μέγας, 
μεγάλη, 
μέγα ((related to Latin 
magnus, magister, Goth. 
maist (cf. 
τό πλεῖστον), etc.; 
Vanicek, p. 682; 
Curtius, § 462)), accusative 
μέγαν, 
μεγάλην, 
μέγα; plural 
μεγάλοι, 
μεγάλαι, 
μεγάλα; comparative 
μείζων, 
μεῖζον (accusative masculine and feminine 
μείζονα, once contracted 
μείζω, 
John 5:36 (
R G T WH, but 
L Tr μείζων (cf. 
Tdf. Proleg., p. 119)); neuter plural 
μείζονα, once contracted 
μείζω, 
John 1:50(51)) and 
μειζότερος, 
3 John 1:4 (from the comparitive 
μείζων), a poetic comparison, on which see the remark quoted under 
ἐλαχιστοτερος, cf. 
Matthiae, § 136; superlative 
μέγιστος (found only in 
2 Peter 1:4); (from 
Homer down); the 
Sept. for 
גָּדול; also for 
רַב; 
great; 
1. predicated
a. of the external form or sensible appearance of things (or of persons); in particular, of space and its dimensions — as respects 
α. mass and weight: 
λίθος, 
Matthew 27:60; 
Mark 16:4; 
Revelation 18:21; 
ὄρος, 
Revelation 8:8; 
ἀστήρ, 
Revelation 8:10; (
δράκων, 
Revelation 12:3, 
9; 
ἀετός, 
Revelation 12:14; 
δένδρον, 
Luke 13:19 (
T WH omit; 
L Tr brackets 
μέγα); 
κλάδοι, 
Mark 4:32; 
ἰχθύες, 
John 21:11; 
β. compass and extent; 
large, spacious: 
σκηνή (
μείζων), 
Hebrews 9:11; 
ἀνάγαιον (
R ἀνώγεον, which see), 
Mark 14:15; 
ἀποθήκη, 
Luke 12:18; 
κάμινος, 
Revelation 9:2; 
πόλις, 
Revelation 11:8; 
Revelation 16:19; 
Revelation 17:18; 
Revelation 18:2, 
16, 
18, 
19; 
ποταμός, 
Revelation 9:14; 
Revelation 16:12; 
θύρα, 
1 Corinthians 16:9; 
ληνός, 
Revelation 14:19; 
ὀθόνη, 
Acts 10:11; 
Acts 11:5; 
χάσμα, 
Luke 16:26 (
2 Samuel 18:17). 
γ. measure and height: 
οἰκοδομαί, 
Mark 13:2; 
θρόνος, 
Revelation 20:11; 
long, μάχαιρα, 
Revelation 6:4; as respects stature and age, 
μικροί καί μεγάλοι, small and great, young and old, 
Acts 8:10; 
Acts 26:22; 
Hebrews 8:11; 
Revelation 11:18; 
Revelation 13:16; 
Revelation 19:5, 
18; 
Revelation 20:12 (
Genesis 19:11; 
2 Kings 23:2; 
2 Chronicles 34:30). (neuter singular used adverbially: 
ἐν μεγάλῳ, 
Acts 26:29 L T Tr WH (for 
R G ἐν πολλῷ, which see in 
πολύς, d.) 
in great namely, degree. The apostle plays upon Agrippa's words 
ἐν ὀλίγῳ (which see) 
in a little (time) thou woulds fain etc... I would to God that both in little and 
in great i. e. in all respects etc.; cf. the use of 
ὀλίγον καί μέγα or 
μικρόν καί μέγα (yet in negative sentences) to express totality; e. g. 
Plato, Phileb. 21 e.; Apology 19 c.; 21 b.; 26 b.; but see d. below.) 
b. of number and quantity, equivalent to 
numerous, large: 
ἀγέλη, 
Mark 5:11; 
abundant, πορισμός, 
1 Timothy 6:6; 
μισθαποδοσία, 
Hebrews 10:35. 
c. of age: 
ὁ μείζων, 
the elder, Romans 9:12 after 
Genesis 25:23 (
Σκιπιων ὁ μέγας, 
Polybius 18, 18 (35), 9; 32, 12, 1). 
