3204

Lexical Summary

(Not Used): (Not Used)

(Not Used)
Part of Speech:
Transliteration: (Not Used)
(Not Used)

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Scope

Strong’s Greek 3204 lies behind the English adjective “Median,” describing anything that belongs to the ancient people of Media. Although the specific form catalogued by Strong does not appear in the Greek New Testament, the concept it represents is woven through Scripture by way of the Medes themselves, a people group that shared a joint empire with the Persians and figured prominently in prophecy and history.

Historical Context in the Old Testament

1. Rise of Media. The Medes occupied the rugged plateau north-west of Elam and east of Assyria. By the late seventh century B.C. they had become a formidable power, eventually joining with Babylon to topple Nineveh (Nahum 2:13).
2. Medo-Persian Dominion. Under Cyrus the Great, Persian leadership subsumed the Median throne but retained Median nobles in key positions (Daniel 6:1–2). Scripture regularly couples the two nations as one political entity—“the laws of the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 6:8).
3. Instrument of Divine Judgment. Isaiah 13:17 pictures the LORD “stirring up the Medes” against Babylon, a prophecy fulfilled when Cyrus conquered the city in 539 B.C. Jeremiah echoes the same theme (Jeremiah 51:11, 28).

Prophetic Role in Salvation History

1. Deliverance of Israel. Cyrus, ruling the joint empire, issued the decree that released the Jewish exiles (Ezra 1:1–4; Isaiah 44:28). Thus Medo-Persia becomes an agent of God’s redemptive plan, allowing the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of covenant life in Jerusalem.
2. Foreshadowing the Kingdom Succession. Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 portray successive Gentile empires; the “silver” chest and arms (Daniel 2:32) and the “bear” raised up on one side (Daniel 7:5) symbolize Medo-Persia, preparing the way for the eventual advent of Messiah’s everlasting dominion (Daniel 2:44).

Intertestamental and New Testament Echoes

While the adjective itself never surfaces in the New Testament, the people-group does: “Parthians, Medes, and Elamites” heard the gospel in their own tongues on Pentecost (Acts 2:9). Luke’s inclusion underscores both the geographical reach of the Spirit-empowered message and the enduring presence of Median descendants in the first-century world.

Theological Themes

1. Sovereignty Over Nations. The transfer of power from Babylon to Medo-Persia (Daniel 5:28) illustrates Proverbs 21:1—“The king’s heart is like streams of water in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.”
2. Reliability of Prophecy. Isaiah and Jeremiah foretell Media’s role well before the events, demonstrating the inerrant accuracy of God’s word.
3. Gospel Inclusion. The mention of Medes at Pentecost signals that no ethnic barrier can hinder the advance of Christ’s kingdom (Galatians 3:8).

Lessons for Contemporary Ministry

• God can raise and dissolve empires to accomplish His purposes; therefore believers labor with confidence, not anxiety, amid shifting political climates.
• Prophetic fulfillment through the Medes encourages a high view of Scripture in preaching and teaching.
• The presence of Median listeners in Acts 2 urges the church to maintain a missions posture that spans cultures and centuries, assured that the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

Key References

Isaiah 13:17; Isaiah 21:2

Jeremiah 51:11, 28

Daniel 5:28; Daniel 6:8; Daniel 6:26–28

Ezra 1:1–4

Acts 2:9

Englishman's Concordance

μελῶν — 2 Occ.
μέλος — 5 Occ.
Μελχὶ — 2 Occ.
Μελχισεδέκ — 8 Occ.
ἔμελεν — 2 Occ.
μέλει — 7 Occ.
μελέτω — 1 Occ.
μεμβράνας — 1 Occ.
μέμφεται — 1 Occ.
μεμφόμενος — 1 Occ.
μὲν — 182 Occ.
Μενοῦν — 1 Occ.
μενοῦνγε — 2 Occ.
μέντοι — 8 Occ.
ἐμείναμεν — 2 Occ.
ἔμειναν — 2 Occ.
ἔμεινεν — 10 Occ.
ἔμενεν — 3 Occ.
ἔμενον — 1 Occ.
μεῖναι — 6 Occ.