Quick Definition
μέσος, η, ον Adj middle, in the middle
Strong's Definition
from 3326; middle (as an adjective or (neuter) noun)
KJV Usage: among, X before them, between, + forth, mid(-day, -night), midst, way
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
adjc., prep. (with gen.) | -η, -ον | μεσόω
83.9 · Spacial Positions · Among, Between, In, Inside
among, with a position within an area determined by other objects and distributed among such objects
MAT 10:16 · MAT 13:25 · MAT 13:49 · MAT 18:20 · LUK 2:46 · LUK 8:7 · LUK 10:3 · LUK 22:27 · LUK 24:36 · JHN 1:26 · JHN 20:19 · ACT 1:15 · ACT 2:22 · ACT 23:10 · 1CO 5:2 · 1CO 6:5 · 2CO 6:17 · PHP 2:15 · 1TH 2:7 · 2TH 2:7 · HEB 2:12 · REV 2:1
83.10 · Spacial Positions · Among, Between, In, Inside
in the middle, in the midst a position in the middle of an area (either an object in the midst of other objects or an area in the middle of a larger area)
MAT 14:6 · MAT 18:2 · MAT 25:6 · MRK 3:3 · MRK 6:47 · MRK 7:31 · MRK 9:36 · MRK 14:60 · LUK 4:30 · LUK 4:35 · LUK 5:19 · LUK 6:8 · LUK 10:3 · LUK 17:11 · LUK 21:21 · LUK 22:55 · LUK 22:55 · LUK 23:45 · JHN 8:3 · JHN 8:9 · JHN 19:18 · JHN 20:26 · ACT 1:18 · ACT 4:7 · ACT 17:22 · ACT 17:33 · ACT 26:13 · ACT 27:21 · ACT 27:27 · COL 2:14 · HEB 2:12 · REV 1:13 · REV 2:1 · REV 4:6 · REV 5:6 · REV 5:6 · REV 6:6 · REV 7:17 · REV 22:2
1 There are no doubt certain subtle distinctions in the meanings of the terms in 83.9 (μέσος[a], ἀνὰ μέσον, ἐντός[a], ἐν[b], μετά[h], εἰς[e], ἐπί[c], πρός[d], παρά[b]). For example, πρός[d] may suggest some kind of interaction or response and παρά[b] may focus upon association, but it is difficult, if not impossible, on the basis of existing contexts to define precisely the differences in meaning. 2 1TH 2:7 One can perhaps best interpret the relationship between ἐν and μέσῳ in the phrase ἐν μέσῳ in 1TH 2:7 as one of redundant reinforcing, since ἐν can also be understood in the sense of ‘among,’ with.’ 3 In some contexts the meanings of μέσος[a] (83.9) and μέσος[b] (83.10) may be said to overlap, or the situation may be such as to provide two different interpretations. For example, in MAT 10:16 ‘sheep in the midst of wolves’ may mean that the sheep are completely surrounded by wolves or that the wolves intermingle with the sheep.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μέσος, -n, -ov, [fr. Hom. down], middle, (Lat. medius, “a, -umM) ; 1. as an adjective: μέσης νυκτός, at midnight, Mt. xxv. 6; μέσης ἡμέρας, Acts xxvi. 13 (ace. to Lob. ad Phryn. pp. 53, 54, 465, the better writ. said péGov ἡμέρας, μεσοῦσα ἡμέρα, μεσημβρία); w. gen.: [exdθητο ὁ Πέτρος μέσος αὐτῶν, Lk. xxii. 55 (RG Lév μέσῳ)]; μέσος ὑμῶν ἔστηκε [8]. στήκει], stands in the midst of you, Jn. i. 26, (Plat. de rep. 1 p. 380 b.;_ polit. p. 303 4.); ἐσχίσθη μέσον, (the veil) was rent in the midst, Lk. xxiii. 45 [W. 131 (124) note]; ἐλάκησε μέσος, Acts i. 18; (ἐσταύρωσαν) μέσον τὸν Ἰησοῦν, Jn. xix. 18. 2. the neut. τὸ μέσον or (without the art. in adverb. phrases, as διὰ μέσου, ἐν μέσῳ, cf. W. 123 (117); [ef. B. § 125, 67) μέσον is used as a substantive; Sept. for 7) (constr. state 71M), and 37); the midst: ἀνὰ μέσον (see ἀνά, 1 {and added note below]); διὰ μέσου (τινός), through the midst (Am. v.17; Jer. xliv. (xxxvii.) 