μετά

(on its neglect of elision before proper names beginning with a vowel, and before sundry other words (at least in Tdf.s text) see Tdf. Proleg., p. 95; cf. WH. Introduction, p. 146b; Winers Grammar, § 5, 1 a.; Buttmann, p. 10), a preposition, akin to μέσος (as German mit to Mitte, mitten) and hence, properly, in the midst of, amid, denoting association, union, accompaniment; (but some recent etymologists doubt its kinship to μέσος; some connect it rather with ἅμα, German sammt, cf. Curtius, § 212; Vanicek, p. 972). It takes the genitive and accusative (in the Greek poets also the dative). (On the distinction between μετά and σύν, see σύν, at the beginning)
I. with the genitive; (the Sept. for אֵת, עִם, אַחַר, etc.), among, with (cf. Winer's Grammar, 376f (352f));
1. amid, among;
a. properly: μετά τῶν νεκρῶν, among the dead, Lk 24:5 (μετά νεκρῶν κείσομαι, Euripides, Hec. 209; θάψετε με μετά τῶν πατέρων μου, Gen 49:29, the Sept.; μετά ζώντων εἶναι, to be among the living, Sophocles Phil. 1312); λογίζεσθαι μετά ἀνόμων, to be reckoned, numbered, among transgressor's, Mk 15:28 (G T WH omit; Tr brackets the verse) and Lk 22:37, from Isa 53:12 (where the Sept. ἐν ἀνόμοις); μετά τῶν θηρίων εἶναι, Mk 1:13; γογγύζειν μετ' ἀλλήλων, Jn 6:43; σκηνή τοῦ Θεοῦ μετά τῶν ἀνθρώπων, Rev 21:3; add, Mt 24:51; Mt 26:58; Mk 14:54; Lk 12:46; Jn 18:5, Jn 18:1S; Acts 1:26, etc.
b. tropically: μετά διωγμῶν, amid persecutions, Mk 10:30 (μετά κινδύνων, amid perils, Thucydides 1, 18); ἡ ἀγάπη μεθ' ἡμῶν, love among us, mutual love, 1 Jn 4:17 (others understand μεθ' ἡμῶν here of the sphere or abode, and connect it with the verb; cf. DeWette, or Huther, or Westcott, in the place cited). Hence, used,
2. of association and companionship, with (Latincum; German mit, often alsobei);
a. after verbs of going, coming, departing, remaining, etc., with the genitive of the associate or companion: Mt 20:20; Mt 26:36; Mk 1:29; Mk 3:7; Mk 11:11; Mk 14:1; Lk 6:17; Lk 14:31; Jn 3:22; Jn 11:54; Gal 2:1; Jesus the Messiah it is said will come hereafter μετά τῶν ἀγγέλων, Mt 16:27; Mk 8:38; 1 Thess 3:13; 2 Tim 1:7; on the other band, with the genitive of the person to whom one joins himself as a companion: Mt 5:41; Mk 5:24.; Lk 2:51; Rev 22:12; ἄγγελοι μετ' αὐτοῦ, Mt 25:31; μετά τίνος, contextually equivalent to with one as leader, Mt 25:10; Mt 26:47; Mk 14:43; Acts 7:45. περιπατεῖν μετά τίνος, to associate with one as his follower and adherent, Jn 6:66; γίνομαι μετά τίνος, to come into fellowship and contact with, become associated with, one: Mk 16:10; Acts 7:38; Acts 9:19; Acts 20:18. παραλαμβάνειν τινα μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ, to take with or to oneself as an attendant or companion: Mt 12:45; Mt 18:16; Mk 14:33; ἄγειν, 2 Tim 4:11; ἔχειν μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ, to have with oneself: τινα, Mt 15:30; Mt 26:11; Mk 2:19; Mk 14:7; Jn 12:8; τί, Mk 8:14; λαμβάνειν, Mt 25:3; ἀκολουθεῖν μετά τίνος, see ἀκολουθέω, 1 and 2 (cf. Winers Grammar, 233f (219)).