d. used of intensity and its degrees: 
δύναμις, 
Acts 4:33; 
Acts 8:10; neuter 
ἐν μεγάλῳ, with great effort, 
Acts 26:29 L T Tr WH (but see 
γ. above); of the affections and emotions of the mind: 
χαρά, 
Matthew 2:10; 
Matthew 28:8; 
Luke 2:10; 
Luke 24:52; 
Acts 15:3; 
φόβος, 
Mark 4:41; 
Luke 2:9; 
Luke 8:37; 
Acts 5:5, 
11; 
Revelation 11:11; 
θυμός, 
Revelation 12:12; 
λύπη, 
Romans 9:2; 
ἔκστασις, 
Mark 5:42 (
Genesis 27:33); 
πιστός, 
Matthew 15:28; 
χάρις, 
Acts 4:33; 
ἀγάπη John 15:13. of natural events powerfully affecting the senses, equivalent to 
violent, mighty, strong: 
ἄνεμος, 
John 6:18; 
Revelation 6:13; 
βροντή, 
Revelation 14:2; 
χάλαζα, 
Revelation 11:19; 
Revelation 16:21; 
σεισμός, 
Matthew 8:24; 
Matthew 28:2; 
Luke 21:11; 
Acts 16:26; 
Revelation 6:12; 
Revelation 11:13; 
Revelation 16:18; 
λαῖλαψ, 
Mark 4:37; 
πτῶσις, 
Matthew 7:27. of other external things, such as are perceived by hearing: 
κραυγεη, 
Acts 23:9; 
Revelation 14:18 (
R G); 
μεῖζον κράζειν, to cry out the louder, 
Matthew 20:31; 
φωνῆς, 
Matthew 24:31 (
T omits 
φονης, 
WH only in marginal reading); 
Matthew 27:46,
50; 
Luke 23:23; 
John 11:43; 
Acts 8:7; 
Revelation 1:10; 
Revelation 5:2, 
12; 
Revelation 6:10; 
Revelation 7:2, 
10; 
Revelation 8:13; 
Revelation 10:3; 
Revelation 11:12, 
15; (
Revelation 14:18 L T Tr WH; 
Revelation 18:2 Rec.), and elsewhere; 
γαλήνη, 
Matthew 8:26; 
Mark 4:39. of objects of sight which excite admiration and wonder: 
φῶς, 
Matthew 4:16; 
σημεῖον, 
Matthew 24:24; 
Luke 21:11; 
Acts 6:8; 
Acts 8:13; 
Revelation 13:13; 
ἔργα, 
Revelation 15:3; 
μείζω, 
μείζονα τούτων, greater things than these, i. e. more extraordinary, more wonderful, 
John 1:50 (
John 1:51); 
John 5:20; 
14:12. of things that are felt: 
καῦμα, 
Revelation 16:9; 
πυρετός, 
Luke 4:38; of other things that distress: 
ἀνάγκη, 
Luke 21:23; (
θλῖψις, 
Matthew 24:21; 
Acts 7:11; 
Revelation 2:22; 
Revelation 7:14; (
διωγμός, 
Acts 8:1; 
λιμός, 
Luke 4:25; 
Acts 11:28; 
πληγή, 
Revelation 16:21. 
2. predicated of rank, as belonging to
a. persons, eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power; as God, and sacred personages: 
Θεός, 
Titus 2:13 ((on which see Prof. Abbot, Note C. in Journ. See Biblical Literature, etc. i., p. 19, and cf. 
ἐπιφάνεια)); 
Ἄρτεμις, 
Acts 19:27f, 
34f; 
ἀρχιερεύς, 
Hebrews 4:14; 
ποιμήν, 
Hebrews 13:20; 
προφήτης, 
Luke 7:16; absolutely, 
οἱ μεγάλοι, great men, leaders, rulers, 
Matthew 20:25; 
Mark 10:42; universally, 
eminent, distinguished: 
Matthew 5:19; 
Matthew 20:26; 
Luke 1:15, 
32; 
Acts 8:9. 
μείζων is used of those who surpass others — either in nature and power, as God: 
John 10:29 (here 
T Tr WH text give the neuter (see below)); 
John 10:28; 
Hebrews 6:13; 
1 John 4:4; add, 
John 4:12; 
John 8:53; or in excellence, worth, authority, etc.: 
Matthew 11:11; 
Matthew 18:1; 
Matthew 23:11; 
Mark 9:34; 
Luke 7:28; 
Luke 9:46; 
Luke 22:26; 
John 13:16; 
John 15:20; 
1 Corinthians 14:5; 
δυνάμει μείζονες, 
2 Peter 2:11; neuter 
μεῖζον, 
something higher, more exalted, more majestic than the temple, to wit the august person of Jesus the Messiah and his preeminent influence, 
Matthew 12:6 L T Tr WH; (cf. 
John 10:29 above); contextually equivalent to 
strict in condemning, of God, 
1 John 3:20. 
b. things to be esteemed highly for their importance, equivalent to Latin 
gravis; 
of great moment, of great wight, important: 
ἐπαγγέλματα, 
2 Peter 1:4; 
ἐντολή, 
Matthew 22:36, 
38; 
μσυτηριον, 
Ephesians 5:32; 
1 Timothy 3:16; 
ἁμαρτία, 
John 19:11; 
μείζων μαρτυρία, of greater proving power, 
John 5:36 (see above at the beginning); 
1 John 5:9 (
μαρτυρίαν μείζω καί σαφεστεραν, 
Isocrates Archid. § 32). 
μέγας equivalent to 
solemn, sacred, of festival days (cf. 
Isaiah 1:18, the 
Sept.): 
ἡμέρα, 
John 7:37; 
John 19:31; 
notable, august, ἡμέρα, of the day of the final judgment, 
Acts 2:20; 
Jude 1:6; 
Revelation 6:17; 
Revelation 16:14. neuter 
μέγα, a great matter, thing of great moment: 
1 Corinthians 9:11 (
Genesis 45:28; 
Isaiah 49:6); 
οὐ μέγα, 
2 Corinthians 11:15. 
c. a thing to be highly esteemed for its excellence, equivalent to 
excellent: 
1 Corinthians 13:13 (cf. 
Winers Grammar, § 35, i. 
Buttmann, § 123, 13); 
τά χαρίσματα τά μείζονα (
R G κρείττονα), 
1 Corinthians 12:31 L T Tr WH. 
3. splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately: 
δοχή, 
Luke 5:29 (
Genesis 21:8); 
δεῖπνον, 
Luke 14:16; 
Revelation 19:17 (
G L T Tr WH) (
Daniel 5:1 (
Theod.)); 
οἰκία, 
2 Timothy 2:20 (
Jeremiah 52:13; (
οἶκος), 
2 Chronicles 2:5, 
9). 
4. neuter plural 
μεγάλα, 
great things: of God's preeminent blessings, 
Luke 1:49 L T Tr WH (see 
μεγαλεῖος); of things which overstep the province of a created being, 
proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God: 
λαλοῦν μεγάλα joined with 
βλασφημίας, 
Revelation 13:5; 
Daniel 7:8, 
11, 
20; like 
μέγα εἰπεῖν, 
Homer, Odyssey 3, 227; 16, 243; 22, 288. 
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