Strong's Greek: 3297 -- (Not Used)zzz

Lexical Summary

(Not Used): (Not Used)

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

Topical Lexicon

Numerical Setting within Strong’s Index

Strong’s Greek 3297 is one of several numbers reserved by James Strong for projected entries that never found a place in the printed Greek New Testament. Although no inspired writer employs the form, its location—immediately before the particle μέν (Strong’s 3303) and close to μένω (Strong’s 3306, “abide”)—shows that Strong expected it to belong to the same “με–” (“me-”) lexical neighborhood. In practical terms, 3297 serves as a silent marker that helps keep later numbers in sequence.

Possible Linguistic Connections

1. Proximity to μένω (“to remain, abide”) suggests that 3297 may once have been slated for an uncommon cognate of that root—perhaps a compound or poetic form found in Classical or Koine writers outside Scripture.
2. Because many “me–” roots revolve around ideas of continuance (μένω), division or portion (μέρος, μερίζω), and care or anxiety (μεριμνάω), exegetes commonly treat the empty slot as belonging to the broader semantic field of “remaining” or “apportioning.”
3. The unused number reminds students that Strong’s is a concordance to the printed Westcott-Hort text of 1890, not an exhaustive dictionary of Koine Greek. A small handful of anticipated entries—including 3297—were never needed once collation of manuscripts was complete.

Theological Themes Reflected in the Surrounding Word-Family

Even though 3297 itself is absent, the family of nearby words conveys vital truth:
• μένω (John 15:4–10) anchors the doctrine of abiding in Christ—“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you” (John 15:4).
• μερίζω and μέρος illustrate God’s sovereign allotment of gifts and callings (1 Corinthians 12:11; Acts 8:21).
• μεριμνάω warns believers against anxiety (Matthew 6:25, Philippians 4:6).

Taken together, the cluster urges steadfastness, contentment with God’s portion, and freedom from worldly care—key hallmarks of New-Covenant life.

Old Testament and Intertestamental Parallels

Although 3297 has no Septuagint occurrences, the concepts linked with its word-family dominate the Old Testament:
• Abiding under the Almighty’s shadow (Psalm 91:1).
• Israel’s allotted “portions” (Joshua 14–19).
• The repeated charge, “Do not fear or be dismayed” (Joshua 1:9; 2 Chronicles 20:15).

Jewish wisdom literature likewise commends resting in God’s provision rather than chasing anxious toil (Ecclesiastes 2:24–26).

Historical Reception in the Church

Early Greek-speaking Fathers such as Athanasius and Chrysostom exposit nearby lexical cousins (especially μένω) at length, equating “remaining” in Christ with perseverance in orthodox doctrine and holy living. Medieval copyists, noticing the unused number, occasionally inserted glosses or marginal notes, but no manuscript tradition ever filled the gap with a biblical occurrence.

Principles for Ministry Today

1. Teach believers that Scripture’s call to “abide” stands at the heart of discipleship; 3297’s vacancy underscores that every extant NT form of the root is already present and sufficient.
2. Use the ordering of Strong’s numbers to demonstrate the meticulous preservation of God’s Word—nothing has been lost, added, or hidden.
3. Encourage students to explore lexical families rather than isolated lemmas; the truths tied to 3306, 3307, 3308, and 3309 richly inform counseling on perseverance, unity, and freedom from worry.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 3297 contains no inspired occurrence, yet its very absence points to the completeness of the biblical record and highlights a cluster of “me–” roots that call the saints to abide in Christ, rest in God’s allotment, and cast off anxiety. By treating the unused number as a doorway rather than a dead end, expositors can lead congregations into deeper appreciation of the Word’s precision and sufficiency.

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts