3309. merimnaó
Lexical Summary
merimnaó: To be anxious, to worry, to care for

Original Word: μεριμνάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: merimnaó
Pronunciation: mer-im-NAH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (mer-im-nah'-o)
KJV: (be, have) care(-ful), take thought
NASB: worry, concerned, worried, anxious, care, have care, worrying
Word Origin: [from G3308 (μέριμνα - worries)]

1. to be anxious about

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
to be anxious, distracted

From merimna; to be anxious about -- (be, have) care(-ful), take thought.

see GREEK merimna

HELPS Word-studies

3309 merimnáō (from 3308 /mérimna, "a part, as opposed to the whole") – properly, drawn in opposite directions; "divided into parts" (A. T. Robertson); (figuratively) "to go to pieces" because pulled apart (in different directions), like the force exerted by sinful anxiety (worry). Positively, 3309 (merimnáō) is used of effectively distributing concern, in proper relation to the whole picture (cf. 1 Cor 12:25; Phil 2:20).

3809 (merimnaō ) is "an old verb for worry and anxiety – literally, to be divided, distracted" (WP, 2, 156). It is more commonly used in this negative sense in the NT.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from merimna
Definition
to be anxious, to care for
NASB Translation
anxious (1), care (1), concerned (5), have...care (1), worried (4), worry (6), worrying (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3309: μεριμνάω

μεριμνάω, μερίμνω future μεριμνήσω; 1 aorist subjunctive 2 person plural μεριμνήσητε; (μέριμνα);

a. to be anxious; to be troubled with cares: absolutely, Matthew 6:27, 31; Luke 12:25; μηδέν μεριμνᾶτε, be anxious about nothing, Philippians 4:6; with the dative of the thing for the interests of which one is solicitous (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 31, 1 b.): τῇ ψυχή, about sustaining life, τῷ σώματι, Matthew 6:25; Luke 12:22; περί τίνος, about a thing, Matthew 6:28; Luke 12:26; εἰς τήν αὔριον, for the morrow, i. e. about what may be on the morrow, Matthew 6:34; followed by an indirect question πῶς τί, Matthew 10:19; Luke 12:11 (here Tr marginal reading omits; Tr text WH brackets τί); joined with τυρβάζεσθαι (θορυβάζεσθαι) followed by περί πολλά, Luke 10:41 (WH marginal reading omits)

b. to care for, look out for (a thing); to seek to promote one's interests: τά ἑαυτῆς, Matthew 6:34 Rec.; τά τοῦ κυρίου, 1 Corinthians 7:32-34; τά τοῦ κόσμου, 1 Corinthians 7:34; ἑαυτῆς, Matthew 6:34 L T Tr WH (a usage unknown to Greek writers, although they put a genitive after other verbs of caring or providing for, as ἐπιμελεῖσθαι, φροντίζειν, προνόειν, cf. Krüger, § 47, 11; Winers Grammar, 205 (193); Buttmann, § 133, 25); τά περί τίνος, Philippians 2:20; ἵνα τό αὐτό ὑπέρ ἀλλήλων μεριμνῶσι τά μέλη, that the members may have the same care one for another, 1 Corinthians 12:25. (The Sept. for דָּאַג, to be anxious, Psalm 37:19 (); רָגַז, to be disturbed, annoyed in spirit, 2 Samuel 7:10; 1 Chronicles 17:9; in Greek writings from Xenophon, and Sophocles down.) (Compare: προμεριμνάω.)

Topical Lexicon
Scope and Range of Usage

The verb occurs nineteen times in the Greek New Testament and gathers around two main ideas: (1) anxious distraction that hinders faith, and (2) appropriate, God-honoring concern for the spiritual or physical welfare of others. Context alone determines which sense is intended.

Teaching of Jesus on Temporal Anxiety

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus repeatedly forbids anxiety over daily necessities (Matthew 6:25, 27, 31, 34). “‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…’” (Matthew 6:25). The Lord grounds the prohibition in the Father’s providence, the futility of worry, and the priority of seeking first the kingdom (Matthew 6:33). Luke’s parallel material (Luke 12:22, 25, 26) reiterates the same demand for wholehearted trust. This teaching echoes Old Testament calls to cast burdens upon the LORD (for example, Psalm 55:22) and presents anxiety as unbelief in action.

