Skip to content
The Historic Faith
Strong's Concordance
Greek Word Study

Strong's G3309 μεριμνάω (merimnao)

Merimnao means “take thought” — full meaning, definition, and every linked Bible usage across the indexed canon.

Same number, other testament: Strong's H3309 — yaphia (“Japhia”) in the Hebrew Bible.

First usage Interlinear Bible Septuagint Bible
Strong's Number G3309
Language Greek
Linked Usages 25
Books 12

Strong's G3309 Quick Answer

Strong's G3309 μεριμνάω (merimnao) is a Greek Strong's word-study entry. merimnao (mer-im-nah'-o) v. 1. to be anxious about [from G3308] It has 25 linked Bible usages across 12 books. Visible English usage signals include take, have, thought, and about. Indexed coverage on this page includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

Meaning
merimnao (mer-im-nah'-o) v. 1. to be anxious about [from G3308]
Usage
25 linked usages
Books
12 indexed books
Corpus
New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Usage Words
take, have, thought, and about

Meaning and Definition

merimnao (mer-im-nah'-o) v. 1. to be anxious about [from G3308] KJV: (be, have) care(-ful), take thought Root(s): G3308

Original Word
μεριμνάω
Transliteration
merimnao
Derivation
Root: μέριμνα R1: 3308
Morphology
verb

Across Lexicons

How independent scholarly lexicons define Strong's G3309. Each definition is shown with its source so you can compare and cite the original reference works.

Extended Strong's Greek Lexicon (Abbott-Smith based)

to worry

Usage: μεριμνάω, -ῶ (μέριμνα), [in LXX: Psa.38:18 (דָּאַג), etc. ;] __1. to be anxious: absol., Mat.6:27, 31, Luk.12:25; μηδὲν μ., Php.4:6; with dative of thing(s), Mat.6:25, Luk.12:22; before περί, Mat.6:28, Luk.10:41 12:26; πῶς, Mat.10:19, Luk.12:11; εἰς τὴν αὔριον, Mat.6:34. __2. to care for: with accusative, τὰ τ. κυριου, 1Co.7:32-34; τὰ τ. κόσμου, 1Co.7:34; τὰ περί ὑμῶν, Php.2:20; before ὑπέρ, 1Co.12:25; with genitive (a construction otherwise unknown), ἑαυτῆς (WH; τὰ ἑ. Rec.; see Bl., § 35, 7), Mat.6:34 (cf.

προ-μεριμνάω).† (AS)

STEPBible · Tyndale House, Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

How Strong's G3309 Is Translated

The English word each shown verse actually uses to render merimnao, taken from the interlinear word alignment (the same word underlined in the excerpts below). Where a rendering is used more than once, the count is shown.

Take Matthew 6:25 8× have 1 Corinthians 7:32 3× thought Matthew 6:27 2× about Luke 10:41

How Strong's G3309 Usage Compares

Indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha. Each section below keeps corpus counts and sample passages visible so readers can compare the word across contexts instead of reading one flat concordance list.

  • The largest indexed corpus on this page is New Testament with 17 linked usages.
  • This page lets readers compare New Testament usage with Septuagint / Greek Old Testament usage, which is a key THF advantage over narrower Strong's pages.
  • Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha rows are counted separately so readers can decide how those texts relate to the main word study.

In the Septuagint (LXX)

Strong's G3309 (μεριμνάω) appears 9 times in the Greek Septuagint — the Old Testament the New Testament authors quoted.

Sample Septuagint occurrences:

Read the full Greek Septuagint interlinear with Strong's →

Strong's G3309 by Corpus

Indexed usage grouped by testament and extended corpus so readers can compare this word across the Bible, Septuagint, deuterocanonical books, and 1 Enoch where present.

Strong's G3309 in the New Testament

17 indexed usages in New Testament.

Matthew 6:25 KJV

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Matthew 6:27 KJV

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

Matthew 6:28 KJV

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Strong's G3309 in the Septuagint / Greek Old Testament

6 indexed usages in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament.

Exodus 5:9 Septuagint / Brenton

Let the works of these men be made grievous, and let them care for these things, and not care for vain words.

