASB) and 'last' are all accurate. NLT's 'will last forever' goes further and adds a time frame the Greek does not state.

Used elsewhere in the period

It is common in the LXX and the New Testament for what endures, e.g. Isa 40:8 LXX, 'the word of our God remains (menei) forever'. Paul uses it in 2 Cor 3:11, where what 'remains' is set against what 'is being done away with' (katargoumenon). That is the same verb as 1 Cor 13:8, 10.

From the study of John 12:46

Range of meaning

To stay, remain, dwell, last, continue, abide. A favourite word of John (about 40 times in the Gospel). It is used positively of the Spirit remaining on Jesus (1:32), of disciples abiding in him (15:4–10), and of the word abiding in someone. It is used negatively of sin remaining (9:41) and of God's wrath remaining on the one who disobeys the Son (3:36).

Against the English

"Remain" (BSB, WEB, ESV) and "abide" (KJV) are both accurate. "Stay" (NIV) is fine too. What the English can hide is the assumption the word carries: you can only "remain" somewhere you already are.

Used elsewhere in the period

Johannine pairings: 3:36, "the wrath of God remains on him"; 9:41, "your sin remains"; 12:34, "the Christ remains forever"; 8:35, "the son remains forever." In 1 John, abiding in the light versus being in the darkness (1 Jn 2:9–11).

From the study of John 15:16

Range of meaning

To stay, remain, dwell, continue, last, endure. John's favourite word for a lasting, settled relationship: abiding in Jesus, his words abiding in you, abiding in his love.

Against the English

BSB and NASB 'remain', NIV 'last' and NLT 'lasting' all make the fruit sound merely durable. ESV and older 'abide' keep the link to 'abide in me' (15:4–7, 9–10), where the same verb appears again and again. The English variety hides that this is the chapter's key word.

How it drifted

Not a semantic drift, but a loss of connection: the translations vary their English word, so readers do not see the repetition the Greek hearers heard.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used about forty times in John's Gospel and many more in 1–3 John. Compare 6:27, 'food that remains to eternal life', where the contrast is between what perishes and what remains; 8:35, the son 'remains' in the house forever.