ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA GRIEGA
Megas (μέγας) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
μέγας (megas) is a common Greek adjective meaning great in size, degree, rank, or intensity, with its comparatives μείζων and superlative μέγιστος used throughout the New Testament.
Significado de la palabra
μέγας (megas) is a fundamental Greek adjective rendered ‘great.’ In Scripture it applies widely to outward size (a stone, Matthew 2:60 note; a dragon, Revelation 12:3; a fish, John 21:11; a city, Revelation 11:8) and also to intensity and degree (power, Acts 4:33; fear, Mark 4:41; love, John 15:13; wind, John 6:18; cry, Acts 23:9; light, Matthew 4:16; fever, Luke 4:38; tribulation, Matthew 24:21).
Beyond physical or emotional magnitude, μέγας denotes rank and standing. Of persons it is used of God (Titus 2:13), of Artemis (Acts 19:27), and in debates about who is greatest in the kingdom (Matthew 18:1). Of things it describes ‘great sin’ (John 19:11) and ‘great mystery’ (Ephesians 5:32; Matthew 22:36 reading).
The lexicon recognizes two derived forms central to New Testament reading: the comparative μείζων (meiōn, ‘greater’) and the superlative μέγιστος (megistos, ‘greatest’). A double comparative μείζοτερος also occurs (3 John 4).
Uso en las Escrituras
In Matthew 2:10 the wise men rejoice with ‘exceeding great joy,’ a phrase that piles μέγας onto an already intensified expression of gladness. Matthew 4:13 calls Capernaum a region associated with significant Old Testament tribes, and Matthew 7:27 ends with the striking short sentence ‘and great was the fall of it,’ where a predicate μεγάλη dramatically underscores total collapse.
In Matthew 8:24 a ‘great tempest’ shows the adjective modifying natural forces. Matthew 11:11 and 18:1, 4 use the comparative form: John the Baptist is the greatest born of women, yet the least in the kingdom is greater than he; Jesus calls His own greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6) and uses μεῖζον for the grown mustard seed (Matthew 13:32). Matthew 15:28 praises ‘great faith,’ and Matthew 20:25 warns disciples not to imitate ‘the great ones’ who lord authority over others.
Across these passages μέγας stretches from weather and seedgrowth to faith and church leadership. Its comparative μείζων carries particular theological weight in the Synoptics, framing debates about greatness in God’s kingdom. The form is highly flexible in Greek grammar, which is why translators must judge case-by-case whether ‘great’ means big, loud, mighty, or morally significant.
La palabra en detalle
- G3173 μέγας, μέγα (megas) covers both literal size and figurative greatness—bodily stature, intensity, rank, and divine majesty. It is the parent adjective of the New Testament comparatives μείζων and superlative μέγιστος, and in the LXX it chiefly reflects Hebrew גָּדוֹל.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Matthew 11:11 Jesus uses the comparative μείζων to overturn conventional measures of greatness: the ‘least in the kingdom of heaven’ is greater than John the Baptist, because rank in God’s order is not the same as prominence in history.
- Matthew 15:28 Jesus declares the Canaanite woman’s faith ‘great’ (μεγάλη). Here μέγας measures spiritual quality rather than physical or social scale, showing how the adjective stretches to commend inward trust.
- Matthew 18:1 The disciples’ question ‘who then is greatest (μείζων) in the kingdom of heaven?’ sets up one of the Gospels’ central teachings on humility. The word choice frames greatness as a comparative to be renegotiated by Jesus.
- Matthew 20:25 ‘The great ones (μεγάλοι) exercise authority over them.’ Here μέγας names worldly rulers by their rank, providing the negative foil against which Jesus contrasts servant leadership among His disciples.
Preguntas frecuentes
What does μέγας mean in Greek?
It is the basic adjective meaning ‘great.’ It covers literal size, intensity of feeling, social rank, and the majesty of God, and it supplies the comparative μείζων and superlative μέγιστος.
How is μέγας different from μείζων and μέγιστος?
μέγας is the positive form (‘great’). μείζων is the comparative (‘greater’), used when two things are compared, and μέγιστος is the superlative (‘greatest’), used when something is set above all others.
Does μέγας describe only physical greatness?
No. While it can describe stones, fish, cities, or storms, it also names intensity of power, fear, love, and light, and it is applied to persons such as God and to qualities such as faith, sin, and mystery.