b. εἶναι μετά τίνος is used in various senses, α. properly, of those who associate with one and accompany him wherever he goes: in which sense the disciples of Jesus are said to be (or to have been) with him, Mk 3:14; Mt 26:69, Mt 26:71; Lk 22:59, cf. Mk 5:18; with ἀπ' ἀρχῆς added, Jn 15:27; of those who at a particular time associate with one or accompany him anywhere, Mt 5:25; Jn 3:26; Jn 9:40; Jn 12:17; Jn 20:24, Jn 20:26; 2 Tim 4:11; sometimes the participle ὤν, ὄντα, etc., must be added mentally: Mt 26:51; Mk 9:8; Jn 18:26; οἱ (ὄντες) μετά τίνος, his attendants or companions, Mt 12:4; Mk 2:25; Lk 6:3; Acts 20:34; namely, ὄντες, Tit 3:15. Jesus says that he is or has been with his disciples, Jn 13:33; Jn 14:9; and that, to advise and help them, Jn 16:4; Mt 17:17 (Mk 9:19 and Lk 9:41 πρός ὑμᾶς), even as one whom they could be said to have with them, Mt 9:15; Lk 5:34; just as he in turn desires that his disciples may hereafter be with himself, Jn 17:24. ships also are said to be with one who is travelling by vessel, i. e. to attend him, Mk 4:36. β. tropically, the phrase (to be with, see b.) is used of God, if he is present to guide and help one: Jn 3:2; Jn 8:29; Jn 16:32; Acts 7:9; Acts 10:38; 2 Cor 13:11; Phm 4:9; with εἶναι omitted, Mt 1:23; Lk 1:28; Rom 15:33; here belongs ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεός μετ' αὐτῶν namely, ὤν, by being present with them by his divine assistance (cf. Winers Grammar, 376 (353); Green, p. 218), Acts 14:27; Acts 15:4 (cf.
b. below); and conversely, πληρώσεις με εὐφροσύνης μετά τοῦ προσώπου σου namely, ὄντα, i. e. being in thy presence (yet cf. Winer's Grammar, 376 (352) note), Acts 2:28 from Psalm 15:11; ἡ χείρ κυρίου is used as a substitute for God himself (by a Hebraism (see χείρ, under the end)) in Lk 1:66; Acts 11:21; of Christ, who is to be present with his followers by his divine power and aid: Mt 28:20; Acts 18:10 (μένειν μετά is used of the Holy Spirit as a perpetual helper, Jn 14:16 R G); at the close of the Epistles, the writers pray that there may be with the readers (i. e., always present to help them) — ὁ Θεός, 2 Cor 13:11; — ὁ κύριος, 2 Thess 3:16; 2 Tim 4:22; — ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (where ἔστω must be supplied (cf. Winers Grammar, § 64, 2 b.; Buttmann, § 129, 22)), Rom 16:20, Rom 16:24 (B G); 1 Cor 16:23; 2 Cor 13:13 (14); Gal 6:18; Phm 4:23; 1 Thess 5:28; 2 Thess 3:18; Phm 1:25; Rev 22:21; — ἡ χάρις simply, Eph 6:24; Col 4:18; 1 Tim 6:21(22); Tit 3:15; Heb 13:25; 2 Jn 1:3; — ἡ ἀγάπη μου, 1 Cor 16:24; the same phrase is used also of truth, compared to a guide, 2 Jn 1:2. γ. opposed to εἶναι κατά τίνος, to be with one i. e. on one's side: Mt 12:30; Lk 11:23, (and often in classical Greek); similarly μένειν μετά τίνος, to side with one steadfastly, 1 Jn 2:19.