4): αὐτῶν, through the midst of them, Lk. iv. 30; Jn. viii. 59 [Rec.]; Sapapetas, Lk. xvii. 11 [RG, but LT Tr WH διὰ μέσον (see διά, B. I.); others take the phrase here in the sense of between (Xen. an. 1, 4,4; Aristot. de anim. 2, 11 vol. i. p. 423,12; see L. and 5. 5. v. IIL. 1d.); ef. Meyer ed. Weiss in loc. and added note below]; eis τὸ μέσον, into the midst, i. e., ace. to the context, either the middle of a room or the midst of those assembled in it: Mk. iii. 3; xiv. 60 Rec.; Lk. iv. 35; v.19; vi. 8; Jn. xx. 19, 26; els μέσον (cf. Germ. mittenhin), Mk. xiv. 60 GLT Tr WH; ἐν τῷ μέσῳ, in the middle of the apartment or before the guests, Mt. xiv. 6; ἐν μέσῳ, in the midst of the place spoken of, Jn. viii. 3,9; in the middle of the room, before all, Acts iv. 7; w. gen. of place, Rev. ii. 7 Ree.; Lk. xxi. 21; (i. q. Germ. mittenauf) τῆς πλατείας, Rev. xxii. 2 [but see below]; add, Lk. xxii. ὅδ᾽; Acts xvii. 22; τῆς θαλάσσης, in the midst (of the surface of) the sea, Mk. vi. 47; w. gen. plur. in the midst of, amongst: w. gen. of things, Mt. x. 16; Lk. viii. 7; x. 8; joeo OTOLYOV Rev. i. 13; ii. 1; w. gen. of pers., Mt. xviii. 2; Mk. ix. 36; Lk. ii. 46; xxii. 55> [here T Tr WH μέσος; see 1 above]; xxiv. 36; Acts i. 15; ii. 22; xxvii. 21; Rev. v. 6 [" (see below); vi. 6]; trop. ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἶμι, I am present with them by my divine power, Mt. xviii. 20; w. gen. of a collective noun, Phil. ii. 15 R [see 3 below]; Heb. ii. 12; where association or intercourse is the topic, equiv. to among, in intercourse with: Lk. xxii. 27; 1 Th. ii. 7. in the midst of, i.e. in the space within, τοῦ θρόνου (which must be conceived of as having a semicircular shape): Rev. iv. 6; v. 6 [*?] where cf. De Wette and Bleek; [but De Wette’s note on v. 6 runs “ And I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and the elders (i. 6. in the vacant space between the throne and the living creatures [on one side] and elders [on the other side], accordingly nearest the throne” etc.) ; ἀνὰ μέσον in vii. 17 also he interprets in the same way; further see xxii. 2; cf. Kliefoth, Com. vol. ii. p.40. For ἐν μέσῳ in this sense see Xen. an. 2, 2,3; 2, 4, 17. 21; 5, 2, 27, ete.; Hab. fii. 2; ἀνὰ μέσον Polyb. 5, 55, 7; often in Aristot. (see Bonitz’s index 8. v. μέσος) ; Num. xvi. 48; Deut. v. 5; Josh. xxii. 25; Judg. xv. 4; 1 K. v.12; Ezek. xlvii. 18; xlviii. 22; cf. Gen. i. 4; see Meyer on 1 Co. vi. 5; cf. dvd, 1]. κατὰ μέσον τῆς νυκτός, about midnight, Acts xxvii. 27 [see xara, II. 2]. ἐκ τοῦ μέσου, like the Lat. e medio, i.e. out of the way, out of sight: αἴρω τι, to take out of the way, to abolish, Col. ii. 14 [Plut. de curiositate 9; Is. lvii. 2]; γίνομαι ἐκ μέσου, to be taken out of the way, to disappear, 2 Th. ii. 7; w. gen. of pers., ἐκ μέσου τινῶν, from the society or company of, out from among: Mt. xiii. 49; Acts xvil. 33; xxiii. 10; 1 Co. v. 2; 2 Co. vi. 17, (Ex. xxxi. 14; Num. xiv. 44 Alex.). 3. the neut. μέσον is used adverbially with a gen., in the midst of anything: ἦν μέσον τῆς θαλάσσης, Mt. xiv. 24 [otherwise Tr txt. WH txt.; yet cf. W. § 54, 6] ({so Exod. xiv. 27]; Τέων yap μέσον εἶναι τῆς ᾿Ιωνίης, Hadt. 7,170); γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς, Phil. ii. 15 LT Tr WH (τῆς ἡμέρας, the middle of the day, Sus. 7 Theodot.); cf. B. 123 (107 sq.), [ef. 319 (274); W. as above].
