Greek word · G3307

μερίζω

merizō

to divide

To divide into parts, to distribute, or to give someone their share or portion (BDAG s.v. μερίζω). It is used for dividing an inheritance (Luke 12:13), for God giving each person a measure (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 7:17), and in the Greek Old Testament for dividing land and spoil.

Appears 14 times in 13 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μερίζω

(μέρος), [in LXX chiefly for חָלַק ;]

to divide;

(a) to divide into parts : metaphorically, pass., 1 Corinthians 7:34 (WH, R, ing.), 1 Corinthians 7:34 (Rec., R, txt.) ( reading and punctuation, see ICC, in l); μεμέρισται ὁ Χριστός, 1 Corinthians 1:13; as in late authors, of factional division (cf. Polyb., viii, 23, 9), καθ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ, Matthew 12:25; ἐφ᾽ εαυτόν, Matthew 12:26, Mark 3:24-26;

(b) to distribute: with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Mark 6:41; as in later usage (cf. Polyb., xi, 28, 9), to bestow: Romans 12:3, 1 Corinthians 7:17, 2 Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 7:2; mid., with accusative of thing(s) before μετά, Luke 12:13 (cf. δια-, συμ-μερίζω).†

(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 Hebrews 7:2

Range of meaning

To divide into parts, to distribute, or to give someone their share or portion (BDAG s.v. μερίζω). It is used for dividing an inheritance (Luke 12:13), for God giving each person a measure (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 7:17), and in the Greek Old Testament for dividing land and spoil.

Against the English

KJV has 'gave'. BSB, ESV, NASB and WEB have 'apportioned' or 'divided', which is closer. 'Gave' is not wrong, but it loses the idea of a share being measured out and assigned.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Genesis 14:20 reads ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ δεκάτην ἀπὸ πάντων, 'he gave him a tenth of all'. Hebrews keeps 'a tenth from all' word for word but swaps in μερίζω. The verb is common in the Greek Old Testament for dividing plunder and for allotting the land (e.g. Joshua 13:7; Joshua 18:2).

From the study of 1 Enoch 27:4

Range of meaning

To divide into parts, to apportion, to hand out shares. It is used for land, inheritance and spoil, and for the 'share' or 'lot' God gives a person or a people.

Against the English

Charles's 'assigned them (their lot)' is accurate but can sound like impersonal fate. The Greek is the language of a father or king handing out portions of an inheritance.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint, God 'divides' the nations' inheritances (Deut 32:8), Israel is the LORD's 'portion' (Deut 32:9), and the LORD is the psalmist's 'portion' (Ps 16:5). The Dead Sea Scrolls speak constantly of the 'lot' (goral) of God versus the 'lot of Belial'. 1 Enoch's own Epistle promises the righteous 'a portion' of good things (e.g., 103:3).

From the study of 1 Corinthians 1:13

Range of meaning

To divide into parts; to apportion or distribute shares (of land, an inheritance, food); in the middle voice, to share something out; by extension, to be split into factions or divided against oneself (Mark 3:24–26).

Against the English

English 'divided' usually suggests disagreement ('the committee is divided'). The Greek word is more concrete. It means cutting something up and handing out the portions. 'Parceled out' or 'carved up' is closer.

How it drifted

'Divided' is a fair gloss. Over time it has narrowed to mean differing opinions and lost the picture of a thing broken into pieces.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint uses it for dividing up land and spoil (e.g. Josh 13:7 'divide this land as an inheritance'). Paul uses it in 1 Cor 7:17 for God 'apportioning' each person's lot, and in 7:34 for the married person whose loyalty is 'divided'. In the Gospels a kingdom 'divided against itself' cannot stand.

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 12:25 μερισθεῖσα μερισθεῖσα having been divided

    Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

    Here: An aorist passive participle: 'once it has been split into parts'. The picture is a realm broken into rival factions.

  2. Matthew 12:26 ἐμερίσθη· he is divided;

    If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?

    Here: Past tense (aorist) and passive: 'he has been split'. The past tense in the 'then' half of an 'if' sentence presents the result as already settled: if that is happening, the split has already taken place. It repeats the participle μερισθεῖσα ('divided') from v. 25.

Mark · 4

  1. Mark 3:24 μερισθῇ, shall be divided,

    If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.

  2. Mark 3:25 μερισθῇ, shall be divided,

    If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.

  3. Mark 3:26 ἐμερίσθη, was divided,

    And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.

    Here: 'Was split into parts.' It is the same verb used of the divided kingdom and house (vv. 24–25), and it describes a realm broken into warring factions.

  4. Mark 6:41 ἐμέρισεν He divided

    Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

    Here: 'He divided, apportioned.' He gave out shares or portions, as a host does when he distributes food.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 12:13 μερίσασθαι to divide

    Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 12:3 ἐμέρισεν has allotted

    For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.

    Here: To divide something into portions and hand them out. It pictures God distributing shares, which is why no one can claim a share they did not receive.

1 Corinthians · 3

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:13 μεμέρισται Has been divided

    Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

    Here: Perfect passive: 'has been divided up and now stays that way.' The verb is about cutting something into portions and handing them out, so the picture is Christ parceled out in shares among the factions.

  2. 1 Corinthians 7:17 ἐμέρισεν has assigned

    Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.

    Here: 'Apportioned, dealt out a share' (aorist, a completed act). The picture is a portion handed out to each person: their life-situation as a share given by the Lord.

  3. 1 Corinthians 7:34 μεμέρισται. has he been divided.

    and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:13 ἐμέρισεν has assigned

    We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you.

    Here: 'Divided out, allotted' as a single past act. The picture is God dealing out shares or portions, the way land was allotted to the tribes.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 7:2 ἐμέρισεν apportioned

    and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

    Here: "Apportioned": Abraham gave Melchizedek a share as his portion. The Greek Genesis has 'gave' (edōken). Hebrews' word suggests a deliberate allotting of a share, the way spoils were divided.

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