G3354 — μετρέω (metreō)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G3354
Original: μετρέω
Transliteration: metreō
Pronunciation: met-reh'-o
Part of Speech: Verb
Root: From μέτρον (metron, G3358) — a measure
Occurrences: 10 tokens in 9 unique verses across 5 books
First Occurrence: Matt 7:2 — "with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again"
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

From G3358 (μέτρον); to measure (i.e. ascertain in size by a fixed standard); by implication, to measure out, apportion.

Louw-Nida Semantic Domain¶

Domain 81.001: Spacial Dimensions — Measure, To Measure
Other words in subdomain: μέτρον (metron, G3358)
Domain 57.008: Possess, Transfer, Exchange — Give
Other words in subdomain: ἀντιμετρέω (antimetreō, G488), δίδωμι (didōmi, G1325), ἀναπληρόω (anaplēroō, G378)

UBS Semantic Domains¶

[081] Spacial Dimensions
[057] Possess, Transfer, Exchange

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Count	%
measure	3	33.3%
he measured	2	22.2%
ye mete	2	22.2%
it shall be measured	1	11.1%
measuring	1	11.1%

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
Revelation	5	1.24
2 Corinthians	1	0.39
Matthew	1	0.09
Mark	1	0.15
Luke	1	0.09

Revelation dominates with 5 of 10 tokens (50%), all in temple/city-measuring contexts (Rev 11, 21). The Synoptic uses (Matt, Mark, Luke) share a single proverbial saying about reciprocal measurement. The 2 Corinthians use is unique — a figurative/self-evaluative sense.

Morphological Distribution¶

Form	Parsing	Occurrences	References
μετρεῖτε	Pres Act Ind 2P	3	Matt 7:2; Mark 4:24; Luke 6:38
μετρηθήσεται	Fut Pass Ind 3S	2	Matt 7:2; Mark 4:24
μέτρησον	Aor Act Impv 2S	1	Rev 11:1
μετρήσῃς	Aor Act Subj 2S	1	Rev 11:2
μετρήσῃ	Aor Act Subj 3S	1	Rev 21:15
ἐμέτρησεν	Aor Act Ind 3S	2	Rev 21:16, 17
μετροῦντες	Pres Act Ptcp NPM	1	2 Cor 10:12

The Synoptic uses are exclusively present tense (ongoing/habitual action). Revelation uses exclusively aorist (completed, decisive acts of measurement). The imperative (μέτρησον, Rev 11:1) is the only direct command form in the NT.

Semantic Categories¶

1. Reciprocal Judgment — The Standard You Apply Returns to You¶

Matt 7:2 — "with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again"
Mark 4:24 — "with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you"
Luke 6:38 — "with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again"

All three Synoptic uses share this proverbial formula: the act of measuring becomes reflexive. The measure applied to others determines the measure received. Present tense indicates habitual/characteristic action.

2. Divine Command to Measure Sacred Space¶

Rev 11:1 — "Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein"
Rev 11:2 — "the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not"

Aorist imperative — a decisive, commanded act. Measuring here distinguishes what is included from what is excluded, what belongs to God from what is given to the Gentiles. The act of measuring defines sacred boundaries.

3. Eschatological Measurement of the New Jerusalem¶

Rev 21:15 — "had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof"
Rev 21:16 — "he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs"
Rev 21:17 — "he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits"

An angel measures the completed city. The results are given in specific dimensions. The measuring here verifies and reveals perfection — the city is perfectly symmetrical (length = breadth = height).

4. Self-Evaluation / Comparison¶

2 Cor 10:12 — "they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise"

The only figurative/metaphorical use. Here μετρέω means to assess or evaluate, using oneself as the standard — a usage Paul condemns as foolish.

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
μέτρον (metron)	G3358	4x (44%)	"with what measure ye mete" — instrument of measuring
δίδωμι (didōmi)	G1325	3x (33%)	"give, and it shall be given" — reciprocal giving/measuring
κάλαμος (kalamos)	G2563	3x (33%)	"a reed to measure" — the measuring instrument in Revelation
πόλις (polis)	G4172	3x (33%)	"measure the city" — object being measured (New Jerusalem)
ναός (naos)	G3485	2x (22%)	"measure the temple" — sacred space as object of measurement
ἄγγελος (aggelos)	G32	2x (22%)	Angel as measuring agent (Rev 21:15, 17)
τεῖχος (teichos)	G5038	2x (22%)	"measured the wall" — structural object measured
ἀντιμετρέω (antimetreō)	G488	2x (22%)	"it shall be measured to you again" — the reciprocal return

Word Family / Cognates¶

G3358 μέτρον (metron) — a measure (noun); the root from which μετρέω derives. 13 occurrences.
G488 ἀντιμετρέω (antimetreō) — to measure back in return. 2 occurrences (Matt 7:2; Luke 6:38). Intensifies the reciprocal idea.
G3355 μετρητής (metrētēs) — a measurer, a liquid measure (firkin). 1 occurrence (John 2:6).

Synonyms¶

No direct synonyms were returned by search_relationships.py for G3354.

Antonyms¶

No direct antonyms were returned by search_relationships.py for G3354.

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
מִדָּה (middah)	H4060	"measure"	Hebrew noun: the measurement itself (dimension, size), not the act of measuring
μέτρον (metron)	G3358	"measure"	Noun (the standard/instrument) vs. verb (the act of measuring)
ἄμετρος (ametros)	G280	"measure" (negated)	"Without measure" / immeasurable — only in 2 Cor 10:13, 15
מָדַד (madad)	H4058	"he measured"	Hebrew verb equivalent; the OT counterpart used extensively in Ezekiel's temple measurements

Hebrew Source (via LXX)¶

Hebrew Source	Strong's	Co-occurrences	PMI Score
מָדַד (madad)	H4058	4	13.78

H4058 מָדַד is the primary Hebrew equivalent: "to stretch; to measure (as if by stretching a line)." Used 51 times in OT, concentrated in Ezekiel 40-47 (temple measurements). The LXX consistently renders מָדַד with μετρέω, establishing continuity between Ezekiel's temple-measuring visions and Revelation's temple/city measurement.