G3189: μέλας (mélas)

G3189 μέλας (mélas)

Greek

Quick Definition

μέλας, αινα, αν Adj black

Strong's Definition

apparently a primary word; black

KJV Usage: black

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

μέλας (G3189)

adjc. | μέλαινα, μέλαν · gen. -ανος, -αίνης, -ανος

79.26 · Features of Objects · Color

black, dark color Expressions for a number of terms for color differ on the basis of the object which is designated as having such a color. For example, a term for black as applied to a horse may be a different term from what one would use in speaking of a black box.

MAT 5:36 · REV 6:5 · REV 6:12

6.57 · Artifacts · Instruments Used in Marking and Writing

ink a dark liquid used in writing or marking The use of ink is so universal at the present time that some term or expression for it is almost inevitable in all languages. However, in some cases the equivalent is essentially a descriptive phrase, for example, ‘black stain’ or ‘writing stain.’

2CO 3:3 · 2JN 1:12 · 3JN 1:13

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

μέλας, -atva, -av, gen. -avos, -aivns, -avos, [fr. Hom. down], Sept. several times for 1nw, black: Rev. vi. 5, 12; opp. to λευκός. Mt. v.36. Neut. τὸ μέλαν, subst. black ink (Plat. Phaedr. p. 276 c.; Dem. p. 313,11; Plut. mor. p. 841 e.; al.): 2 Co. iii. 3; 2 Jn. 12; 3 Jn. 13; [ef. Gardthausen, Palaeographie, Buch i. Kap. 4; Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, ii. 270 sq.; B. Ὁ. s. v. Writing, sub fin.]

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

μέλας melas 6x

black, Mt. 5:36; Rev. 6:5, 12, the form μέλαν means ink, 2 Cor. 3:3; 2 Jn. 12; 3 Jn. 13

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

μέλας, -αινα, -αν, gen., -ανος, -αίνης, -ανος,

[in LXX: Ca 1:5, Za 6:2 (שָׁחֹר), etc.;]

black: Re 6:5, 12; opp. to λευκός, Mt 5:36; neut., τὸ μ., ink : II Co 3:3, II Jo 12, III Jo 13.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

μέλας is used in the neut. ‘‘ink,’’ as in 2 Cor 35, 2 112, 3 Jn’, in P Grenf IT. 388 (B.c. 81) μ[ῆλαν στατηροῦ ὀκτώ, P Oxy II. 326 Td Bpoxlov τοῦ peacws: ‘*the ink-pot,” and P Leid X*- Uf (jii/iv A.D.) (= II. p. 229 f.) where a recipe for making ink is found—rtphpas τὸ ἴδιον (/. τὸ tov?), καὶ τὸ θεῖον, καὶ τὴν στυπτηρίαν λείαν, εὖ μάλα μεῖξας ἐπιμελῶς τρίβε, καὶ χρῶ ὡς μέλανι γραφικῷ, “‘trita rubiginem (2), et sulphur, et alumen contusum, et probe mixta diligenter terito, et utitor proutiatramento scriptorio ” (Ed.), see s.v. μετά (1f.). For other applications of the adj. cf. P Meyer 7° (A.D. 130) κυάμο(υ) peAavo(s), “black beans,” P Oxy XIV. 163123 (A.p. 280) éAat[@]v μελαινῶν, ‘*black olives,” P Par 5742247 (iii/A.D.) (= Se/ectzons, p- 114) παραδίδωμί σε εἰς τὸ μέλαν χάος ἐν Tats ἀπωλίαις, and Aaibe/ 2745 μέλας θάνατος. Μέλας is used as a distinguishing epithet in P Amh II. 625 (ii/B.c.) (cited s.v. λευκός), and as a proper name in P Oxy XIV. 16828 (iv/A.D.) ἀπέστειλα [[tiwa]] Μέλανα, “1 am sending Melas,” and in P. Grenf II. 77 (iii/iv A.D. } For the form μέλανος, --η,--ον see P Iand 5358 (ii/iii a.D. with the editor’s note, and fae μελάγχρως see Mayser Gr. p- 296.

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

μέλας (melas) — black. μέλᾱς (μέλᾰς [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; genitive μέλᾰνος, μελαίνης, μέλᾰνος, etc.; Epic dialect dative μείλανι (for the sake of meter) [Refs 8th c.BC+]: Aeolic dialect nominative μέλαις, from *μέλανς, [Refs 7th c.BC+]:—black, dark: in [Refs 8th c.BC+] generally, dark in colour, οἶνος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μέλαν αἷμα, κῦμα, [Refs 8th c.BC+], from its being pitched over, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of men, dark, swarthy, μέλανας δὲ ἀνδρικοὺς ἰδεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ μ. black marks about the ears of dogs, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II. dark, murky, ἕσπερος [Refs 8th c.BC+]

III. metaphorically, black, dark, θάνατος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὀδύναι [Refs]; μ. τύχα, ἀρά, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; Ἅιδης [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡμέραι μέλαιναι, = Latin dies atri, [Refs 1st c.AD+]

III.2. of the voice, indistinct, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; βραχὺ καὶ μ. φώνημα, of Nero, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

III.3. dark, obscure, enigmatical, ἱστορίη [Refs 1st c.AD+]

III.4. of character, dark, malignant, μ. φρήν, καρδία, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; μ. ἦθος M. Ant.4.28.

IV. comparative μελάντερος, α, ον, blacker, very black, τοῦ δ᾽ οὔ τι μελάντερον ἔπλετο ἔσθος [Refs 8th c.BC+]: superlative μελάντατος [Refs 5th c.BC+]:— comparative also μελανώτερος [Refs 1st c.BC+]: superlative μελαινότατος [Refs 1st c.AD+]

V. μέλαινα (i.e. νοῦσος), ἡ, in Medicine texts, of diseases causing black secretions (such as melaena), [Refs 5th c.BC+]

VI. μέλαν, τό, see entry (Cf. Sanskrit málam 'dirt', malinás 'dirty', Lett. melns 'black'.)