Lexical Summary (Not Used): (Not Used) (Not Used)Part of Speech: Transliteration: (Not Used) (Not Used) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Placement in the Lexicon Strong’s Greek number 3299 is an unused lexical slot. In the standard alphabetical order of the Greek lexicon it would have stood immediately before the family of words built on μένω (menō, “to remain, abide”). Because of that position, scholars generally treat 3299 as a dormant or variant form that once belonged to the same verbal cluster but disappeared from the Koine corpus by the time of the New Testament. Old Testament (Septuagint) Background Although 3299 itself is not attested, cognate verbs built on the same root idea of “remaining” (e.g., μένω) occur frequently in the Septuagint. Passages such as Psalm 33:11, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever; the plans of His heart to all generations,” or Psalm 90:1, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations,” employ the language of permanence and dwelling that anchors the biblical theme. In covenant terms, God’s enduring faithfulness guarantees that whatever He promises “abides” (Isaiah 40:8). The Septuagint’s consistent use of the μένω family for these Hebrew concepts frames the expectation that the people of God, too, are to remain steadfast in love and obedience (Psalm 119:31). Canonical Silence and New Testament Resonance The New Testament never uses the lexical form numbered 3299, yet its near neighbour μένω dominates Johannine vocabulary: By sitting just outside the New Testament canon, 3299 reminds the reader that God’s revelation is selective and sufficient. The Spirit inspired the exact words necessary to convey divine truth (2 Timothy 3:16); nothing essential was lost by the disappearance of a parallel or duplicate form. Theological Emphasis: Perseverance and Permanence 1. God’s Nature: Scripture repeatedly affirms that the Lord “does not change” (Malachi 3:6) and that “with the Father of lights there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). The lexical cluster surrounding 3299 reinforces that attribute. Historical Reception in the Church Early Greek fathers such as Athanasius and later Latin theologians like Augustine built their doctrine of perseverance on the robust scriptural presence of μένω. Medieval copyists preserved the Strong’s numbering tradition, including unused numbers like 3299, as a safeguard against confusion in cross–reference systems. During the Reformation, commentators from John Calvin to Matthew Henry continued to stress the abiding union between Christ and believers, even while noting that some lexical forms had dropped from use. Practical Ministry Applications • Discipleship: Encourage new believers to cultivate habits that foster “remaining” in Christ—daily prayer, Scripture intake, and fellowship (Acts 2:42). Related Words Worth Studying • μένω (3306) – to remain, abide. Summary While Strong’s 3299 never appears in the Greek New Testament, its lexical neighborhood testifies to one of Scripture’s most precious truths: God abides with His people, and His people are called to abide in Him. The missing form in no way diminishes that message; instead, it highlights the providential precision with which the Holy Spirit shaped the biblical canon and preserved everything the church needs for life and godliness. Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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. |
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