Greek word · G3348

μετέχω

metechō

to share

To have a share in, partake of, belong to, eat of. In everyday Greek it is very close to κοινωνέω (koinōneō), "to share in common."

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μετ-έχω

[in LXX: Proverbs 5:17 (עֵת), Proverbs 1:18, 1Es.5:40 Est.8:70, Sirach 51:28, al. ;]

to partake of, share in: ἐπ᾽ ἐλπίδι τοῦ μετέχειν, 1 Corinthians 9:10; with genitive of thing(s), 1 Corinthians 9:12 10:21 10:30, Hebrews 2:14; in sacramental sense, ἑκ τ. ἐνὸς ἄρτου μ., 1 Corinthians 10:17 (cf. MM, xvi); metaphorically, γάλακτος, Hebrews 5:13; of belonging to a tribe, Hebrews 7:13.†

(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 2:14

Range of meaning

To have a share in, partake of, belong to, eat of. In everyday Greek it is very close to κοινωνέω (koinōneō), "to share in common."

Against the English

KJV and YLT keep two different English verbs ("are partakers" / "took part"), which mirrors the Greek. BSB flattens the first verb into "have."

Used elsewhere in the period

Hebrews uses it in 5:13 ("partakes of milk") and 7:13 ("belonged to another tribe"). Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 9:10, 12 and 10:17, 21, 30. The papyri use it for having a share in property.

From the study of Hebrews 5:13

Range of meaning

To have a share in, participate in, partake of; of food, to eat or drink of it (1 Cor 10:17, 21, 30).

Against the English

KJV "useth" is flat. YLT "partaking of" is literal. BSB/WEB "lives on" and NASB "partakes only of" capture that milk is the person's whole diet, which the context implies.

Used elsewhere in the period

Within Hebrews the word family matters: Jesus "shared in" flesh and blood (2:14); believers are "sharers (metochoi) in a heavenly calling" (3:1), "sharers in Christ" (3:14), "sharers in the Holy Spirit" (6:4).

From the study of 1 Corinthians 10:21

Range of meaning

To have a share of something, take part in, partake of (a meal, a privilege, a nature). It usually takes a genitive object: 'to have a share of X'.

Against the English

'Partake' (BSB, KJV, ESV, NASB) is accurate but archaic. NIV's 'have a part in' and NLT's 'eat at' each catch half of it: the eating, and the share or belonging that the eating creates.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in 10:17 ('we all partake of the one loaf') and 10:30. In Hebrews 2:14 Christ 'shared' flesh and blood. Classical Greek uses it for having a share in a city, a festival or a sacrifice.

Where it appears

1 Corinthians · 5

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:10 μετέχειν. is to partake.

    Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.

  2. 1 Corinthians 9:12 μετέχουσιν, partake,

    If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

    Here: "Have a share in." The present tense describes a current situation: others are presently enjoying this claim on you.

  3. 1 Corinthians 10:17 μετέχομεν.¶ we partake.

    Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

    Here: "We have a share in" or "we take part in". Present tense, so it describes what they regularly do. It prepares for v.21: you cannot "share in" both the Lord's table and the table of demons.

  4. 1 Corinthians 10:21 μετέχειν to partake

    You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

    Here: 'To have a share in' the table: to eat from what belongs to it and so share in it. This picks up 10:17, 'we all partake of the one loaf', and stands near Paul's word koinōnia/koinōnos ('sharing', 'partners') in verses 16, 18 and 20.

  5. 1 Corinthians 10:30 μετέχω, partake,

    If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

Hebrews · 3

  1. Hebrews 2:14 μετέσχεν took part

    Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,

    Here: An aorist, describing one definite event: at a point in time he took his share of blood and flesh. Most readers see the incarnation here.

  2. Hebrews 5:13 μετέχων is partaking [only]

    For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.

    Here: "Partaking of," here in the plain sense of taking food. The present tense pictures an ongoing state: someone whose diet still is milk. "Only" or "lives on" in English versions draws this out correctly.

  3. Hebrews 7:13 μετέσχηκεν, has belonged to,

    He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

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