mediate

διαλλακτικός

inclined to mediate: fem nom /voc pl

διαλλακτικός

inclined to mediate: masc nom sg

διαλλ-ακτικός, ή, όν,

A inclined to mediate, D.H.7.34.

μεσῑτ-εύω,

A act as arbiter or mediator, J.AJ16.4.3, BGU709.18 (ii A. D.), Babr.39.2, etc.; τισι BGU906.7 (i A. D.), etc.;

μ. ὅρκῳ Ep.Hebr.6.17

; act as go-between,

τῇ Πασιφάῃ πρὸς τὸν ἔρωτα τοῦ ταύρου Eust.1166.25

.

2 trans., mediate, negotiate,

τὴν διάλυσιν μ. Plb.11.34.3

;

τὰς συνθήκας OGI437.76

(Pergam., i B. C.), D.H.9.59, D.S.19.71;

τὰς διαλλαγάς Nic.Dam.130.29

J.

3 pledge, mortgage property, CPR1.19 (i A. D.), etc.

4 = μεσιδιόω, χειρόγραφον παρά τινι Möller Pap.Berl. Mus.2.11 ([voice] Pass., i A. D.), Suid.

5 add as a third constituent, χάλκανθον Zos.Alch.p.113 B.

II intr., τὰ χρήματα μ. lies on deposit with a stakeholder, Plb.Fr. 183.

2 lie between,

μονάδος καὶ δεκάδος Theol.Ar.44

.

μέσος, η, ον, also Arc. (v. ἰμέσος, μεσακόθεν); [dialect] Ep. [full] μέσσος (also [dialect] Aeol., Sapph.1.12, IG11(4).1064b32, and Lyr., Pi.P.4.224, and sts. in Trag., E.HF 403 (lyr.), S.OC 1247 (lyr.), Tr. 635 (lyr.), Ant. 1223, 1236, Fr.255.5), [dialect] Boeot., Cret. [full] μέττος, IG7.2420.20 (iii B. C.), GDI 5000 ii

A b 2 (v B. C.):—middle, in the middle,

I of Space, esp. with Nouns, of the middle point or part,

μ. σάκος Il.7.258

;

ἱστίον 1.481

; οὐρανός zenith, Od.4.400; μ. ἀπήνης from mid chariot, S.OT 812; ἐν αἰθέρι μ. in mid-air, Id.Ant. 416; μ. μετώπῳ in the middle of the forehead, PRyl.128.30 (i A. D.): in Prose freq. preceding the Art.,

κατὰ μέσον τὸν σταθμόν X.An.1.7.14

; ἐν μ. τῇ χώρᾳ ib.2.1.11; ἐκ μ. τῆς νήσου, κατὰ μ. τὴν νῆσον, Pl.Criti. 113d, 119d; ἐπὶ μέσου τοῦ τμάματος at the middle point of the segment, Archim.Aequil.1.6; ἁ ἐπὶ μέσαν τὰν βάσιν ἀγομένα (sc. εὐθεῖα) ib.12: sts. following the Noun,

ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ μέσῃ D.29.12

: less freq. midmost, central, of three or more objects,

μ. ὁδός Thgn.220

, 331; ὁ μ. [δάκτυλος] Pl.R. 523c; τὸ μ. στῖφος the central division of the army, X.An.1.8.13; μέσον, τό, centre,

ἡ ἐπὶ τὸ μ. φορά Iamb.Protr.21

.

b with a Verb, ἔχεται μ. by the middle, by the waist, prov. from the wrestling-ring, Ar.Eq. 387 (lyr.), cf. Ach. 571 (lyr.), Nu. 1047, Ra. 469;

μέσην λαβόντα Id.Ach. 274

, cf. Hdt.9.107, D.53.17;

ὁ πέπλος ἐρράγη μ. Philippid.25.5

.

c c. gen., midway between,

ἑνὸς καὶ πλήθους τὸ ὀλίγον μ. Pl.Plt. 303a

(also μ. ἐπ' ἀμφότερα, ibid.):—S. has

μέσος ἀπὸ [τοῦ κρατῆρος] τοῦ τε πέτρου OC 1595

.

