μεταμέλλομαι

metaméllomai /met-am-el'-lom-ahee/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom μετά and the middle voice of μέλω
Meaningto care afterwards, i.e. regret
KJV usagerepent (self).
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word metaméllomai, represented by G3338, is defined as to care afterwards, i.e. regret. It appears 8 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. This term signifies a change of mind that is typically accompanied by remorse or sorrow over a past action or decision.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G3338 is used to illustrate different forms of regret and their consequences. It describes the son who initially refused his father's command but "afterward he repented, and went" Matthew 21:29, showing a change of mind that leads to obedience. In contrast, Judas repented himself after he had betrayed Jesus, an act of remorse that led him to return the thirty pieces of silver Matthew 27:3. The term is also used to show the unchangeable nature of God, who swore an oath concerning Christ's priesthood and "will not repent" Hebrews 7:21, signifying the finality of His decree.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of metaméllomai:

  • G3076 lypéō (to distress; reflexively or passively, to be sad): This word describes the sorrow that can prompt regret. Paul mentions he does not repent G3338 for making the Corinthians sorry with his letter, because he saw its positive effect 2 Corinthians 7:8.
  • G3860 paradídōmi (to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit): This often describes the action that leads to regret. Judas betrayed Jesus and subsequently repented himself G3338 upon seeing the condemnation that followed Matthew 27:3.
  • G3660 omnýō (to swear, i.e. take (or declare on) oath): This term is used in contrast to metaméllomai to show finality. God's promise is sealed when He sware and will not repent G3338, indicating his decision is irrevocable Hebrews 7:21.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G3338 is demonstrated in its various applications:

  • Human Remorse vs. Divine Immutability: The regret of Judas Matthew 27:3 and the son's change of heart Matthew 21:29 highlight human fallibility. In stark contrast, God's declaration that he "will not repent" Hebrews 7:21 underscores His perfect consistency and the unshakeable nature of His covenants.
  • A Catalyst for Action: The term often connects feeling to action. The son who repented subsequently "went" to work in the vineyard Matthew 21:29. Judas's repentance led him to try and return the money he had been paid Matthew 27:3.
  • The Link Between Regret and Faith: A failure to repent G3338 is shown as a barrier to belief. The religious leaders who saw John's righteousness did not repent afterward, which prevented them from being able "to believe him" Matthew 21:32.

Summary

In summary, G3338 is more than a simple term for repentance; it specifically conveys a sense of regret or a change of mind about a past event. It illustrates a spectrum of human responses, from a productive change of heart to a destructive, desperate remorse. Ultimately, the word serves to contrast the shifting nature of human feelings and decisions with the absolute certainty and faithfulness of God's promises.

Grammatical Forms

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms.

  • Aorist Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 2×
  • Aorist Passive Deponent Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
  • Future Passive Deponent Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
  • Imperfect Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 1st Singular 1×
  • Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 1st Singular 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.
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Future
Action yet to take place.
Aorist
Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Middle
The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive
The subject is acted upon.
Passive Deponent
Passive in form but active in meaning.
Middle Or Passive
Can be read as middle or passive; context decides.
Indicative
A plain statement of fact.
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 3 books. Most frequent in Matthew (3 verses).

3
Matthew
1
2 Corinthians
1
Hebrews

Verse Explorer

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