3199. meló
Lexical Summary
meló: To care, to be concerned, to take thought

Original Word: μέλω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: meló
Pronunciation: meh'-lo
Phonetic Spelling: (mel'-o)
KJV: (take) care
NASB: concerned, care, defer, cares, worry
Word Origin: [a primary verb]

1. to be of interest to, i.e. to concern (only third person singular present indicative used impersonally, it matters)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
take care.

A primary verb; to be of interest to, i.e. To concern (only third person singular present indicative used impersonally, it matters) -- (take) care.

HELPS Word-studies

3199 mélō (the third person singular of melō, "to care, be concerned") – to care about (be concerned with), especially paying attention (giving thought) to – i.e. "taking an interest" (L-S) with the "implication of some apprehension . . . " (L & N, 1, 25.223.)

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. verb
Definition
to be an object of care
NASB Translation
care (2), cares (1), concerned (4), defer (2), worry (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3199: μέλει

μέλει, 3 person singular present of μέλω used impersonally; imperfect ἔμελεν; it is a care: τίνι, to one; as in Greek writings with the nominative of the thing, οὐδέν τούτων, Acts 18:17; with the genitive of the thing (as often in Attic), μή τῶν βοῶν μέλει τῷ Θεῷ; 1 Corinthians 9:9 (Buttmann, § 132, 15; cf. Winer's Grammar, 595 (554)); the thing which is a care to one, or about which he is solicitous, is evident from the context, 1 Corinthians 7:21; περί τίνος, genitive of object, to care about, have regard for, a person or a thing: Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14; John 10:13; John 12:6; 1 Peter 5:7, (Herodotus 6, 101; Xenophon, mem. 3, 6, 10; Cyril 4, 5, 17; Hier. 9, 10; 1 Macc. 14:43; Wis. 12:13; Epistle of Barnabas 1, 5 [ET]; cf. Winer's Grammar, § 30, 10 d.); followed by ὅτι, Mark 4:38; Luke 10:40.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Sense and Scope

Strong’s Greek 3199 consistently speaks of the presence or absence of personal concern. Whether the subject is God, Christ, an apostle, or an indifferent governor, the verb highlights what individuals value enough to act upon. It appears in narratives, parables, ethical teaching, and doctrinal exhortation, binding together a theology of genuine care that contrasts sharply with hypocrisy or apathy.

Usage in the Synoptic Gospels

Matthew 22:16 and Mark 12:14 record the same insincere praise from the Pharisees and Herodians: “You are not swayed by others, because You do not care who they are.” Their words inadvertently affirm the righteous impartiality of Jesus, whose concern is truth rather than social status.
Mark 4:38 sets the disciples’ fear against Jesus’ serene authority. “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Their cry reveals a limited grasp of His sovereign concern, soon corrected when He stills the storm.
Luke 10:40 features Martha’s complaint: “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” The episode contrasts anxious service with the single-hearted devotion Jesus commends in Mary, foreshadowing 1 Peter 5:7.

Johannine Witness

John 10:13 exposes the hireling who “does not care about the sheep,” underscoring the sacrificial concern of the Good Shepherd.
John 12:6 unmasks Judas: “He did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.” Genuine compassion is here distinguished from self-interest.

Historical Narrative

Acts 18:17 notes that Gallio “showed no concern whatever” when Sosthenes was beaten. The Roman proconsul’s apathy throws into relief the believer’s calling to justice and mercy in a hostile culture.

Pauline Epistles

1 Corinthians 7:21: “Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you.” The verb comforts believers that earthly status cannot impede gospel liberty.
1 Corinthians 9:9 asks, “Is it about oxen that God is concerned?” Paul argues from lesser to greater: if God cares for working animals, He certainly cares for the laborers of the gospel.

Petrine Exhortation

1 Peter 5:7 crowns the New Testament usage: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” The verse applies the term to God’s fatherly providence, inviting believers to transfer every worry to His omnipotent concern.