2 of Time, Hom. only in phrase μέσον ἦμαρ midday, Il.21.111, Od.7.288, Pi.P.9.113;

μέσαι νύκτες Sapph.52

, Hdt.4.181, X. An.7.8.12, etc.;

θέρευς ἔτι μέσσου ἐόντος Hes.Op. 502

;

χειμῶνος μέσου Ar.Fr.569.1

;

μ. ἡμέρα Hdn.8.5.9

; μ. ἡλικία middle age, Pl.Ep. 316c: so

μέσοι τὴν ἡλικίαν E.Ep.5

; μέσος ἀκμῆς v.l. in Theoc.25.164.

3 metaph., impartial, Th.4.83, PLond.1.113(1).27 (vi A.D.).

b inter-mediate, freq. c. gen.,

μ. τις γέγονα χρηματιστὴς τοῦ τε πάππου καὶ τοῦ πατρός Pl.R. 330b

;

ψιλὸν μὲν τὸ π ¯, δασὺ δὲ τὸ φ ¯, μέσον δὲ ἀμφοῖν τὸ β ¯ D.H.Comp.14

(v. infr. d); ἡ τρίτη καὶ μ. τῶν εἰρημένων δυεῖν ἁρμονιῶν ib.24; ὁ μ. χαρακτήρ ib.21; indeterminate, Luc.Par.28; τὰ μ. things indifferent (neither good nor bad), Stoic.3.135, al.; of words such as τύχη, EM626.38; ζῴδια (neither lucky nor unlucky) Vett.Val.93.9;

μ. δίαιτα Diocl.Fr.141

, cf.Sor.1.46.

c Gramm., of Verbs, middle, Eust. 1846.30, etc.; μ. διάθεσις, σχήματα, A.D.Synt.226.10, 210.18; μ. ἐνεστώς present middle, ib.278.25.

d Gramm., of consonants, Lat. mediae, i. e. β ¯ γ ¯ δ ¯, D.T.631.23: but also of semi-vowels, Pl.Phlb. 18c: of accent, ὀξύτητι καὶ βαρύτητι καὶ τῷ μέσῳ, i. e. the circumflex, Arist. Po. 1456b33.

II middling, moderate,

1 of size, μέσοι ὀφθαλμοί, ὦτα, γλῶττα, Id.HA 492a8,33, b31; μ. μεγέθει ib. 496a21, PPetr.1p.37 (iii B. C.); μ. alone, of middle height, PGrenf.2.23 (a) ii 3 (ii B. C.), POxy. 73.13 (i A. D.), etc.

2 of class or quality,

πάντων μέσ' ἄριστα Thgn. 335

;

παντὶ μέσῳ τὸ κράτος θεὸς ὤπασεν A.Eu. 529

(lyr.);

μ. ἐν πόλει Phoc.12

; μ. ἀνήρ a man of middle rank, Hdt.1.107;

μ. πολίτης Th.6.54

;

τὰ μ. τῶν πολιτῶν Id.3.82

(so

τῶν ἀνὰ πόλιν τὰ μ. Pi.P.11.52

); οἱ μ., between οἱ εὔποροι and οἱ ἄποροι, Arist.Pol. 1289b31, 1295b3; οἱ μ. πολῖται ib. 1296a19; τὸ μ. ib. 1295b37; μ. [πολιτεία] ib. 1296a7;

ὁ μ. βίος Luc.Luct.9

; mediocre, Pl.Prt. 346d; τῶν ἑταιρῶν αἱ μ. Theopomp. Com.21. Adv. μέσως, ἱκανόν fairly adequate, Phld.Rh.2.4S.

III μέσον, τό, midst, intervening space, mostly with Preps.,

a ἐν μέσσῳ, = ἐν μεταιχμίῳ, Il.3.69,90;

ἐν τῷ μ.

in the midst,

Ev.Matt.14.6

; ἡ 'ν μέσῳ [μοῖρα] σῴζει πόλεις the middle class, E.Supp. 244: without

ἐν, ἔμβαλε μέσσῳ Il.4.444

;

ἔνθορε μέσσῳ 21.233

;

μέσσῳ ἀμφοτέρων 3.416

, 7.277;

τῶνδέ τ' ἐν μ. πεσεῖν E.Ph. 583

;

ἐν μ. λόγους ἔχειν Id.Hel. 630

;

μῆκος ἐν μ. χρόνου A.Supp. 735

;

χρόνος οὑν μ. E.Ph. 589

(troch.); τὰ ἐν μ. what went between, S.OC 583; οἱ ἐν μ. λόγοι the intervening words, Id.El. 1364, E.Med. 819;