c. with the genitive of the person who is another's associate either in acting or in his experiences; so after verbs of eating, drinking, supping, etc.: Mt 8:11; Mt 9:11; Mt 24:49; Mt 26:18, Mt 26:23, Mt 26:29; Mk 14:18, Mk 14:20; Lk 5:30; Lk 7:36; Lk 22:11, Lk 22:15; Lk 24:30; Jn 13:18; Gal 2:12; Rev 3:20, etc.; γρηγορεῖν, Mt 26:38, Mt 26:40; χαίρειν, κλαίειν, Rom 12:15; εὐφραίνεσθαι, Rom 15:10; παροικεῖν, Heb 11:9; δουλεύειν, Gal 4:25; βασιλεύειν, Rev 20:4, Rev 20:6; ζῆν, Lk 2:36; ἀποθνῄσκειν, Jn 11:16; βάλλεσθαι εἰς τήν γῆν, Rev 12:9; κληρονομεῖν, Gal 4:30; συνάγειν, Mt 12:30; Lk 11:23, and other examples d. with a genitive of the person with whom one (of two) does anything mutually or by turns: so after συναίρειν λόγον, to make a reckoning, settle accounts, Mt 18:23; Mt 25:19; συνάγεσθαι, Mt 28:12; Jn 18:2; συμβούλιον ποιεῖν, Mk 3:6; λαλεῖν (see λαλέω, 5); συλλαλεῖν, Mt 17:3; Acts 25:12; μοιχεύειν, Rev 2:22; μολύνεσθαι, Rev 14:4; πορνεύειν, Rev 17:2; Rev 18:3, Rev 18:9; μερίζομαι, Lk 12:13; after verbs of disputing, waging war, contending at law: πολεμεῖν, Rev 2:16; Rev 12:7 (where Rec. κατά); Rev 13:4; (so for פ עִם גִּלְחַם, 1 Sam 17:33; 1 Kgs 12:24, a usage foreign to the native Greeks, who say πολεμεῖν τίνι, also πρός τινα, ἐπί τινα, to wage war against one; but πολεμεῖν μετά τίνος, to wage ware with one as an ally, in conjunction with, Thucydides 1, 18; Xenophon, Hell. 7,1,27; (cf. Buttmann, § 133, 8; Winer's Grammar, § 28, 1; 214 (201); 406 (379) note)); πόλεμον ποιεῖν, Rev 11:7; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:7; Rev 19:19 (so in Latinbellare cum etc. Cicero, Verr. 2, 4, 33;bellum gerere, Cicero, de divinat. 1, 46); ζήτησις ἐγένετο, Jn 3:25; ζητεῖν, Jn 16:19; κρίνεσθαι, κρίματα ἔχειν, 1 Cor 6:6f; after verbs and phrases which indicate mutual inclinations and pursuits, the entering into agreement or relations with, etc.; as εἰρηνεύειν, εἰρήνην διώκειν, Rom 12:18; 2 Tim 2:22; Heb 12:14; φίλος, ; συμφώνειν, Mt 20:2; μερίς μετά τίνος, 2 Cor 6:15; ἔχειν μέρος, Jn 13:8; συγκατάθεσις, 2 Cor 6:16; κοινωνίαν ἔχεινv, 1 Jn 1:3, 1 Jn 1:6f; αἰτία (see the word, 3), Mt 19:10.
e. of divers other associations of persons or things; — where the action or condition expressed by the verb refers to persons or things besides those specified by the dative or accusative (somewhat rare in Greek authors, as ἰσχύν τέ καί κάλλος μετά ὑγιείας λαμβάνειν, Plato, rep. 9, p. 591 b. (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 47, h.)): εἶδον (Rec. εὗρον) τό παιδίον μετά Μαρίας, Mt 2:11; ἀνταποδοῦναι... ὑμῖν... μεθ' ἡμῶν, 2 Thess 1:6f; after ἐκδέχεσθαι, 1 Cor 16:11; after verbs of sending, Mt 22:16; 2 Cor 8:18. ἀγάπη μετά πίστεως, Eph 6:23; ἐν πίστει... μετά σωφροσύνης, 1 Tim 2:15; ἡ εὐσέβεια μετά αὐταρκείας, 1 Tim 6:6; in this way the term which follows is associated as secondary with its predecessor as primary; but when καί stands between them they are coordinated. Col 1:11; 1 Tim 1:14. of mingling one thing with another, μίγνυμι τί μετά τίνος (in classical authors τί τίνι (cf. Buttmann, § 133, 8)): Lk 13:1; passive Mt 27:34.
