3181. methorion

Lexical Summary

methorion: Border, boundary, region

Original Word: μεθόριον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: methorion
Pronunciation: meh-THO-ree-on
Phonetic Spelling: (meth-or'-ee-os)
KJV: border
Word Origin: [from G3326 (μετά - after) and G3725 (ὅριον - region)]

1. bounded alongside, i.e. contiguous (neuter plural as noun, frontier)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

border.

From meta and horion; bounded alongside, i.e. Contiguous (neuter plural as noun, frontier) -- border.

see GREEK meta

see GREEK horion

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
variant reading for horion, q.v.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3181: μεθόριον

μεθόριον, μεθοριου, τό (neuter of adjective μεθόριος, μεθόρια, μεθόριον; from μετά with, and ὅρος a boundary), a border, frontier: τά μεθόρια τίνος, the confines (of any land or city), i. e. the places adjacent to any region, the vicinity, Mark 7:24 R G. (Thucydides, Xenophon, Plato, others.)

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Conceptual Range

The term denotes a boundary or borderland, the space where one territory ends and another begins. In Scripture this idea encompasses property lines between families, tribal allotments within Israel, national frontiers, and the symbolic limits established by God for human flourishing.

Usage in the Septuagint

While absent from the Greek New Testament, the word appears frequently in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew terms for “border” or “boundary” (for example, Joshua 13:23; Ezekiel 47:15). It often marks the perimeter of covenant inheritance:
• Joshua 15:12 describes Judah’s allotment ending “at the Great Sea and its coastline; this is the boundary”.
• Ezekiel 47:13–23 outlines the future division of the land, repeatedly stating, “This shall be the boundary”.

The recurring usage in boundary lists underscores God’s meticulous concern for order and equity among His people.

Historical and Geographic Significance

1. Tribal Inheritances: Boundaries safeguarded each tribe’s portion, preventing encroachment and preserving the heritage assigned by God (Numbers 34:1-15).
2. National Frontiers: From the “River of Egypt” to the “Great River, the Euphrates,” borders defined Israel’s calling to be a distinct nation under divine rule (Genesis 15:18).
3. Cities of Refuge and Levitical Towns: Precise borders ensured that designated cities lay within reach of every tribe (Joshua 20–21).
4. Post-Exilic Hopes: Ezekiel’s visionary borders renewed confidence that God would restore land and order after exile.

Theological Emphases

• Sovereignty: “He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands” (Acts 17:26). Human geography reflects divine appointment.
• Stewardship and Justice: Moving a boundary stone was condemned as theft (Deuteronomy 19:14; Proverbs 22:28); respecting borders honored the Giver of the land and protected the vulnerable.
• Holiness and Separation: Physical lines illustrated spiritual realities—Israel was to remain distinct from idolatrous nations (Leviticus 20:24).
• Eschatological Assurance: Prophetic boundary descriptions prefigure the perfected order of the new creation, where every inheritance is secure (cf. Revelation 21:12-14).

Implications for Ministry

1. Respecting God-Ordained Limits: Personal, moral, and ecclesial boundaries guard the purity of worship and relationships (1 Peter 1:15-16).
2. Land and Creation Care: Recognizing divine ownership encourages responsible stewardship of property and resources (Psalm 24:1).
3. Social Justice: Upholding others’ “property lines” models love of neighbor and defends against exploitation (Micah 2:2).
4. Mission Strategy: Just as God fixed nations’ borders, He positions churches within communities to reach specific peoples (Acts 17:26-27).
5. Pastoral Counseling: Healthy emotional and relational boundaries reflect biblical wisdom, enabling believers to “bear one another’s burdens” without enabling sin (Galatians 6:2-5).

Representative Scripture References

Genesis 15:18; Numbers 34:2; Deuteronomy 19:14; Joshua 15:12; Joshua 19:49; Proverbs 22:28; Ezekiel 47:13-23; Acts 17:26; Revelation 21:12-14

Forms and Transliterations

μεθόρια

Englishman's Concordance

μεγιστᾶσιν — 1 Occ.
μεθερμηνεύεται — 1 Occ.
μεθερμηνευόμενον — 7 Occ.
μέθαι — 1 Occ.
μέθαις — 1 Occ.
μέθῃ — 1 Occ.
μετασταθῶ — 1 Occ.
μεταστήσας — 1 Occ.
μετέστησεν — 2 Occ.
μεθιστάναι — 1 Occ.
μεθοδείας — 1 Occ.
ἐμεθύσθησαν — 1 Occ.
μεθύσκεσθαι — 1 Occ.
μεθύσκεσθε — 1 Occ.
μεθυσκόμενοι — 1 Occ.
μέθυσοι — 1 Occ.
μέθυσος — 1 Occ.
μεθύει — 1 Occ.
μεθυόντων — 1 Occ.
μεθύουσαν — 1 Occ.