κλίνης ἐν μ. Id.Hec. 1150

; ἐν μ. ἡμῶν καὶ βασιλέως between us and him, X.An.2.2.3;

σοφίας καὶ ἀμαθίας ἐν μ. Pl.Smp. 203e

; ἐν μ. νυκτῶν at midnight, X.Cyr.5.3.52; ἆθλα κείμεν' ἐν μέσῳ offered for competition (cf. infr. b), D.4.5, cf. Thgn.994, X.An.3.1.21; ἡ τιμὴ ἐν τῷ μέσῳ ἔστω deposited with the court, Herod.2.90: without ἐν, καὶ μέσῳ πάντες καὶ χωρὶς ἕκαστος both collectively and severally, IG12(5).872.27,31,38, al. ([place name] Tenos): in pl.,

κεῖτο δ' ἄρ' ἐν μέσσοισι Il.18.507

;

ἐν μέσοισ' Xenoph.1.7

; ἐν μέσῳ εἶναι τοῦ συμμεῖξαι to stand in the way of.., X.Cyr.5.2.26; ἡ γὰρ θάλαττα ἐν τῷ μ. is an obstacle, Id.Ath.2.2;

οὐδεὶς ἐν μέσσῳ γείτων πέλεν Theoc.21.17

;

οὐδὲν ἂν ἦν ἐν μ. πολεμεῖν ἡμᾶς D.23.183

; cf. ἰμέσος.

b ἐς μέσον, ἐς μ. ἀμφοτέρων, freq. in Hom. for ἐς μεταίχμιον, Il.4.79, 6.120; ἀνδρὶ δὲ νικηθέντι γυναῖκ' ἐς μέσσον ἔθηκε deposited her as a prize (cf. supr. a), 23.704;

ἐς μ. δεικνύναι τινί τι Pi.Fr.42.3

; ἐς μ. ἵεσθαι, ἐλθεῖν, παρελθεῖν, S.Tr. 514 (lyr.), Theoc.22.183, Plu. Agis9;

ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέροισι.. δικάσσατε Il.23.574

; ἐς τὸ μ. φέρειν bring forward publicly, Hdt.4.97, D.18.139;

ἐς τὸ μ. λέγεσθαι Hdt. 6.129

; ἐς μ. Πέρσῃσι καταθεῖναι τὰ πρήγματα to give up the power in common to all, Id.3.80; ἐς μ. τὴν ἀρχὴν τιθεὶς ἰσονομίην ὑμῖν προαγορεύω ib. 142.

c ἐκ τοῦ μέσου away,

ἐκ μ. ἀνελεῖν D.10.36

, 18.294; [

χειρόγραφον] ἦρκεν ἐκ τοῦ μ. Ep.Col.2.14

, cf. Arr.Epict.3.3.15; also ἐκ μ. a half,

ἔτη ὀκτὼ καὶ ἔνατον ἐκ μ. Th.4.133

; also ἐκ μ. κατῆστο remained in the middle, i. e. neutral (cf.

ἐκ 1.6

fin.), Hdt.3.83, cf. 4.118, 8.22,73.

d διὰ μέσου between,

τὸ διὰ μ. ἔθνος Id.1.104

;

διὰ μ. ποιεῖσθαι X.Cyr.6.3.3

; διὰ μ. γενέσθαι intervene, of an event, Th.4.20: c. gen.,

διὰ μέσου τῆς πόλεως ῥεῖ ποταμός X. An.1.2.23

; διὰ μ. ῥεῖ τούτων ποταμός ib.1.4.4, etc.;

τὸ τούτων διὰ μ. Pl.Lg. 805e

; also οἱ διὰ μέσου the middle party, the moderates, Th. 8.75, X.HG5.4.25; τὸ διὰ μ. the middle class, Arist.Pol. 1296a8; of Time,

ὁ διὰ μ. χρόνος Hdt.9.112

; ἡ διὰ μ. ξύμβασις an interim agreement, Th.5.26; διὰ μέσου, as a figure of speech, use of parenthesis, Hdn.Fig.p.95S.

e ἀν (ὀν) τὸ μ. in the midst, Alc.18.3, Xenoph.1.11, Thgn.839; ἀνὰ μέσον midway between, Arist.HA 496a22, Antiph. 13, Theoc.22.21, etc.;

ἀνὰ μ. τοῦ ναοῦ καὶ τοῦ βωμοῦ GDI2010

(Delph.), cf. PTeb.13.9 (ii B. C.), al.;

θρὶξ ἀνὰ μέσσον Theoc.14.9

;

ἀνὰ μέσσα Nic.Th. 167

; also ἀνὰ μέσον φέρε, = μετρίως, Men.531.18.

f κατὰ μέσσον, = ἐν μέσῳ, Il.5.8, 16.285, etc.: c. gen., κὰδ δὲ μέσον τάφρου καὶ τείχεος ἷζον between, 9.87.