f. with the genitive of mental feelings desires and emotions, of bodily movements, and of other acts which are so to speak the attendants of what is done or occurs; so that in this way the characteristic of the action or occurrence is described — which in most cases can be expressed by a cognate adverb or participle (cf. Winer's Grammar, as above): μετά αἰδοῦς, 1 Tim 2:9; Heb 12:28 (Rec.); αἰσχύνης, Lk 14:9; ἡσυχίας, 2 Thess 3:12; χαρᾶς, Mt 13:20; Mk 4:16; Lk 8:13; Lk 10:17; Lk 24:52; Phm 2:29; 1 Thess 1:6; Heb 10:34; προθυμίας, Acts 17:11; φοβοῦ καί τρόμου, 2 Cor 7:15; Eph 6:5; Phm 2:12; φοβοῦ καί χαρᾶς, Mt 28:8 πραΰτητος καί φοβοῦ, 1 Pet 3:16 (15); παρρησίας, Acts 2:29; Acts 4:29, Acts 4:31; Acts 28:31; Heb 4:16; εὐχαριστίας, Acts 24:3; Phm 4:6; 1 Tim 4:3f; ἀληθινῆς καρδίας, Heb 10:22; ταπεινοφροσύνης κτλ., Eph 4:2: Acts 20:19; ὀργῆς, Mk 3:5; εὐνοίας, Eph 6:7; βίας, Acts 5:26; Acts 24:7 Rec.; μετά διακρυων, with tears, Mk 9:24 (R G WH (rejected) marginal reading); Heb 5:7; Heb 12:17 (Plato, Apology, p. 34 c.); εἰρήνης, Acts 15:33; Heb 11:31; ἐπιθέσεως τῶν χειρῶν, 1 Tim 4:14 (Winer's Grammar, as above); φωνῆς μεγάλης, Lk 17:15; νηστειῶν, Acts 14:23; ὅρκου or ὁρκωμοσίας, Mt 14:7; Mt 26:72; Heb 7:21; θορύβου, Acts 24:18; παρακλήσεως, 2 Cor 8:4; παρατηρήσεως, Lk 17:20; σπουδῆς, Mk 6:25; Lk 1:39; ὕβρεως καί ζημίας, Acts 27:10; φαντασίας, ; ἀφροῦ, Lk 9:39; to this head may be referred μετά κουστωδίας, posting the guard, Mt 27:66 (so Winers Grammar (at the passage cited), et al. (cf. Meyer at the passage); others 'in company with the guard'; cf. James Morison at the passage; Green, p. 218).
g. after verbs of coining, departing, sending, with the genitive of the thing with which one is furnished or equipped: μετά δόξης καί δυνάμεως, Mt 24:30; Mk 13:26; Lk 21:27; ἐξουσίας καί ἐπιτροπῆς, Acts 26:12; μαχαιρῶν καί ξύλων, Mt 26:47, Mt 26:55; Mk 14:43, Mk 14:48; Lk 22:52; φανῶν καί ὅπλων, Jn 18:3; μετά σάλπιγγος, Mt 24:31 (cf. Buttmann, § 132, 10); where an instrumental dative might have been used (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 31, 8 d.), μετά βραχίονος ὑψηλοῦ ἐξάγειν τινα, Acts 13:17. h. in imitation of the Hebrew: ἔλεος ποιεῖν μετά τίνος, to show mercy toward one, and μεγαλύνειν ἐλ. μετά τ'., to magnify, show great, mercy toward one; see τό ἔλεος, 1. To this head many refer ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεός μετ' αὐτῶν, Acts 14:27; Acts 15:4, but see above, 2 b. β.