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μέσος mesos 58x
mid, middle, Mt. 25:6; Acts 26:13; ἀνὰ μέσον, in the midst; from the Hebrew, in, among, Mt. 13:25; between, 1 Cor. 6:5; διὰ μέσου, through the midst of, Lk. 4:30; εἰς τὸ μέσον, into, or in the midst, Mk. 3:3; Lk. 6:8; ἐκ μέσου, from the midst, out of the way, Col. 2:14; 2 Thess. 2:7; from the Hebrew, from, from among, Mt. 13:49; ἐν τῷ μέσῳ, in the midst, Mt. 10:16; in the midst, in public, publicly, Mt. 14:6 ἐν μέσῳ, in the midst of; among, Mt. 18:20; κατὰ μέσον τῆς νυκτός, about midnight, Acts 27:27
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
μέσος, -η, -ον,
[in LXX chiefly for תָּוֶךְ;]
middle, in the middle or midst; prop., as an adj.: Lk 23:45, Jo 19:18, Ac 1:18; c. gen. pl., Lk 22:55, Jo 1:26; gen. temp. (Bl., § 36, 13), μέσης νυκτός, Mt 25:6; μ. ἡμέρας, Ac 26:13.
In adverbial phrases, neut., μέσον, τὸ μ., as subst.: ἀνὰ μέσον, c. gen., between (cl.; in LXX: Ge 1:4, al.), elliptically (but v. M, Pr., 99), I Co 6:5; = ἐν μ., among, in the midst of (Bl., § 39, 2; 40, 8; cf. in LXX: Jos 19:1, Si 27:2), Mt 13:25, Mk 7:31, Re 7:17; διὰ μέσου, c. gen., Lk 4:30; διὰ μέσον (Rec. -ου, v. Bl., § 42, 1), between, Lk 17:11 (ICC, in l.); εἰς τὸ μ. (v.s. εἰς), Mk 3:3, Lk 4:35 5:19 6:8, Jo 20:19, 26; εἰς μ., Mk 14:60; ἐν τῷ μ., Mt 14:6; ἐν μ., Jos 8:[3, 9], Ac 4:7; c, gen. loc., Mk 6:47, Lk 21:21 22:55, Ac 17:22, He 2:12(LXX), Re 4:6 5:6 22:2. c. gen. pl., Mt 10:16 18:2, 20, Mk 9:36, Lk 2:46 8:7 10:3 22:27 24:36, Ac 1:15 2:22 27:21, I Th 2:7, Re 1:13 2:1 5:6 6:6; κατὰ μέσον τ. νυκτός, Ac 27:27 (Bl., § 47, 6); ἐκ τοῦ μ. (Lft., in l.; Deiss., BS, 252 f.), Col 2:14; ἐκ μ., II Th 2:7; ἐκ τοῦ μ., c. gen., Mt 13:49, Ac 17:33 23:10, I Co 5:2, II Co 6:17.