2 μέσον, τό, difference, τὸ μ. πρὸς τὰς μεγίστας καὶ ἐλαχίστας the average between.., Th.1.10; πολλὸν τὸ μ., πολὺ τὸ μ., the difference is great, Hdt.1.126, E.Alc. 914 (anap.); τὸ μ. οὐδὲν τῆς ἔχθρης ἐστί there is no middle course for our enmity, Hdt.7.11.

3 middle state, mean,

τὸ μ. καὶ τὸ εὖ Arist.EN 1109b26

; ποιήματα μέσα, opp. ὀγκώδη, in the (correct) mean, Phld.Po.5.5. Adv. -ως

, ἀναστρέφεσθαι Id.Rh.1.155S.

4 in Logic, τὸ μ. the middle term of a syllogism, opp. τὰ ἄκρα, Arist.APr. 66a30; also ὁ μ. (sc. ὅρος) ib. 25b33.

5 Math., middle terms in a proportion, Euc.6.16; μέση, or μέση (μέσος) ἀνάλογον a mean proportional (straight line or number), ib.13, 17, 8.11, 12, al.;

μέσης εὕρεσις Arist.de An. 413a19

, Metaph. 996b21; μέση medial, a specific kind of irrational (straight line), Euc.10.21, al.; μέσον ὀρθογώνιον ([etym.] χωρίον) medial rectangle (area), ib.24, al.

6 Astron., ὁ διὰ μέσων τῶν ζῳδίων κύκλος the ecliptic, Hipparch.1.9.3,4, Gem.2.21, Ptol.Alm.2.7: without κύκλος, Eudox. ap. Arist.Metaph. 1073b20, Hipparch.1.9.12; simply,

ὁ διὰ μέσων D.L.7.146

; but, ὁ μέσος [κύκλος] the equator of a rotating sphere, Arist.Metaph. 1073b30.

7 μέσα, τά, = μέζεα, Blaes.p.191 K.

b = κοιλία 1.3, Herod.Med. ap. Orib.5.27.3, Gal.14.732: sg., Heph.Astr.1.1 (v.l. τὰ μέσα Cat.Cod.Astr.8(2).45).

8 Μέσον, τό, one of the law-courts at Athens, Phot., Sch.Ar.V. 120.

9 οὐ τοῖς μέσοις τῆς βίας χρωμένη no ordinary force, Hierocl.p.15 A.

IV μέση, ἡ, as Subst., v. μέση.

V Adv. μέσον, [dialect] Ep. μέσσον, in the middle, Il.12.167, Od.14.300: c. gen., between,

οὐρανοῦ μ. χθονός <τε> E.Or. 983

(lyr.), cf. Arr.Epict.2.22.10; in the midst of,

μ. τῆς θαλάσσης LXX Ex.14.27

;

μ. γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς Ep.Phil.2.15

: also in pl.,

μέσα αἰετὸς οὐρανοῦ ποτᾶται E.Rh. 530

(lyr.), cf. Nic.Fr.74.26.

2 regul. Adv.

μέσως, πόλεώς τ' οὐ μ. εὐδαίμονος E.Andr. 873

, cf. Hec. 1113, Isoc.9.23; καὶ μ. even in a moderate degree, even a little, Th.2.60; μ. ἔχειν πρός or περί τι to be in the mean.., Arist.EN 1105b28, 1119a11;

θερμότερον ἢ κραυρότερον ἢ μ. ἔχον Eub.7.1

, cf. Sosip. 1.53; μ. βεβιωκέναι in a middle way, i. e. neither well nor ill, Pl.Phd. 113d;

μ. μεθύων Men.226

; μ. διατιθέναι in an intermediate way, D.H. Comp.14.

b Gramm., in the middle voice, A.D. Synt.276.21.

VI irreg. [comp] Comp.

