Greek word · G3331

μετάθεσις

metathesis

removal/change

From metatithēmi, 'to put in another place'. Meanings: change of position, transfer, relocation; alteration or change of state; removal. Context decides how strong it is.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μετά-θεσις, -εως, ἡ

(μετατίθημι) [in LXX: 2Ma.11:24 * ;]

1. change of position, removal : Hebrews 11:5.

2. change, as of that which has been established : Hebrews 7:12 12:27.†

(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 12:27

Range of meaning

From metatithēmi, 'to put in another place'. Meanings: change of position, transfer, relocation; alteration or change of state; removal. Context decides how strong it is.

Against the English

BSB, KJV, WEB and NIV say 'removal' or 'removing'. YLT has 'removal'. These translations choose the 'taking away' end of the range. The word itself also allows 'change' or 'transfer', and Hebrews uses it in both senses elsewhere.

How it drifted

'Removal' is a fair rendering, but to modern ears it can sound like plain deletion or annihilation. The Greek is less fixed than that.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hebrews 7:12: 'when the priesthood is changed, there is necessarily a metathesis of the law too', meaning a change, not the abolition of law as such. Hebrews 11:5: Enoch 'was taken up' (metetethē), and before his metathesis he pleased God. That is a transfer, not a destruction. In wider Greek it can mean transposition, change of opinion or relocation (LSJ, BDAG).

Where it appears

Hebrews · 3

  1. Hebrews 7:12 μετάθεσις a change

    For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

  2. Hebrews 11:5 μεταθέσεως translation

    By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

    Here: "Transfer, removal": the noun from the same root as the verb. Hebrews uses it elsewhere for the "change" of the law (7:12) and the "removal" of what can be shaken (12:27).

  3. Hebrews 12:27 μετάθεσιν removing

    The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.

    Here: Literally 'a putting elsewhere'. Its meanings run from change of position to transfer, alteration and removal. Hebrews uses the word for the 'change' of the law (7:12) and for Enoch being 'taken' (11:5). Here, set against 'remain', it means at least that the shakable order gives way. Whether that means being done away with or being transformed is debated.

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