2 Kingdoms 7:10 Septuagint / Brenton

And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell by themselves, and shall be no more distressed; and the son of iniquity shall no more afflict them, as he has done from the beginning,

1 Chronicles 17:9 Septuagint / Brenton

And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant him, and he shall dwell by himself, and shall no longer be anxious; and the son of iniquity shall no longer afflict him, as at the beginning,

Strong's G3309 in the deuterocanonical books / Apocrypha

2 indexed usages in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

Wisdom of Solomon 12:22 Septuagint / Brenton

Therefore, whereas thou dost chasten us, thou scourgest our enemies a thousand times more, To the intent that, when we judge, we should carefully think of thy goodness, And when we ourselves are judged, we should look for mercy.

Baruch 3:18 Septuagint / Brenton

For they that wrought in silver, and were so careful, and whose works are unsearchable,

Usage Excerpts

First 25 linked usage excerpts for Strong's G3309.

Exodus 5:9 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Let the works of these men be made grievous, and let them care for these things, and not care for vain words.
2 Kingdoms 7:10 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell by themselves, and shall be no more distressed; and the son of iniquity shall no more afflict them, as he has done from the beginning,
1 Chronicles 17:9 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant him, and he shall dwell by himself, and shall no longer be anxious; and the son of iniquity shall no longer afflict him, as at the beginning,
Psalms 37:19 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
For I will declare mine iniquity, And be distressed for my sin.
Proverbs 14:23 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
With everyone who is careful there is abundance: But the pleasure taking and indolent shall be in want.
Ezekiel 16:42 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
So will I slacken my fury against thee, and my jealousy shall be removed from thee, and I will rest, and be no more careful for thee.
Matthew 6:25 New Testament, KJV
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Matthew 6:27 New Testament, KJV
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Matthew 6:28 New Testament, KJV
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Matthew 6:31 New Testament, KJV
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Matthew 6:34 New Testament, KJV
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 10:19 New Testament, KJV
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Luke 10:41 New Testament, KJV
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Luke 12:11 New Testament, KJV
And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luke 12:22 New Testament, KJV
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Luke 12:25 New Testament, KJV
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Luke 12:26 New Testament, KJV
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
1 Corinthians 7:32 New Testament, KJV
But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
1 Corinthians 7:33 New Testament, KJV
But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
1 Corinthians 7:34 New Testament, KJV
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
1 Corinthians 12:25 New Testament, KJV
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
Philippians 2:20 New Testament, KJV
For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
Philippians 4:6 New Testament, KJV
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Wisdom of Solomon 12:22 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Therefore, whereas thou dost chasten us, thou scourgest our enemies a thousand times more, To the intent that, when we judge, we should carefully think of thy goodness, And when we ourselves are judged, we should look for mercy.
Baruch 3:18 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
For they that wrought in silver, and were so careful, and whose works are unsearchable,

All Indexed Usage Links

Every indexed verse link for Strong's G3309, grouped by book.

Exodus 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Exodus 5:9
2 Kingdoms 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
2 Kingdoms 7:10
1 Chronicles 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
1 Chronicles 17:9
Psalms 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Psalms 37:19
Proverbs 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Proverbs 14:23
Ezekiel 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Ezekiel 16:42
Matthew 6 usages, New Testament
Matthew 6:25 Matthew 6:27 Matthew 6:28 Matthew 6:31 Matthew 6:34 Matthew 10:19
Luke 5 usages, New Testament
Luke 10:41 Luke 12:11 Luke 12:22 Luke 12:25 Luke 12:26
1 Corinthians 4 usages, New Testament
1 Corinthians 7:32 1 Corinthians 7:33 1 Corinthians 7:34 1 Corinthians 12:25
Philippians 2 usages, New Testament
Philippians 2:20 Philippians 4:6
Wisdom of Solomon 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Wisdom of Solomon 12:22
Baruch 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Baruch 3:18

Strong's G3309 FAQ

What does merimnao (μεριμνάω) mean?

Merimnao (Strong's G3309) is a Greek word most simply glossed "take thought". merimnao (mer-im-nah'-o) v. 1. to be anxious about [from G3308]

How many times is merimnao (μεριμνάω) used in the Bible?

This page currently indexes 25 linked usages for Strong's G3309 across 12 books.

Where can I study merimnao (μεριμνάω) in context?

Use the linked verse references on this page to study Strong's G3309 in context. The indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

What English words translate merimnao (μεριμνάω)?

The visible usage excerpts most often surface English words such as take, have, thought, and about. These are scanning signals from the displayed verses, not replacements for the original-language definition.

Does Strong's G3309 appear in the Septuagint or deuterocanonical books?

Yes. The current local index includes 6 in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament and 2 in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha for Strong's G3309, with linked reader references where each row is available.