What does μέλλω · ἀποθνήσκω mean in the Bible?
e. be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation)".
Greek · G3195, G599
ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν
To ensue · to die off (literally or figuratively)
Reading a lexicon entry
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
μέλλωG3195to ensue
Pronunciationméllō
Expresses certainty of future action, whether from intention, compulsion, or divine necessity.
Open lexicon entry →ἀποθνήσκωG599to die off (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciationapothnḗskō
Death as severance—natural, violent, or spiritual—often involving sacrifice or separation from life/sin.
Open lexicon entry →What does ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν (emellon apothanein) mean in the Bible?
μέλλω · ἀποθνήσκω is a Greek phrase meaning "to intend, i.e. be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation)".
Full entry for ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν (G3195, G599) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G3195, G599?
G3195, G599 is connected to 109 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. to intend, i.e. be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation)
Source Gloss
to intend, i.e. be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation)
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms109TensesPresent, Imperfect, FutureVoicesActive
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality47×
Present ActiveMatt 2:13 · Matt 16:27 · Matt 17:12 · Matt 17:22 · Luke 9:44 · Luke 19:11 · John 7:35 · Acts 17:31 · Acts 23:3 · Acts 26:23 · Rom 4:24 · Rev 1:19 · Rev 2:10 · Rev 12:5 · Rev 17:8 · John 14:2227×
Imperfect ActiveLuke 7:2 · Luke 9:31 · Luke 10:1 · Luke 19:4 · John 4:47 · John 6:6 · John 6:71 · John 11:51 · John 12:33 · John 18:32 · Acts 12:6 · Acts 16:27 · Acts 27:33 · Heb 11:8 · John 7:39 · Acts 21:2718×
Future ActiveMatt 24:6 · 2 Pet 1:122×
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality53×
Present ActiveMatt 11:14 · Luke 22:23 · Luke 24:21 · John 12:4 · Acts 20:7 · Acts 20:13 · Acts 21:37 · Acts 26:2 · Heb 8:5 · Matt 3:7 · Luke 3:7 · 1 Tim 4:8 · 1 Pet 5:1 · Rev 3:10 · Rev 12:4 · Acts 26:2253×
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract6×
Present ActiveActs 11:28 · Acts 19:27 · Acts 24:15 · Acts 25:4 · Acts 27:10 · Acts 28:66×
Subjunctivepossibility, probability, or purpose3×
Present ActiveMark 13:4 · Luke 21:7 · Rev 10:73×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 109 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present89imperfect18future2
Voice
active109
Mood
participle53indicative47infinitive6subjunctive3
NT Occurrences
Matthew 2:13μέλλειpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 3:7μελλούσηςpresent active participleparticipleMatthew 11:14μέλλωνpresent active participleparticipleMatthew 12:32μέλλοντιpresent active participleparticipleMatthew 16:27μέλλειpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 17:12μέλλειpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 17:22Μέλλειpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 20:22μέλλωpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 24:6μελλήσετεfuture active indicativeprospectiveMark 10:32μέλλονταpresent active participleparticipleMark 13:4μέλλῃpresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveLuke 3:7μελλούσηςpresent active participleparticipleLuke 7:2ἤμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundLuke 9:31ἤμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundLuke 9:44μέλλειpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 10:1ἤμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundLuke 13:9μέλλονpresent active participleparticipleLuke 19:11μέλλειpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 19:4ἤμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundLuke 21:36μέλλονταpresent active participleparticipleLuke 21:7μέλλῃpresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveLuke 22:23μέλλωνpresent active participleparticipleLuke 24:21μέλλωνpresent active participleparticipleJohn 4:47ἤμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 6:15μέλλουσινpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 6:6ἔμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 6:71ἔμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 7:35μέλλειpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 7:35μέλλειpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 7:39ἔμελλονimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 11:51ἔμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 12:33ἤμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 12:4μέλλωνpresent active participleparticipleJohn 14:22μέλλειςpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 18:32ἤμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundActs 3:3μέλλονταςpresent active participleparticipleActs 5:35μέλλετεpresent active indicativeongoingActs 11:28μέλλεινpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveActs 12:6ἤμελλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundActs 13:34μέλλονταpresent active participleparticiple+69 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν is built from this root: