Definition
μέν,
conjunctive particle (originally a form of μήν), usually related to a following δέ or other adversative conjunction, and distinguishing the word or clause with which it stands from that which follows.
It is generally untranslatable and is not nearly so frequent in NT as in cl. Like δέ, it never stands first in a clause.
1. Answered by δέ or some other particle: μὲν . . . δέ, indeed . . . but, Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16, al.; with pronouns, ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, one . . . another, Matthew 21:35, al.; pl., Philippians 1:16, 17; ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δὲ . . . ὃ δέ, some . . . some . . . some, Matthew 13:8; τοῦτο μὲν . . . τοῦτο δέ, partly . . . partly, Hebrews 10:33; μὲν . . . ἔπειτα, John 11:6; μὲν . . . καί, Luke 8:5.
2. μέν solitarium, answered by no other particle: πρῶτον μέν (Bl., l.with), Romans 1:8; 3:2, 1 Corinthians 11:18; μὲν οὖν in narrative, summing up what precedes or introducing something further (Bl., §78, 5), so then, rather, nay rather: Luke 11:28 (WH, μενοῦν), Acts 1:6; 9:31, al.; μὲν οὖν γε (Philippians 3:8, WH): see: μενοῦνγε.
Hebrew words it translates
The Hebrew words that the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament renders as μέν:
Usage patterns
Occurrences
180 total
- Acts 3:21μὲνHeaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.
- Acts 3:22μὲν · ForFor Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you.
- Acts 4:16μὲν“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.
- Acts 5:41μὲνThe apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
- Acts 8:4μὲνThose who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
- Acts 8:25μὲνAnd after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.
- Acts 9:7μὲνThe men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.
- Acts 9:31μὲνThen the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 11:16μὲνThen I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
- Acts 11:19μὲνMeanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
- Acts 12:5μὲνSo Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
- Acts 13:4μὲνSo Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
- Acts 13:36μὲνFor when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.
- Acts 14:3μὲνSo Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
- Acts 14:4μὲνThe people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
- Acts 15:3μὲνSent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
- Acts 15:30μὲνSo the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.
- Acts 16:5μὲνSo the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
- Acts 17:12μὲνAs a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.
- Acts 17:17μὲνSo he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.
- Acts 17:30μὲν · AlthoughAlthough God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
- Acts 17:32μὲνWhen they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.”
- Acts 18:14μὲνBut just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.
- Acts 19:15ΜὲνBut one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
- Acts 19:32μὲνMeanwhile the assembly was in turmoil. Some were shouting one thing and some another, and most of them did not even know why they were there.
- Acts 19:38μὲνSo if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there.
- Acts 21:39μένBut Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”
- Acts 22:9μὲνMy companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.
- Acts 23:8μὲνFor the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
- Acts 23:18μὲνSo the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
- Acts 23:22μὲνSo the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
- Acts 23:31μὲνSo the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.
- Acts 25:4μὲνBut Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
- Acts 25:11μὲν · howeverIf, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
- Acts 26:4μὲνSurely all the Jews know how I have lived from my earliest childhood among my own people, and also in Jerusalem.
- Acts 26:9μὲνSo then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Acts 27:21μένAfter the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss.
- Acts 27:41μὲνBut the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.
- Acts 27:44μὲνThe rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.
- Acts 28:5μὲν · ButBut Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
- Acts 28:22μὲνBut we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
- Acts 28:24μὲνSome of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
- Romans 1:8μὲνFirst, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
- Romans 2:7μὲνTo those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
- Romans 2:25μὲνCircumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
- Romans 3:2μὲνMuch in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
- Romans 5:16μὲνAgain, the gift is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment that followed one sin brought condemnation, but the gift that followed many trespasses brought justification.
- Romans 6:11μὲνSo you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 7:12μὲν · thenSo then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
- Romans 7:25μὲνThanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.