Neut., μέσον, adverbially, c. gen., in the midst of, Mt 14:24 (WH, txt., R, mg., aliter), Phl 2:15 (διὰ μέσου—v. supr.—also Jo 8:50, R, mg.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μέσος is common as an adj. in personal descriptions, e.g. P Ryl II. 128% (c. a.p. 30) ᾿Ατρῆ(ς) (ἐτῶν) Xe οὐ(λὴ) μετώπί(ῳ) μέσῳ, “᾿Ηδίτεβ, aged 35, with a scar on the middle of the forehead,”’ 25. 1543 (A.D. 66) Χαι]ρήμων . . - οὐλήι ῥινὶ μίῆσηι, ‘‘Chaeremon with a scar on the middle of the | and nose,” similarly of height, as in P Oxy I. 7318 (A.D. 94) / [ET OTOLXOV
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
μέσος (mesos) — midst. μέσος, η, ον, also [Refs 4th c.AD+]; Epic dialect μέσσος (also Aeolic dialect, [Refs 7th c.BC+], Boeotian dialect, Cretan dialect μέττος, [Refs 3rd c.BC+] ii b 2 [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, in the middle,
I. of Space, especially with Nouns, of the middle point or part, μ. σάκος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; οὐρανός zenith, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μ. ἀπήνης from mid chariot, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν αἰθέρι μ. in mid-air, [Refs]; μ. μετώπῳ in the middle of the forehead, [Refs 1st c.AD+]: in Prose frequently preceding the Article, κατὰ μέσον τὸν σταθμόν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐκ μ. τῆς νήσου, κατὰ μ. τὴν νῆσον, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ μέσου τοῦ τμάματος at the middle point of the segment, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: sometimes following the Noun, ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ μέσῃ [Refs 4th c.BC+]: less frequently midmost, central, of three or more objects, μ. ὁδός [Refs 6th c.BC+]; ὁ μ. [δάκτυλος] [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ μ. στῖφος the central division of the army, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μέσον, τό, centre, ἡ ἐπὶ τὸ μ. φορά [Refs 4th c.AD+]
I. b with a Verb, ἔχεται μ. by the middle, by the waist, proverbial from the wrestling-ring, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I. c with genitive, midway between, ἑνὸς καὶ πλήθους τὸ ὀλίγον μ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.2. of Time, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μ. ἡλικία middle age, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μέσος ἀκμῆς variant in [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
I.3. metaphorically, impartial, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.3. b inter-mediate, frequently with genitive, μ. τις γέγονα χρηματιστὴς τοῦ τε πάππου καὶ τοῦ πατρός [Refs 5th c.BC+]; indeterminate, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; τὰ μ. things indifferent (neither good nor bad), [Refs]; of words such as τύχη, [Refs]; ζῴδια (neither lucky nor unlucky) [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
I.3. c Grammars, of Verbs, middle, [Refs]; μ. διάθεσις, σχήματα, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; μ. ἐνεστώς present middle, [Refs]
I.3. d Grammars, of consonants, Latin mediae, i. e. β ¯ γ ¯ δ ¯, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]: but also of semi-vowels, [Refs 5th c.BC+], i. e. the circumflex, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II. middling, moderate,
II.1. of size, μέσοι ὀφθαλμοί, ὦτα, γλῶττα, [Refs]; μ. μεγέθει[Refs 3rd c.BC+]; μ. alone, of middle height, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
II.2. of class or quality, πάντων μέσ᾽ ἄριστα [Refs 6th c.BC+]; μ. ἀνήρ a man of middle rank, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ μ., between οἱ εὔποροι and οἱ ἄποροι, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μ. [πολιτεία[Refs 2nd c.AD+]; mediocre, [Refs 5th c.BC+] adverb μέσως, ἱκανόν fairly adequate, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
III. μέσον, τό, midst, intervening space, mostly with Preps.,
III. a ἐν μέσσῳ, ={ἐν μεταιχμίῳ}, [Refs 8th c.BC+]in the midst, [NT]; ἡ 'ν μέσῳ [μοῖρα] σῴζει πόλεις the middle class, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὰ ἐν μ. what went between, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ ἐν μ. λόγοι the intervening words, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν μ. ἡμῶν καὶ βασιλέως between us and him, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν μ. νυκτῶν at midnight, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἆθλα κείμεν᾽ ἐν μέσῳ offered for competition (compare below b), [Refs 6th c.BC+]; ἡ τιμὴ ἐν τῷ μέσῳ ἔστω deposited with the court, [Refs 3rd c.BC+] both collectively and severally, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐν μέσῳ εἶναι τοῦ συμμεῖξαι to stand in the way of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ γὰρ θάλαττα ἐν τῷ μ. is an obstacle, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; compare ἰμέσος.
