Word Study for G3327 (μεταβαίνω)

metabaínō /met-ab-ah'-ee-no/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom μετά and the base of βάσις

Meaningto change place

KJV usagedepart, go, pass, remove.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of metabaínō — 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 metabaínō, represented by G3327, means to change place and is often translated as depart, go, pass, or remove. It appears 12 times across 11 unique verses in the Bible. The term is used to describe both literal, physical movement and a profound, spiritual transition from one state of being to another.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its literal sense, G3327 describes the physical movements of Jesus and his disciples during their ministry. Jesus departed from one place to another to teach and preach in various cities (Matthew 11:1, Matthew 12:9). The word is also used for instructions given to the disciples, such as the command to not go from house to house but to remain in one place Luke 10:7. Figuratively, it illustrates the power of faith, where Jesus states that with faith like a mustard seed, one could command a mountain to remove Matthew 17:20. The most significant use of G3327 is theological, describing a believer's journey from a state of spiritual death to life. Those who believe have passed from death unto life John 5:24, a transition that is evidenced by love for the brethren 1 John 3:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of movement and position:

G5217 hypágō (to lead (oneself) under, i.e. withdraw or retire... go (a-)way): This word is often used for departing or going away. It appears alongside G3327 when Jesus' brothers urge him to depart and go into Judaea John 7:3.
G2064 érchomai (to come or go): This general term for movement is frequently used to describe someone arriving at a new location after departing. After Jesus departed from a place, he went into their synagogue Matthew 12:9.
G3306 ménō (to stay... abide, continue, dwell, endure): As an antonym, this word highlights the opposite of departing. The disciples were instructed to remain in a house and not go from place to place Luke 10:7, and the one who does not love abideth in death, in contrast to those who have passed into life 1 John 3:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G3327 is primarily centered on the believer's spiritual transformation.

The Great Transition: The word's most profound application is the passage from spiritual death to eternal life. This is not a future event but a present reality for the one who believes in Christ and the Father who sent him John 5:24. This transition is demonstrated outwardly through love for other believers 1 John 3:14.
The Power of Faith: Jesus uses G3327 to illustrate the incredible potential of faith. The command for a mountain to remove shows that faith can bring about change that seems physically impossible Matthew 17:20.
Christ's Redemptive Journey: The term describes Jesus' own purposeful departure from this world to the Father John 13:1. This was not an escape but a necessary transition to complete his redemptive work and return to glory.

Summary

In summary, G3327 is a dynamic word that encompasses more than simple physical travel. While it describes the literal journeys of Christ and others, its true significance lies in its depiction of spiritual movement. It defines the foundational Christian experience of passing from a state of condemnation and death into a new reality of everlasting life, a transition made possible by faith in Jesus Christ.

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 12 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 3×
2nd Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Singular 2×
2nd Aorist Active Subjunctive 3rd Singular 2×
2nd Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Future Middle Deponent Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Perfect Active Indicative 1st Plural 1×
Perfect Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Imperative 2nd Plural 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Middle Deponent: Middle in form but active in meaning.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

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 11 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (5 verses); never once in the other 22.

Matthew

Luke

John

Acts

1 John

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, 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.