μηνύω

I reveal, inform

Definition

The verb μηνύω means to reveal, disclose, or make something known. In the New Testament, it carries two primary senses. First, it can mean to inform or give a report, often in a formal or legal context, as when the chief priests and Pharisees gave orders that anyone knowing Jesus' location should 'inform' (μηνύσῃ) them (John 11:57). Second, it means to point out or indicate something, as when Paul 'pointed out' (ἐμήνυσεν) the man to whom the Sanhedrin should direct their questions (Acts 23:30). In 1 Corinthians 10:28, it is used in the sense of being told or having something disclosed, regarding food sacrificed to idols.

Biblical Usage

Μηνύω is used only four times in the New Testament, appearing in Luke, John, Acts, and 1 Corinthians. Its usage consistently involves the act of conveying specific, often consequential, information. In Luke 20:37, Moses 'shows' or 'indicates' (the sense of making known) the reality of the resurrection. In John 11:57 and Acts 23:30, the context is more procedural, involving the reporting of a person's whereabouts or identity. In 1 Corinthians 10:28, it refers to a private disclosure about the origins of food. The word is not used for general teaching but for specific, pointed revelation of facts.

Etymology

Μηνύω is a classical Greek verb meaning to disclose, announce, or inform. It is related to the noun μήν (mēn), meaning 'month,' but more significantly to μήνυσις (mēnysis), meaning 'information' or 'disclosure.' The root idea is making something hidden or unknown become apparent. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), it is used sparingly, but in secular Greek, it was common in legal and formal contexts for laying information or making an accusation, a nuance carried into some of its New Testament uses.

Semantic Range

While not a central theological term, μηνύω is significant in contexts of divine and human revelation. In Luke 20:37, Moses 'shows' the reality of the resurrection from the Pentateuch, linking the word to scriptural testimony about God's power. Its use in John 11:57 highlights the clandestine information-seeking that led to Jesus' arrest, contrasting human schemes with God's sovereign plan. Understanding this word emphasizes that God's truth is often 'revealed' or 'made known' through specific, sometimes unexpected, disclosures within human events and testimonies.

In the Greco-Roman world, μηνύω was a standard term in legal and civic contexts for informing authorities, often with the connotation of laying an accusation or giving official testimony. This background illuminates its use in John 11:57 and Acts 23:30, where it reflects formal procedures for reporting information. The modern concept of 'informing' can be more neutral, but the ancient usage often implied a formal or weighty disclosure, sometimes with serious consequences for the person being reported.

ἀποκαλύπτω (apokalyptō, G601) — emphasizes uncovering or unveiling something hidden, often used for divine revelation. γνωρίζω (gnōrizō, G1107) — focuses on making something known or recognized, often through teaching or declaration. δηλόω (dēloō, G1213) — to make clear, explain, or show plainly.

Word Details

Scripture References