III. b ἐς μέσον, ἐς μ. ἀμφοτέρων, frequently in [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀνδρὶ δὲ νικηθέντι γυναῖκ᾽ ἐς μέσσον ἔθηκε deposited her as a prize (compare above a),[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐς μ. ἵεσθαι, ἐλθεῖν, παρελθεῖν, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐς τὸ μ. φέρειν bring forward publicly, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐς μ. Πέρσῃσι καταθεῖναι τὰ πρήγματα to give up the power in common to all, [Refs]
III. c ἐκ τοῦ μέσου away, ἐκ μ. ἀνελεῖν [NT+4th c.BC+]; also ἐκ μ. a half, ἔτη ὀκτὼ καὶ ἔνατον ἐκ μ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also ἐκ μ. κατῆστο remained in the middle, i. e. neutral [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. d διὰ μέσου between, τὸ διὰ μ. ἔθνος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; διὰ μ. γενέσθαι intervene, of an event, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ τούτων διὰ μ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also οἱ διὰ μέσου the middle party, the moderates, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ διὰ μ. the middle class, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of Time, ὁ διὰ μ. χρόνος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ διὰ μ. ξύμβασις an interim agreement, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; διὰ μέσου, as a figure of speech, use of parenthesis, [Refs]
III. e ἀν (ὀν) τὸ μ. in the midst, [Refs 7th c.BC+]; ἀνὰ μέσον midway between, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; θρὶξ ἀνὰ μέσσον [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; also ἀνὰ μέσον φέρε, ={μετρίως}, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III. f κατὰ μέσσον, = {ἐν μέσῳ}, [Refs 8th c.BC+] between, [Refs]
III.2. μέσον, τό, difference, τὸ μ. πρὸς τὰς μεγίστας καὶ ἐλαχίστας the average between.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πολλὸν τὸ μ., πολὺ τὸ μ., the difference is great, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ μ. οὐδὲν τῆς ἔχθρης ἐστί there is no middle course for our enmity, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.3. middle state, mean, τὸ μ. καὶ τὸ εὖ [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ποιήματα μέσα, opposed to ὀγκώδη, in the (correct) mean, [Refs 1st c.BC+]. adverb -ως, ἀναστρέφεσθαι [Refs]
III.4. in Logic, τὸ μ. the middle term of a syllogism, opposed to τὰ ἄκρα, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III.5. in Mathematics texts, middle terms in a proportion, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; μέση, or μέση (μέσος) ἀνάλογον a mean proportional (straight line or number), [Refs]; μέσης εὕρεσις [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μέση medial, a specific kind of irrational (straight line), [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; μέσον ὀρθογώνιον (χωρίον) medial rectangle (area), [Refs]
III.6. Astron., ὁ διὰ μέσων τῶν ζῳδίων κύκλος the ecliptic, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; but, ὁ μέσος [κύκλος] the equator of a rotating sphere, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III.7. μέσα, τά, ={μέζεα}, Blaes. p.191 K.
III.7. b ={κοιλία} 1.3, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III.8. Μέσον, τό, one of the law-courts at Athens, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.9. οὐ τοῖς μέσοις τῆς βίας χρωμένη no ordinary force,[Refs 4th c.BC+]
IV. μέση, ἡ, as substantive, see at {μέση}.
V. adverb μέσον, Epic dialect μέσσον, in the middle, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: with genitive, between, οὐρανοῦ μ. χθονός <τε> [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in the midst of, μ. τῆς θαλάσσης [LXX+NT]: also in plural, μέσα αἰετὸς οὐρανοῦ ποτᾶται [Refs 5th c.BC+]
V.2. regular adverb μέσως, πόλεώς τ᾽ οὐ μ. εὐδαίμονος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καὶ μ. even in a moderate degree, even a little, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μ. ἔχειν πρός or περί τι to be in the mean.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μ. βεβιωκέναι in a middle way, i. e. neither well nor ill, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μ. διατιθέναι in an intermediate way, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
V.2. b Grammars, in the middle voice, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
VI. irregular comparative μεσαίτερος [Refs 5th c.BC+]: superlative μεσαίτατος [Refs 5th c.BC+]. (Cf. Sanskritmádhyas 'middle', Latin medius, etc.)