μεσαίτερος Pl.Prm. 165b

: [comp] Sup.

μεσαίτατος Hdt.4.17

, Arist.Mu. 392b33, Gem.9.3, etc.; poet.

μεσσότατος A.R.4.649

, Man. 6.373. (Cf. Skt. mádhyas 'middle', Lat. medius, etc.)

ἔμμεσος, ον,

A intermediate, [

ψυχὴ] δεσμὸς ἔ. τυγχάνει τῶν ἄκρων Alex.

Aphr.Pr.2.67; having a mean, ἔ. ἐναντία having an intermediate term, Simp.in Cael.340.33; ἔφη Πλάτων πάντα ἔ. Olymp.in Mete.242.28.

II inserted, μεταξυλογία ib.41.23.

III mediate,

γνῶσις Eustr. in EN331.2

. Adv. - σως mediately, Them.in APo.31.6.

μεσιτεύω (fr. μεσίτης) 1 aor. ἐμεσίτευσα. Fr. the sense ‘mediate, act as surety’ (Aristot. et al.; OGI 437, 76 [I B.C.]; 79; BGU 906, 7; CPR I, 1, 19; 206, 13; Philo) intr. (Jos., Ant. 7, 193; 16, 118 ‘act as mediator, peacemaker’) is readily derived guarantee, in the sense of settling a matter, ὅρκῳ by means of an oath Hb 6:17.—DELG s.v. μέσος B. M-M. TW.

μέσος, η, ον (Hom.+). The distinction between ‘middle’ and ‘among’ for μ. is sometimes rather fluid, and some of the passages here cited may fit equally well under 1 or 2.

① pert. to a middle position spatially or temporally, middle, in the middle.

ⓐ as adj. (of intermediate terms: Pla., Rep. 330b, Pol. 303a) ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν ἀνήρ the man in their midst, apparently surrounded by them Hs 9, 12, 7. μέσης νυκτός at midnight (3 Km 3:20.—B-D-F §270, 2; Rob. 495; Lobeck, Phryn. p. 53; 54; 465) Mt 25:6. ἡμέρας μέσης at midday (Jos., Bell. 1, 651, Ant. 17, 155) Ac 26:13. εἰς μέσην τὴν οἰκοδομήν into the middle of the building Hs 9, 7, 5; cp. 9, 8, 2; 4; 6 (cp. Philo, Fuga 49 εἰς μέσον τὸν ποταμόν; Jos., Ant. 4, 80 εἰς μέσον τὸ πῦρ). ἐσταύρωσαν … μέσον τὸν Ἰησοῦν they crucified Jesus between (them) J 19:18. ἐσχίσθη τὸ καταπέτασμα μέσον the curtain was torn in two Lk 23:45 (cp. Artem. 4, 30 τὸ ἱμάτιον μέσον ἐρρωγέναι). ἐλάκησεν μέσος Ac 1:18 (cp. Aristoph., Ran. 955). ἐν μέσοις τοῖς ὀργάνοις τοῦ διαβόλου in the midst of the tools of the devil 2 Cl 18:2 (for the syntax cp. Gen 2:9 ἐν μέσῳ τῷ παραδείσῳ).

