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
- And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
- 2 Timothy 2:20μὲν · indeedA large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.
- So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
- Hebrews 1:7μὲνNow about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.”
- Hebrews 3:5μὲνNow Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later.
- Hebrews 7:2μὲν · [his name]…and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
- Hebrews 7:5μὲνNow the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.
- Hebrews 7:8μὲνIn the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.
- Hebrews 7:11μὲνNow if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
- Hebrews 7:18μὲν · SoSo the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
- Hebrews 7:20μὲνAnd none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
- Hebrews 7:23μὲνNow there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
- Hebrews 8:4μὲνNow if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.
- Hebrews 9:1μὲνNow the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.
- Hebrews 9:6μὲνWhen everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.
- Hebrews 9:23μὲνSo it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
- Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
- Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.
- If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
- Hebrews 12:9μὲνFurthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
- Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
- James 3:17μὲν · [of all]But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- 1 Peter 1:20μὲνHe was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
- 1 Peter 2:4μὲνAs you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,
- 1 Peter 3:18μὲνFor Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
- 1 Peter 4:6μὲνThat is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
- Jude 1:8μὲνYet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.
- Jude 1:10μὲνThese men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.
- Jude 1:22μὲν · indeedAnd indeed, have mercy on those who doubt;