3308. merimna

Lexical Summary

merimna: Care, anxiety, worry

Original Word: μέριμνα
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: merimna
Pronunciation: MEH-reem-nah
Phonetic Spelling: (mer'-im-nah)
KJV: care
NASB: worries, anxiety, concern, worry
Word Origin: [from G3307 (μερίζω - divided) (through the idea of distraction)]

1. solicitude

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

care.

From merizo (through the idea of distraction); solicitude -- care.

see GREEK merizo

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 3308 mérimna (see 3307 /merízō, "divide") – properly, a part, separated from the whole; (figuratively) worry (anxiety), dividing and fracturing a person's being into parts. See 3309 (merimnaō).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain origin
Definition
care, anxiety
NASB Translation
anxiety (1), concern (1), worries (3), worry (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3308: μέριμνα

μέριμνα, μεριμνᾷς, ἡ (from μερίζω, μερίζομαι, to be drawn in different directions, cf. (English 'distraction' and 'curae quae meum animum divorse trahunt) Terence, Andr. 1, 5, 25; Vergil Aen. 4, 285f; (but according to others derived from a root meaning to be thoughtful, and akin to μάρτυς, memor, etc.; cf. Vanicek, p. 1201; Curtius, § 466; Fick 4:283; see μάρτυς)), care, anxiety: 1 Peter 5:7 (from Psalm 54:23 ()); Luke 8:14; Luke 21:34; with the genitive of the object, care to be taken of, care for a thing, 2 Corinthians 11:28; τοῦ αἰῶνος (τούτου), anxiety about things pertaining to this earthly life, Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19. ((Homer h. Merc.), Hesiod, Pindar, others)

Topical Lexicon

Concept of Merimna (Worry, Care, Concern)

Merimna denotes the mental preoccupation that pulls the heart in different directions. In Scripture it may describe choking, faith-hindering anxieties or, when redeemed, a godly, self-forgetting solicitude for others’ spiritual welfare.

Occurrences and Immediate Contexts

Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14 – “the worries of this life” stifle the Word, revealing anxiety as a thorn competing with kingdom fruitfulness.

Luke 21:34 – end-time vigilance is threatened when “the worries of life” weigh the heart down.

2 Corinthians 11:28 – Paul’s “daily concern for all the churches” shows merimna turned outward in shepherd-like responsibility.

1 Peter 5:7 – believers are invited to exchange every anxiety for the Father’s care.

Teachings of Jesus on Merimna

1. Anxiety is spiritually suffocating. In the parable of the soils, worldly worries hinder germination, proving that anxiety is not morally neutral but can render the gospel “unfruitful.”
2. Anxiety blinds watchfulness. Luke 21:34 warns that unchecked cares dull anticipation of Christ’s return. The Lord therefore pairs vigilance with deliberate release of worry.
3. Trust is the prescribed antidote. Though not containing merimna, Matthew 6:25-34 explains why disciples need not be anxious: the Father’s comprehensive providence. The same theology undergirds Peter’s call to cast cares on God.

Pauline Perspective

Paul distinguishes between self-centered worry and Christ-centered pastoral concern. While “do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6) rules out fretful distrust, 2 Corinthians 11:28 legitimizes a burden that springs from love for the churches. The Spirit can transform merimna from an inward drag to an outward ministry impulse.

Old Testament Resonance

The Septuagint often employs cognate terms for burdens the righteous entrust to God:

Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden on the LORD and He will sustain you.”

Proverbs 12:25 – “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”

First-century believers steeped in these texts would recognize Peter’s exhortation as a fresh echo of longstanding divine invitation.

Historical and Cultural Background

Greco-Roman society was fraught with economic uncertainty, patron-client pressures, and political instability. Stoic philosophers advocated apatheia (detachment), while popular religion offered fatalism. The gospel charted a unique path: freedom from crippling care not by indifference but by confident trust in a personal, sovereign Father.

Theological Significance

1. God’s sovereignty over material and eternal matters renders anxiety unnecessary and unbelief unwarranted.
2. Merimna exposes where treasure truly lies; its presence around wealth and worldly status warns of latent idolatry.
3. Legitimate concern, when submitted to Christ, becomes intercession, planning, and sacrificial service rather than fretfulness.

Pastoral and Practical Application

• Preach the character of God; knowledge of His care dislodges anxiety (1 Peter 5:7).
• Encourage concrete acts of casting: prayer, thanksgiving, and community sharing of burdens.
• Disciple believers to discern between paralyzing worry and Spirit-prompted responsibility.
• Model Paul’s example—allowing godly concern to fuel ministry without descending into self-preserving fear.

Summary

Merimna in the New Testament functions as a spiritual crossroads: unredeemed, it chokes faith; surrendered, it becomes pastoral vigilance. Scripture consistently directs believers to lay every anxiety before the Lord and to let only sanctified concern motivate their service until Christ returns.

Forms and Transliterations

μεριμνα μέριμνα μεριμναι μέριμναι μεριμναις μερίμναις μεριμναν μέριμναν μέριμνάν μερίμνης μεριμνων μεριμνών μεριμνῶν merimna mérimna merimnai mérimnai merimnais merímnais merimnan mérimnan merimnon merimnôn merimnōn merimnō̂n

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 13:22 N-NFS
GRK: καὶ ἡ μέριμνα τοῦ αἰῶνος
NAS: the word, and the worry of the world
KJV: the word; and the care of this world,
INT: and the care the age

Mark 4:19 N-NFP
GRK: καὶ αἱ μέριμναι τοῦ αἰῶνος
NAS: but the worries of the world,
KJV: And the cares of this world,
INT: and the cares the of this life

Luke 8:14 N-GFP
GRK: καὶ ὑπὸ μεριμνῶν καὶ πλούτου
NAS: they are choked with worries and riches
KJV: are choked with cares and riches
INT: and under cares and riches

Luke 21:34 N-DFP
GRK: μέθῃ καὶ μερίμναις βιωτικαῖς καὶ
NAS: and drunkenness and the worries of life,
KJV: and cares of this life,
INT: drunkenness and cares of life and

2 Corinthians 11:28 N-NFS
GRK: ἡμέραν ἡ μέριμνα πασῶν τῶν
NAS: pressure on me [of] concern for all
KJV: daily, the care of all the churches.
INT: day the care concering all the

1 Peter 5:7 N-AFS
GRK: πᾶσαν τὴν μέριμναν ὑμῶν ἐπιρίψαντες
NAS: all your anxiety on Him, because
KJV: all your care upon him;
INT: all the anxiety of you having cast

Strong's Greek 3308
6 Occurrences

μέριμνα — 2 Occ.
μέριμναι — 1 Occ.
μερίμναις — 1 Occ.
μέριμναν — 1 Occ.
μεριμνῶν — 1 Occ.