Word Study for G3307 (μερίζω)

merízō /mer-id'-zo/ Ask about this word

Meaningto part, i.e. (literally) to apportion, bestow, share, or (figuratively) to disunite, differ

KJV usagedeal, be difference between, distribute, divide, give participle

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of merízō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word merízō, represented by G3307, is derived from μέρος and means to part. Its base definition is "to part, i.e. (literally) to apportion, bestow, share, or (figuratively) to disunite, differ:--deal, be difference between, distribute, divide, give participle". It appears 15 times across 13 unique verses in the Bible. This term carries a dual sense, referring both to the act of distributing or sharing and to the state of being disunited or divided.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G3307 is used to illustrate two opposing concepts. Figuratively, it warns of the destructive nature of internal conflict. Jesus uses the term to explain that a kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and cannot stand (Matthew 12:25, Mark 3:24). Paul employs it rhetorically to confront factionalism in the church, asking, "Is Christ divided?" 1 Corinthians 1:13. Literally, the word describes the act of apportionment. God is depicted as the one who has distributed callings 1 Corinthians 7:17 and dealt to every person a measure of faith Romans 12:3. In a narrative context, Jesus divided two fishes among a crowd Mark 6:41, and a man asked Him to divide an inheritance Luke 12:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the concept of dividing and distributing:

G2049 erēmóō (to lay waste, make desolate): This word highlights the consequence of the negative sense of division. A kingdom that is divided (G3307) against itself is ultimately "brought to desolation" (G2049) Matthew 12:25.
G3358 métron (a measure): This term is frequently paired with G3307 to describe what is being apportioned. Paul explains that God has distributed (G3307) a measure (G3358) of faith or a rule to believers (Romans 12:3, 2 Corinthians 10:13).
G2817 klēronomía (inheritance): This word specifies a type of possession that can be divided. It appears in the request from a man who asked Jesus to command his brother to divide (G3307) the inheritance (G2817) between them Luke 12:13.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G3307 is significant, highlighting themes of unity and divine sovereignty.

The Danger of Disunity: The term is a stark warning against internal strife within a kingdom, a house, or the church. Jesus's teaching makes it clear that being divided is a precursor to collapse Mark 3:25-26. Paul's use of the word regarding Christ underscores that disunity among believers is fundamentally at odds with the indivisible nature of Christ himself 1 Corinthians 1:13.
Sovereign Distribution: G3307 is used to establish God's authority in apportioning spiritual gifts and life circumstances. It is God who has distributed to each person as He has called them 1 Corinthians 7:17 and who has dealt the measure of faith Romans 12:3, affirming His role as the source of all spiritual endowment.
Distinction in Calling: The word can also simply mean to create a distinction without implying conflict. Paul uses it to show there is a difference (G3307) in the worldly cares of a married woman versus an unmarried woman, highlighting different callings and priorities within the body of believers 1 Corinthians 7:34.

Summary

In summary, G3307 is a multifaceted word that contrasts the destructive results of human division with the purposeful nature of divine distribution. It serves as a caution that a house divided against itself cannot stand Matthew 12:25 while also providing assurance that God sovereignly deals and distributes faith and callings to His people Romans 12:3. This single term captures the critical difference between ruinous disunity and orderly apportionment.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 14 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

ἐμέρισεν
ἐμερίσθη·
μερισθεῖσα
μερισθῇ
μεμέρισται
μερίσασθαι

Related Words

3 entries in Strong’s name this word as their origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 13 verses across 7 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Mark (4 verses); never once in the other 20.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Hebrews

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.