### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term μῆκος (mēkos, `{{G3372}}`) fundamentally denotes "length" or "extent." Its etymological root is likely connected to μέγας (megas, `{{G3173}}`), meaning "great" or "large," suggesting an inherent sense of magnitude or extension. This word can refer to physical dimension, as in the measurement of an object, or it can be employed metaphorically to describe an abstract extent, such as the duration of time or the scope of a concept. In the Septuagint, μῆκος frequently translates the Hebrew אֹרֶךְ (orek, `{{H753}}`), most notably when detailing the dimensions of sacred structures like Noah's Ark, the Tabernacle, and Solomon's Temple, establishing a precedent for its use in literal architectural descriptions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
μῆκος (mēkos) appears four times in the New Testament, across two distinct books:
* **[[Ephesians 3:18]]**: "may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Here, μῆκος is one of four dimensions used metaphorically to describe the immeasurable vastness of Christ's love. It speaks to the extensive reach, enduring quality, and comprehensive nature of this divine affection, which transcends human understanding. The context is a prayer for spiritual enlightenment and an apprehension of the boundless love of God in Christ.
* **[[Revelation 21:16]]** (twice): "The city lies foursquare, its length and breadth are the same. And he measured the city with the rod, twelve thousand stadia. Its length and breadth and height are equal." In this apocalyptic vision of the New Jerusalem, μῆκος refers to the literal, physical dimension of the city. The repetition and the precise measurement underscore the divine order, perfection, and immense scale of the eternal dwelling place for God's people. The description of equal length, breadth, and height signifies a perfect cube, reminiscent of the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament Tabernacle and Temple, symbolizing ultimate holiness and the direct presence of God.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **μέγας (megas, `{{G3173}}`)**: As the likely root, this word for "great" or "large" underscores the inherent sense of magnitude conveyed by μῆκος.
* **πλάτος (platos, `{{G4111}}`)**: Meaning "breadth" or "width," this term is frequently paired with μῆκος in both literal (e.g., [[Revelation 21:16]]) and metaphorical (e.g., [[Ephesians 3:18]]) contexts to describe two-dimensional extent.
* **ὕψος (hypsos, `{{G5311}}`)**: Denoting "height," this word completes the three spatial dimensions and is found alongside μῆκος and πλάτος in both the Ephesian and Revelation passages.
* **βάθος (bathos, `{{G901}}`)**: Meaning "depth" or "profundity," this term is uniquely added to the dimensional quartet in [[Ephesians 3:18]], emphasizing the profound and unfathomable nature of Christ's love.
* **Hebrew אֹרֶךְ (orek, `{{H753}}`)**: The primary Old Testament equivalent, אֹרֶךְ is used extensively in the Pentateuch and historical books to describe the physical "length" of sacred structures, providing a significant conceptual backdrop for the literal usage of μῆκος in Revelation.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of μῆκος is most profoundly expressed in [[Ephesians 3:18]]. Here, it contributes to a unique four-dimensional description of the love of Christ (πλάτος, μῆκος, ὕψος, βάθος). This is not a literal spatial measurement, but a powerful rhetorical device emphasizing the immeasurable, all-encompassing, and enduring nature of divine love. The "length" of Christ's love suggests its enduring quality through time, its reach across all generations and circumstances, and its extensive scope in embracing all believers. It speaks to the boundless extent of God's grace and the infinite depth of His redemptive plan, inviting believers to experience a love that surpasses all human comprehension.
In [[Revelation 21:16]], the precise measurement of the New Jerusalem's "length" (along with its breadth and height) signifies divine order, perfection, and the immense, glorious dwelling place prepared for the saints. The literal dimension here points to a spiritual reality of God's meticulous provision and the vastness of His eternal kingdom. The cubic form, with equal length, breadth, and height, evokes the Holy of Holies, symbolizing the ultimate holiness and the direct, unhindered presence of God among His people in the new creation.
### Summary
The Greek word μῆκος (mēkos, `{{G3372}}`) fundamentally denotes "length" or "extent," deriving from a root signifying magnitude. While its usage in [[Revelation 21:16]] is literal, describing the immense and perfectly proportioned dimensions of the New Jerusalem, its most profound theological application is found in [[Ephesians 3:18]]. There, μῆκος forms part of a powerful four-dimensional metaphor (πλάτος, μῆκος, ὕψος, βάθος) illustrating the incomprehensible, all-encompassing, and enduring vastness of the love of Christ. This metaphorical "length" speaks to the boundless reach and eternal quality of divine affection, inviting believers into a deeper apprehension of God's immeasurable grace. Thus, μῆκος serves to bridge the concrete reality of physical measurement with the abstract profundity of spiritual truth, highlighting both the ordered perfection of God's creation and the infinite extent of His redemptive love.
TRV