ⓑ as subst. neut. τὸ μ. the middle (on the absence of the art. s. B-D-F §264, 4; cp. Rob. 792) ἀνὰ μέσον τινός (s. ἀνά 1) ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ὁρίων within or through the region Mk 7:31. ἀνὰ μ. αὐτῶν between them GPt 4:10; Hs 9, 2, 3; 9, 15, 2. ἀνὰ μ. ἐκκλησίας ἁγίων B 6:16; 4:10; διακρῖναι ἀνὰ μ. τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ between one (congregation) member and another 1 Cor 6:5 (s. ἀνά 1b. Perh. μέσος prompted a shortening of the sentence tending to obscurity; cp. the Stoic expr. μέσα καθήκοντα = καθήκοντα ἃ ἐν μέσῳ ἐστὶ κατορθωμάτων κ. ἁμαρτημάτων: MPohlenz, D. Stoa II ’49, 73f). τὸ ἀρνίον τὸ ἀ. μ. τοῦ θρόνου the lamb who is (seated) on the center of the throne Rv 7:17. ἀνὰ μ. τῆς ὁδοῦ (they made) half their journey GJs 17:3.—διὰ μέσου αὐτῶν through the midst of them (X., An. 1, 4, 4; Aesop. Fab. 147 P.=247 H./201a Ch./152 [I, II] H-H.; Am 5:17; Jer 44:4; Jdth 11:19; 1 Macc 5:46; Ath. 18, 3 ‘between’) Lk 4:30; J 8:59 v.l. διὰ μέσον Σαμαρείας καὶ Γαλιλαίας Lk 17:11 prob. can only mean through Samaria and Galilee; but this raises a practical difficulty, since we should expect to find the provinces mentioned in the opposite order. Perh. the text is damaged (cp. the vv.ll. διὰ μέσου and μέσον; s. B-D-F §222; Rob. 648; JBlinzler, AWikenhauser Festschr. ’54, 46ff. If the v.l. διὰ μέσου Σ. καὶ Γ. should be correct, we could compare Maximus Tyr. 28, 4a διὰ μέσου πίστεως κ. ἀπιστίας=throughout between). For the view that μέσον signifies the area betw. S. and G. s. the comm. Cp. δια B1.—εἰς τὸ μέσον into the middle or center (X., Cyr. 3, 1, 6; Dio Chrys. 19 [36], 24; 3 Km 6:8; Jos., Ant. 9, 149) Mk 3:3; Lk 4:35; 5:19; 6:8; J 20:19, 26 (ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον as Vi. Aesopi G 82 P.); Hs 9, 8, 5; also in the middle 9, 6, 1. W. gen. (X., An. 1, 5; 14a; Jer 21:4; 48:7; Sb 6270, 13) εἰς τὸ μ. αὐτῶν in the midst of them 9, 11, 7. Without the art. (LXX; Jos., Vi. 334; SibOr 3, 674) εἰς μ. τοῦ πεδίου in the middle of the plain Hs 9, 2, 1 (εἰς μ.=‘in the middle’, as Ps.-Clem., Hom. 3, 30 p. 44, 21 Lag.). τί … τὸ ἔριον εἰς μ. τῶν ἀκανθῶν τιθέασιν; Why do they place the wool in the middle of the thorns? 7:11. ἀναστὰς εἰς μ. he arose (and came) forward Mk 14:60 (cp. Theocr. 22, 82 ἐς μέσον=into the middle; Himerius, Or. 63 [=Or. 17], 2 εἰς μέσον ἔρχεσθαι=come into the open; X., Cyr. 4, 1, 1 στὰς εἰς τὸ μ.).—ἐν τῷ μ. among, before (more closely defined by the context, or = in public [so Clearch., Fgm. 45 οἴκοι καὶ μὴ ἐν τῷ μέσῳ; Appian, Liby. 15 §63]) Mt 14:6 (Dio Chrys. 30 [79], 39 ὀρχεῖσθαι ἐν τῷ μέσω; Lucian, Pereg. 8) and into the middle, before (them) (Vi. Aesopi W c. 86 στὰς ἐν τῷ μέσῳ ἔφη) Ac 4:7. Without the art. (LXX) ἐν μέσῳ (on the spelling ἐμ μέσῳ, which occurs several times as v.l., s. B-D-F §19, 1; Mlt-H. 105) abs. into the middle, before (someone) (Appian, Hann. 16 §67, Liby. 14 §59; Jos., Ant. 7, 278) J 8:3; MPol 18:1 and in the middle (Pla., Rep. 558a; Herm. Wr. 4, 3; PLille 1 recto, 5 [259 B.C.]; GrBar 13:4) J 8:9. W. gen. of place (Aeneas Tact. 1529; 1532; TestAbr A 12 p. 90, 21 [Stone p. 28], B 8 p. 113, 3 [St. p. 74]; ParJer 1:2; GrBar 10:2) τῆς θαλάσσης (En 97:7) in the middle of the lake Mk 6:47. τῆς πλατείας through the middle of the street Rv 22:2. ἐν μ. τῆς αὐλῆς in the middle of the courtyard Lk 22:55a; τοῦ τάφου GPt 13:55. ἐν μ. αὐτῆς within it (the city of Jerusalem) Lk 21:21; cp. Dg 12:3; MPol 12:1; 12:2(?). ἐν μ. τοῦ θρόνου καὶ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων on the center of the throne and among the four living creatures Rv 5:6a (w. double gen. also between: Appian, Hann. 14 §60, Bell. Civ. 5, 23 §92; Arrian, Anab. 1, 20, 2; 3, 28, 8 al.; Lucian, Fugit. 10 ἐν μ. ἀλαζονείας κ. φιλοσοφίας). ἐν μέσῳ τ. θρόνου around (on every side of) the throne 4:6 (but between the throne and a more remote point: RBrewer, JBL 71, ’52, 227–31).—ἐν μέσῳ ἐκκλησίας Hb 2:12 (Ps 21:23); cp. Ac 17:22. κατὰ μέσον (Jos., Bell. 5, 207; SibOr 3, 802 κατὰ μέσσον=‘in the middle’ [of the day]) κατὰ μ. τῆς νυκτός about midnight Ac 16:25 D; 27:27.