Theology of Divine Care

Melō anchors the biblical assurance that God’s concern is active, personal, and covenantal. The word joins Psalms such as “Cast your burden on the LORD and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22) with Christ’s call to “seek first the kingdom” (Matthew 6:33). Where human concern fails—Judas, Gallio, the hireling—God’s steadfast care prevails, offering both correction and comfort.

Practical Ministry Application

1. Shepherding: Pastors mirror the Good Shepherd by refusing the hireling’s apathy and embracing sacrificial concern.
2. Discipleship: Believers learn to subordinate anxieties (Mark 4:38; Luke 10:40) to trustful prayer (1 Peter 5:7).
3. Social Ethics: Paul’s appeal in 1 Corinthians 9:9 encourages equitable support for gospel workers and humane treatment of all creatures.
4. Impartial Justice: The false flattery of Matthew 22:16 warns leaders to maintain righteous concern without regard to status or bribe.

Historical Exegesis

Early church writers such as Chrysostom highlighted melō in 1 Peter 5:7 to combat anxiety during persecution, while Augustine cited Mark 4:38 to show that Christ, though seeming to sleep, never ceases to care for His church. The Reformers drew on 1 Corinthians 9:9 to defend proper provision for ministers.

Relationship to Old Testament Concepts

The verb resonates with Hebrew expressions of divine remembrance and compassion (zākar, rāḥam). Just as the Lord “remembers” His covenant, so He “cares” for His people in Christ, fulfilling promises of steadfast love (ḥesed).

Summary

Strong’s 3199 traces a line from human doubts about Christ’s concern to the climactic assurance that God truly cares. Its occurrences challenge apathy, expose hypocrisy, and console the faithful, weaving a rich tapestry of pastoral and theological encouragement throughout the New Testament canon.

Forms and Transliterations
εμελεν ἔμελεν έμελλεν μελει μέλει μελετω μελέτω emelen émelen melei mélei meleto meletō meléto melétō
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 22:16 V-PIA-3S
GRK: καὶ οὐ μέλει σοι περὶ
NAS: in truth, and defer to no one;
KJV: neither carest thou for
INT: and not there is care to you about

Mark 4:38 V-PIA-3S
GRK: Διδάσκαλε οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι
NAS: to Him, Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?
KJV: unto him, Master, carest thou not
INT: Teacher not is it concern to you that

Mark 12:14 V-PIA-3S
GRK: καὶ οὐ μέλει σοι περὶ
NAS: that You are truthful and defer to no one;
INT: and not there is care to you about

Luke 10:40 V-PIA-3S
GRK: Κύριε οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι
NAS: Lord, do You not care that my sister
KJV: thou not care that my
INT: Lord not is it concern to you that

John 10:13 V-PIA-3S
GRK: καὶ οὐ μέλει αὐτῷ περὶ
NAS: he is a hired hand and is not concerned about
KJV: an hireling, and careth not for
INT: and not is himself concerned to him about

John 12:6 V-IIA-3S
GRK: τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ ἀλλ'
NAS: not because he was concerned about
KJV: that he cared for the poor;
INT: the poor he was caring to him but

Acts 18:17 V-IIA-3S
GRK: τῷ Γαλλίωνι ἔμελεν
NAS: But Gallio was not concerned about any
KJV: Gallio cared for none
INT: to Gallio it mattered

1 Corinthians 7:21 V-PMA-3S
GRK: μή σοι μελέτω ἀλλ' εἰ
NAS: while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if
KJV: care not for it: but if
INT: not to you let it be a care but if

1 Corinthians 9:9 V-PIA-3S
GRK: τῶν βοῶν μέλει τῷ θεῷ
NAS: God is not concerned about oxen,
KJV: Doth God take care for oxen?
INT: For the oxen is there care with God

1 Peter 5:7 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ὅτι αὐτῷ μέλει περὶ ὑμῶν
NAS: on Him, because He cares for you.
KJV: for he careth for you.
INT: because with him there is care about you

Strong's Greek 3199
10 Occurrences


ἔμελεν — 2 Occ.
μέλει — 7 Occ.
μελέτω — 1 Occ.

3198
Top of Page
Top of Page