II. with the accusative (Winer's Grammar, § 49, f.);
1. properly, into the middle of, into the midst of, among, after verbs of coming, bringing, moving; so especially in Homer
2. it denotes (following accompaniment), sequence, i. e. the order in which one tiring follows another;
a. in order of place; after, behind, (so from Homer down); once in the N. T. (Winer's Grammar, as above): Heb 9:3 (Judith 2:4).
b. in order of Time; after (the Sept. for אַחַר, אַחֲרֵי, מִקֵּץ, etc.): μεθ' ἡμέρας ἕξ, after six days (had passed) Mt 17:1; Mk 9:2; add, Mt 26:2; Mk 14:1; Lk 1:24; Lk 2:46, etc., cf. Fritzsche, Commentary on Matthew, p. 22f; μετ' οὐ πολλάς ἡμέρας, Lk 15:13; μετά... τινας ἡμέρας, Acts 15:36; Acts 24:24; οὐ μετά πολλάς ταύτας ἡμέρας, not long after these days (A. V. not many days hence), Acts 1:5, cf. DeWette at the passage and Winers Grammar, 161 (152); (Buttmann, § 127, 4); μετά τρεῖς μῆνας, Acts 28:11; μετά ἔτη τρία, Gal 1:18, etc.; μετά χρόνον πολύν, Mt 25:19; μετά τοσοῦτον χρόνον, Heb 4:7. added to the names of events or achievements, and of festivals: μετά τήν μετοικεσίαν Βαβυλῶνος, Mt 1:12; μετά τήν θλῖψιν, Mt 24:29; Mk 13:24; add, Mt 27:53; Acts 10:37; Acts 20:29; 2 Pet 1:15; μετά τήν ἀνάγνωσιν, Acts 13:15; μετά μίαν καί δευτέραν νουθεσίαν, Tit 3:10; μετά τό πάσχα, Acts 12:4 cf. Acts 20:6; with the names of persons or things having the notion of time associated with them: μετά τοῦτον, αὐτόν, etc., Acts 5:37; Acts 7:5; Acts 13:25; Acts 19:4; μετά τόν νόμον, Heb 7:28; μετά τό ψωμίον, after the morsel was taken, Jn 13:27 (cf. Buttmann, § 147, 26); followed by the neuter demonstrative pronoun (cf. Winer's Grammar, 540 (503)): μετά τοῦτο. Jn 2:12; Jn 11:7, Jn 11:11; Jn 19:28; Heb 9:27; (Rev 7:1 L T Tr WH); μετά ταῦτα (cf. Winer's Grammar, 162 (153)), Mk 16:12; Lk 5:27; Lk 10:1; Lk 12:4 (Winer's Grammar, as above); Lk 17:8; ; Acts 7:7; Acts 13:20; Acts 15:16; Acts 18:1; Jn 3:22; Jn 5:1, Jn 5:14; Jn 6:1; Jn 7:1; Jn 13:7; Jn 19:38; Jn 21:1; Heb 4:8; 1 Pet 1:11; Rev 1:19; Rev 4:1; Rev 7:1 (Rec.), ; Rev 9:12; Rev 15:5; Rev 18:1; Rev 19:1; , and very often in Greek writings it stands before the neuter of adjectives of quantity, measure, and time: μετ' οὐ πολύ, not long after (R. V. after no long time), Acts 27:14; μετά μικρόν, shortly after (A. V. after a little while), Mt 26:73; Mk 14:70; μετά βραχύ, Lk 22:58; also before infinitives with the neuter article (Latinpostquam with a finite verb (cf. Buttmann, § 140, 11; Winer's Grammar, § 44, 6)); — the aorist infinitive: Mt 26:32; Mk 1:14; Mk 14:28; Mk 16:19; Lk 12:5; Lk 22:20 (WH reject the passage); Acts 1:3; Acts 7:4; Acts 10:41; Acts 15:13; Acts 20:1; 1 Cor 11:25; Heb 10:26.
III. In Composition, μετά denotes
1. association, fellowship, participation, with: as in μεταδιδόναι, μεταλαμβάνειν, μετέχειν, μετοχή.
2. exchange, transfer, transmutation; (Latintrans, German um): μεταλλάσσω, μεταμέλομαι (Prof. Grimm probably means here μετανοέω; see 3 and in μεταμέλομαι), μετοικίζω, μεταμορφόω, etc.
3. after: μεταμέλομαι. Cf. Viger. edition Herm., p. 639.