ⓒ The neut. μέσον serves as adv. (e.g., Appian, Bell. Civ. 3, 43 §175 μ.=meanwhile) ἦν μέσον ὡς he was in the center of it as MPol 15:2; and is used as prep. w. gen. (B-D-F §215, 3; Rob. 644. Cp. Hdt. 9, 107, 2; Polyb. 8, 25, 1; Epict. 2, 22, 10; LXX, TestSol; TestAbr A 4 p. 80, 31 [Stone p. 8]; JosAs 24:21; Jos., Ant. 6, 65; SibOr 3, 319) μ. τῆς θαλάσσης in the middle of the lake Mt 14:24 v.l.; μ. γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς in the midst of a crooked generation Phil 2:15 (cp. Maximus Tyr. 36, 5a ἐν μέσῳ τῷ σιδηρῷ τούτῳ γένει).

② pert. to a position within a group, without focus on mediate position, among.

ⓐ as adj. ἐκάθητο ὁ Πέτρος μέσος αὐτῶν Peter was sitting among them Lk 22:55 (the point being not as center of attention but inconspicuously in the group; cp. Jos., Ant. 9, 107). μέσος ὑμῶν ἕστηκεν J 1:26 (Jos., Ant. 14, 23). τοῦ πύργου μέσου Hs 9, 8, 2. εἶδον … μέσον αὐτῶν τὸν Παῦλον AcPl Ha 11, 14.

ⓑ as subst. neuter ἀνὰ μέσον τινός (s. ἀνά 1) among someth. Mt 13:25. W. gen. pl. (TestJob 32:6 ἐν μέσῳ τῶν τέκνων σου) in the midst of, among in answer to the questions where and whither (B-D-F §215, 3 app.) Mt 18:2, 20; Mk 9:36; Lk 2:46; 24:36; Ac 1:15; 2:22; 6:15 D; 27:21; Rv 5:6b; cp. 6:6. Of close personal relationship ἐν μέσῳ ὑμῶν among you = in communion with you Lk 22:27; 1 Th 2:7.—ἐν μ. λύκων among wolves Mt 10:16; Lk 10:3; 2 Cl 5:2.—W. gen. pl. of things (Alciphron 3, 24, 3) Lk 8:7; Rv 1:13; 2:1. ἐκ (τοῦ) μ. from among (X., An. 1, 5, 14b; oracular response in Diod S 9, 3, 2; LXX=מִתּוֹךְ): αἴρειν τι (or τινά) ἐκ (τοῦ) μέσου (τινῶν) Col 2:14; 1 Cor 5:2 (s. αἴρω 3). ἁρπάσαι αὐτὸν ἐκ μ. αὐτῶν Ac 23:10 (s. ἁρπάζω 2a). ἀφορίζειν τοὺς πονηροὺς ἐκ μ. τῶν δικαίων Mt 13:49 (s. ἀφορίζω 1). γίνεσθαι ἐκ μ. 2 Th 2:7 (s. γίνομαι 6b). ἐξέρχεσθαι ἐκ μ. αὐτῶν from among them Ac 17:33; cp. 2 Cor 6:17 (cp. Is 52:11). κύριος λαμβάνει ἑαυτῷ ἔθνος ἐκ μ. ἐθνῶν 1 Cl 29:3 (cp. Dt 4:34).—B. 864. DELG. M-M. EDNT. TW. Sv.

ἄγγελος, ου, ὁ (Hom.+) ‘messenger’.

