Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary

μναομαι  μιμνησκω

The verb μναομαι (mnaomai) is a so-called deponent verb of μιμνησκω (mimnesko), which means that the former was formed from the latter. Both verbs have to do with memory or remembering.

Often in Koine Greek deponent verbs are so different in meaning from their root verb that they are considered fully unrelated in meaning, but in the case of our present verbs, this is clearly not so.

The striking "mn" of these words stem from an ancient Proto-Indo-European root "men-", meaning to think, from which also come our English verbs "to mind", "to admonish" and thus the noun "monument". In Hebrew, a strikingly similar cluster of roots expresses very similar ideas: most obviously the verb מנה (mana), meaning to count or distinguish.

Note the disproportional prevalence of these Greek words in the New Testament, which demonstrates that the New Testament aims to make the reader "remember" something rather than teach something wholly new (Romans 2:15, Hebrews 10:16).

The gospel is not just some new product or elaborate artificial scheme, but rather a contemplation on the natural world of which humanity is an integral part (Romans 8:19-22). When we come to the Lord we don't find a stranger, but a loving Father whom we've always known very well (Luke 15:20).

---

μιμνησκω

• Together with the preposition ανα (ana), meaning on or upon: the verb αναμιμνησκω (anamimnesko), meaning to impose recall on someone or deliberately put to mind again. This verb is used 6 times, see full concordance, and from it in turn come:
  • The noun αναμνησις (anamnesis), meaning a remembrance or commemoration. This noun occurs 4 times in the New Testament, three times in the phrase "in remembrance of me", from the familiar communion formula; see full concordance.
  • Together with the preposition επι (epi), meaning on or upon: the verb επαναμιμνησκω (epanamimnesko), meaning to re-remind or to put once again to mind (Romans 15:15 only).
• Together with the preposition υπο (hupo), meaning under, beneath or through: the verb υπομιμνησκω (hupomimnesko), meaning to bring to mind. This verb is used 7 times, see full concordance, and from it comes:
  • The noun υπομνησις (hupomnesis), meaning a remembrance or reminder (2 Timothy 1:5, 2 Peter 1:13 and 3:1 only).

---

μναομαι

• The noun μνεια (mneia), meaning remembrance or recollection (Philippians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:6) or a mentioning of (Romans 1:9, Ephesians 1:16). This noun is used 7 times; see full concordance.
• The noun μνημα (mnema), meaning a memorial or monument. In the New Testament this word is used 8 times, see full concordance, and solely to describe a tomb. Since Jewish tradition didn't really sport tomb stones, this word seems to demonstrate that a slowly decaying body in a tomb was seen as something closely similar to a fixed memory in one's mind (how the English language acquired its phrase "skeleton in the closet" is not clear but it's doubtlessly a Jewish contribution; also see Ezekiel 37:1-14). Note that the demoniac called Legion lived among these "items of remembrance" according to the Lucan evangelist (Luke 8:27), and this may indicate that this man was not only suffering from a demonic infestation, he was also living among the memories of a painful past and doubtlessly burdened by severe psychological trauma. Also note that a similar double meaning exists in the verb κατατιθημι (katatithemi), which means both to inter and to be remembered (favorably).
• The noun μνημειον (mnemeion), which is similar to the previous one but appears to describe more elaborate sepulchers. The Marcan author places Legion among these more elaborate memorials (Mark 5:2). One may expect that these "memorials" were not only the actual graves and mausoleums but also, and perhaps more so, the corpus of traditions and legends associated with whoever was interred in this literature (Acts 2:29). Note how all this adds additional magnificence to the already boggling account of the resurrection of Jesus (Mark 16:2) and that of the saints (Matthew 27:52, John 5:28). This noun is used 41 times; see full concordance.
• The noun μνημη (mneme), meaning remembrance or recollection (2 Peter 1:15 only).
• The verb μνημονευω (mnemoneuo) meaning to actively remember or recount. This verb is used 21 times; see full concordance.
• The noun μνημοσυνον (mnemosunon), again meaning memorial or remembrance (Matthew 26:13, Mark 14:9, Acts 10:4 only).
• The verb μνηστευω (mnesteuo), meaning to betroth or promise in marriage (Matthew 1:18, Luke 1:27 and 2:5 only). This act surely came with lavish symbols and public pomp, all with the interest of collective remembering who was promised to whom. In the classics this verb also occurs with the sense of pestering someone for something long remembered, or even to give someone a piece of one's mind, in order to consign that piece to the mind of the recipient.

μαινομαι

• Together with the common preposition εν (en), meaning in: the verb εμμαινομαι (emmainomai), to be en-maddened by someone or something (Acts 26:11 only). The thing that en-maddens someone is described with a dative.
• The familiar noun μανια (mania), meaning mania, madness or the act or instance of raging like a madman (Acts 26:24 only).
• The verb μαντευομαι (manteuomai), meaning to act manically or like a maniac, but entertaining enough to make one's owners money (Acts 16:16 only). This verb actually means to act like a μαντις (mantis), which was a fairly common word for a (Greek) prophet or seer; people who were known for their wide-eyed enthusiasm and entertaining antics, but evidently not for the accuracy of their insights. The bizarre-looking, wide-eyed, cross-eyed praying mantis was named after the Greek prophet. This animal not only looks like it is continually confused, it also continuously preys on creatures that are slower but not necessarily smaller than it. A fight between a mantis and a rodent or amphibian is still considered stellar entertainment in our modern YouTube world. In antiquity, seeing a human version of such a beast in action must have been a hoot to certain people. Paul was not merely pestered by the girl, but rather challenged to a duel of madness.

---

Associated Biblical names