The Martha Narrative—An Illustration of Misplaced Concern

Luke 10:41 records Jesus’ gentle rebuke: “‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things.’” Her distracted service contrasts with Mary’s single-hearted attention to Jesus’ words. The account demonstrates how even apparently legitimate service becomes spiritually counter-productive when dominated by fretful preoccupation.

Pauline Exhortations to Freedom from Anxiety

Philippians 4:6 stands as the apostolic parallel to Jesus’ commands: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Prayer replaces anxiety; thanksgiving affirms confidence in divine goodness; the promised result is the peace of God guarding heart and mind (Philippians 4:7). Paul applies the same principle to missionary suffering (Philippians 1:20) and to future verbal defense (Matthew 10:19; Luke 12:11): the believer is not to fret about forthcoming trials because the Spirit will supply words and courage.

Legitimate Pastoral Concern

A different nuance appears in 1 Corinthians 7:32-34. Paul wishes the unmarried to be “concerned about the work of the Lord,” whereas the married are necessarily “concerned about the affairs of this world.” The issue is not sinful anxiety but divided interests. Philippians 2:20 commends Timothy, “who will show genuine concern for your welfare,” and 1 Corinthians 12:25 urges that the members of Christ’s body “have mutual concern for one another.” Here the verb describes self-forgetting care that mirrors Christ’s love and strengthens church unity.

Historical and Cultural Setting

First-century Mediterranean life was precarious; scarcity of food, political instability, and threats of persecution made worry commonplace. Against that backdrop Jesus’ and Paul’s teaching offered a radical alternative: reliance on a Father who numbers hairs and attends to sparrows. The early church met material needs through shared resources (Acts 4:34-35), turning potential anxiety into occasions for mutual concern.

Theological Emphasis

1. Divine Providence: Anxiety questions God’s rule; trust affirms it.
2. Kingdom Priorities: Freedom from worry liberates disciples for undivided service.
3. Community Care: Godly concern fosters unity and compassion within the body.

Implications for Contemporary Ministry

• Preaching: Faithful exposition should present freedom from anxiety as both command and promise, anchored in Christ’s resurrection which secures the Father’s care.
• Pastoral Care: Counsel distinguishes sinful fretfulness from appropriate responsibility, guiding believers toward prayerful dependence.
• Missions and Service: Single-minded devotion (1 Corinthians 7) remains crucial; married and unmarried alike evaluate schedules, finances, and ambitions in light of kingdom advance.
• Congregational Life: Mutual concern (1 Corinthians 12:25) combats individualism. Practical structures—benevolence funds, small-group shepherding—express the verb’s positive sense.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 3309 portrays two divergent paths. When directed toward personal security it signifies anxious unbelief; when directed toward others’ welfare or the Lord’s work it signifies holy concern. Scripture consistently calls believers to abandon self-centered worry and to embrace God-centered, neighbor-oriented care, confident that “your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matthew 6:32).

Forms and Transliterations
μεριμνα μεριμνά μεριμνᾷ μερίμνα μεριμνας μεριμνάς μεριμνᾷς μεριμνατε μεριμνάτε μεριμνᾶτε μεριμνάτωσαν μεριμνησει μεριμνήσει μεριμνησητε μεριμνήσητε μεριμνήσω μεριμνων μεριμνών μεριμνῶν μεριμνώντι μεριμνωσι μεριμνώσι μεριμνῶσι μεριμνῶσιν merimna merimnā̂i merimnā̂is merimnas merimnate merimnâte merimnesei merimnēsei merimnḗsei merimnesete merimnēsēte merimnḗsete merimnḗsēte merimnon merimnôn merimnōn merimnō̂n merimnosin merimnôsin merimnōsin merimnō̂sin
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 6:25 V-PMA-2P
GRK: ὑμῖν μὴ μεριμνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ
NAS: I say to you, do not be worried about
KJV: Take no thought for your
INT: to you not be anxious about the life

Matthew 6:27 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: ἐξ ὑμῶν μεριμνῶν δύναται προσθεῖναι
NAS: And who of you by being worried can
KJV: Which of you by taking thought can add
INT: out of you by being anxious is able to add

