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G3306 · Greek · New Testament
μένω
Meno
Verb
remain / abide / dwell / stay / continue

Definition

Meno (μένω) means to remain, stay, or abide — continuing in a place, relationship, or state. John uses it with extraordinary theological depth, especially in the vine-and-branches discourse (John 15) and the First Epistle, where mutual abiding between God and believers is the essence of new covenant life. The word appears over 40 times in John's Gospel alone.

Usage & Theological Significance

John 15:4-7 is the heart of meno theology: 'Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.' The mutual abiding — Christ in us, we in Christ — is John's signature description of eternal life. 1 John uses it for God abiding in believers (4:12, 15, 16), the word abiding in us (2:14), and love abiding as the sign of genuine faith. 1 Corinthians 13:13: 'So now faith, hope, and love abide (menei), these three; but the greatest of these is love.' What 'remains' after eschatological purging is eternal: faith, hope, love — and the communion of the Triune God with redeemed humanity.

Key Bible Verses

John 15:4-5 'Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches.'
1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
John 1:38-39 They said to him, 'Rabbi... where are you staying (meneis)?'... 'Come and you will see.' So they came and saw where he was staying (emenen), and they stayed with him that day.
1 Corinthians 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide (menei), these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Hebrews 13:14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Word Study

The first disciples' question 'where are you staying (meneis)?' in John 1:38-39 is a prophetic question: the entire Gospel of John answers it. Jesus stays/abides in the Father's love, in believers' hearts, forever with the Father (John 14:2-3). The Christian life is not a series of transactions with God but an ongoing meno — remaining in Christ's love, letting his word remain in us, abiding in the Spirit's presence. Disconnection from the vine is the only way to become spiritually fruitless.

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External Resources

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