Word Study for G3343 (μεταπέμπω)

metapémpō /met-ap-emp'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom μετά and πέμπω

Meaningto send from elsewhere, i.e. (middle voice) to summon or invite

KJV usagecall (send) for.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of metapémpō — 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 metapémpō, represented by G3343, means to summon or invite someone from another place. It appears 8 times in 7 unique verses in the Bible. The word is formed from μετά and πέμπω, conveying the idea of sending for someone to have them come to the sender.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, all occurrences of G3343 are found in the book of Acts, where it is used to describe a summons that initiates a significant event. A pivotal use is when an angel of God directs Cornelius, a centurion, to send for Simon Peter Acts 10:22. This summons is repeated in Peter's recounting of the event Acts 11:13. When Peter arrives, he confirms he came because he was sent for Acts 10:29. The word is also used to describe human summonses with varying motives, such as when Felix sent for Paul to hear about the faith Acts 24:24 but also hoped for a bribe Acts 24:26, or when Paul's enemies plotted to have him sent for to Jerusalem so they could kill him Acts 25:3.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the action and context of summoning:

G3992 pémpō (to dispatch): This is a base component of metapémpō and describes the act of sending. It is used in direct parallel in Acts 10:5, where Cornelius is told to "send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon."
G32 ángelos (angel, messenger): The summons of Peter by Cornelius was divinely initiated by a holy messenger from God Acts 10:22. An angel is a key agent in bringing about God's will.
G191 akoúō (to hear): A primary purpose for summoning someone is to listen to them. Cornelius was told to send for Peter in order to hear words from him Acts 10:22, and Felix sent for Paul to hear him concerning the faith in Christ Acts 24:24.

Theological Significance

The use of G3343 carries significant narrative weight, often marking a turning point orchestrated for a divine or human purpose.

Divine Appointments: The summons of Peter to the house of Cornelius is not a mere invitation but a divinely commanded meeting. An angel directs Cornelius to send for Peter, an action that opens the way for the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles Acts 10:22.
Confrontation with the Gospel: Being sent for often results in a direct encounter with spiritual truth. Felix sends for Paul specifically to hear about "the faith in Christ" Acts 24:24, placing the gospel message before a powerful Roman official.
Human Motives: The act of summoning is also driven by human intent, both good and evil. While Cornelius sends for Peter out of a desire to fear God Acts 10:22, Felix sends for Paul hoping for money Acts 24:26, and the Jews desire to send for Paul as part of a murderous plot Acts 25:3.

Summary

In summary, G3343 metapémpō is a specific term for summoning or inviting that, in scripture, is used exclusively in the book of Acts. It serves as a key verb to advance the narrative, bringing characters together for pivotal interactions. Whether initiated by a holy angel for the expansion of the church or by humans for personal gain or malicious intent, the act of sending for someone consistently leads to a consequential encounter with key figures of the early church.

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

Aorist Middle Imperative 2nd Singular 2×
Aorist Middle Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Middle Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Middle Infinitive 1×
Aorist Middle Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Middle Subjunctive 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Passive Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Present Middle Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
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.
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.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
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

7 verses, all in Acts — and none of the other 26 New Testament books.

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.