Matthew 6:28 V-PMA-2P
GRK: ἐνδύματος τί μεριμνᾶτε καταμάθετε τὰ
NAS: And why are you worried about
KJV: And why take ye thought for raiment?
INT: clothing why are you anxious observe the

Matthew 6:31 V-ASA-2P
GRK: μὴ οὖν μεριμνήσητε λέγοντες Τί
NAS: Do not worry then, saying,
KJV: take no thought, saying,
INT: not therefore be anxious saying What

Matthew 6:34 V-ASA-2P
GRK: μὴ οὖν μεριμνήσητε εἰς τὴν
NAS: So do not worry about tomorrow;
KJV: therefore no thought for the morrow:
INT: Not therefore be anxious about things

Matthew 6:34 V-FIA-3S
GRK: γὰρ αὔριον μεριμνήσει ἑαυτῆς ἀρκετὸν
NAS: for tomorrow will care for itself.
KJV: the morrow shall take thought for the things
INT: indeed tomorrow will be anxious about itself Sufficient

Matthew 10:19 V-ASA-2P
GRK: ὑμᾶς μὴ μεριμνήσητε πῶς ἢ
NAS: they hand you over, do not worry about how
KJV: take no thought how or
INT: you not be anxious how or

Luke 10:41 V-PIA-2S
GRK: Μάρθα Μάρθα μεριμνᾷς καὶ θορυβάζῃ
NAS: Martha, you are worried and bothered
KJV: Martha, thou art careful and
INT: Martha Martha you are anxious and troubled

Luke 12:11 V-ASA-2P
GRK: ἐξουσίας μὴ μεριμνήσητε πῶς ἢ
NAS: and the authorities, do not worry about how
KJV: take ye no thought how or
INT: authorities not be anxious how or

Luke 12:22 V-PMA-2P
GRK: ὑμῖν μὴ μεριμνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ
NAS: I say to you, do not worry about
KJV: Take no thought for your life,
INT: to you not Be anxious life

Luke 12:25 N-GFS
GRK: ἐξ ὑμῶν μεριμνῶν δύναται ἐπὶ
NAS: And which of you by worrying can add
KJV: of you with taking thought can add
INT: of you [by] being anxious is able to

Luke 12:26 V-PIA-2P
GRK: τῶν λοιπῶν μεριμνᾶτε
NAS: why do you worry about
KJV: why take ye thought for
INT: the rest are you anxious

1 Corinthians 7:32 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ὁ ἄγαμος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ
NAS: One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord,
KJV: He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to
INT: The unmarried cares for the things of the

1 Corinthians 7:33 V-PIA-3S
GRK: δὲ γαμήσας μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ
NAS: but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world,
KJV: he that is married careth for the things that are
INT: however having been married cares for the things of the

1 Corinthians 7:34 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ἡ παρθένος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ
NAS: and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord,
KJV: The unmarried woman careth for the things
INT: the virgin cares for the things of the

1 Corinthians 7:34 V-PIA-3S
GRK: δὲ γαμήσασα μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ
NAS: but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world,
KJV: she that is married careth for the things
INT: however having been married cares for the things of the

1 Corinthians 12:25 V-PSA-3P
GRK: ὑπὲρ ἀλλήλων μεριμνῶσιν τὰ μέλη
NAS: but [that] the members may have the same
KJV: the same care one for
INT: for one another might have concern the members

Philippians 2:20 V-FIA-3S
GRK: περὶ ὑμῶν μεριμνήσει
NAS: will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.
KJV: will naturally care for your
INT: relative to you will care for

Philippians 4:6 V-PMA-2P
GRK: μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε ἀλλ' ἐν
NAS: Be anxious for nothing,
KJV: Be careful for nothing; but
INT: Nothing be anxious about but in

Strong's Greek 3309
19 Occurrences


μεριμνᾷ — 4 Occ.
μεριμνᾷς — 1 Occ.
μεριμνᾶτε — 5 Occ.
μεριμνήσητε — 4 Occ.
μεριμνήσει — 2 Occ.
μεριμνῶν — 2 Occ.
μεριμνῶσιν — 1 Occ.

3308
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