① a human messenger serving as an envoy, an envoy, one who is sent

ⓐ by humans (Hom.+; ins, pap; Gen 32:4, 7; Jdth 1:11; 3:1; 1 Macc 1:44; 7:10; Jos., Ant. 14, 451, Vi. 89): in his earthly ministry Jesus ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους (Diod S 2,18,1 the king of India to Semiramis; 4, 65, 4) Lk 9:52; of John the Baptist’s disciples 7:24; of Joshua’s scouts Js 2:25 (cp. Josh 7:22).

ⓑ by God (prophets Hg 1:13; Mal subscr.; a priest Mal 2:7.—1 Esdr 1:48f. S. also Theognis 1, 769, where the poet is Μουσέων ἄγγελος; Epict. 3, 22, 23; 38; Ael. Aristid. 37 K.=1 p. 15 D.; Maximus Tyr. 11, 9c Plato, as the one who brings us information about God, is called ὁ ἐξ Ἀκαδημίας ἄγγ.; Oenomaus in Eus., PE 5, 20, 3; 5 Carnus the soothsayer is ἄγγ. of the gods) of John the Baptist as forerunner Mt 11:10; Mk 1:2; Lk 7:27 (all Mal 3:1; cp. Ex 23:20).

② a transcendent power who carries out various missions or tasks, messenger, angel (ἄ. as a spirit-being, oft. connected w. the nether world in Gr-Rom. sources [EZiebarth, Neue attische Fluchtafeln: NGG 1899, 127ff no. 24; IG XII/3, 933–74. Other material in Dibelius, Geisterwelt 209ff. S. also the oracles: Theosophien 13 p. 169, 31; Ps.-Callisth. 1, 1, 3 ἐπεκαλεῖτο τοὺς ἀγγέλους καὶ θεὸν Ἄμμωνα; 2, 25, 1; Porphyr., Ad Marcellam 21 ἄγγελοι θεῖοί τε κ. ἀγαθοὶ δαίμονες; Hierocles 3, 424; 23, 468.—ἄ. w. θεοί and δαίμονες Damascius (V/VI A.D.) 183 Ruelle; ἄ. w. δαίμονες and ἥρωες Proclus, Rep. II 243 Kroll, Tim. III 109 Diehl.—FCumont, RHR 72, 1915, 159–82; FAndres, D. Engellehre d. griech. Apologeten 1914 and in Pauly-W. Suppl. III 1918, 101ff; Rtzst., Myst. 171, 2; Bousset, ARW 18, 1915, 170ff] and as a transcendent power in Judaism [LXX; En 10:7; 20:1; 99:3 al.; Essenes in Jos., Bell. 2, 142; Philo, cp. Schürer III 881–85 (on Philo) w. lit.; Joseph.; Test12Patr; prayers for vengeance fr. Rheneia (I B.C.) 9f κύριε ὁ πάντα ἐφορῶν καὶ οἱ ἄνγελοι θεοῦ; on this Dssm. LO 353f; 357=LAE 414; 418f; SIG 1181 w. note 2; PFouad 203, 3f (I A.D.); on this PBenoit, RB 58, ’51, 549–65; PKatz, TZ 10, ’54, 228–31. Loanw. in rabb.—Bousset, Rel. 320ff; J-BFrey, L’Angélologie juive au temps de J-Chr.: RSPT 5, 1911, 75–110; HKuhn, JBL 67, ’48, 217–32 Jewish apocalypses], likewise in the magical pap, w. their mixture of gentile and Jewish infl. [PGM 1, 76 an ἄ. as a star fr. heaven; 4, 570ff; 998; 1112; 13, 329; 585; 609; 744]. Cp. the ins APF 3, 1906, 445 no. 67; 451 no. 94. The more common term in polytheistic lit. for beings intermediate between gods and humans is δαίμων [q.v.], which monotheistic writers reserved for reference to a realm hostile to God’s interests, while retaining the term ἄ. for intermediate beings, either those loyal to God or those in rebellion [s. c].)

ⓐ as messengers of God, angels (LXX; Philo, Somn. 1, 190; transcendent messengers of the gods in Hom. are not intermediate beings. Yet the description of Hermes, the κῆρυξ τῶν θεῶν, as their ἄγγελος ἄριστος [Diod S 5, 75, 2] may have made it easier for Gr-Romans in general to understand ἄ. as God’s heavenly messenger; cp. the messenger of the god Men: EA 18, ’91 p. 92f, no. 2, 5f [lit.]) mostly w. gen.: κυρίου (Gen 16:10f al.) Mt 1:20; 2:13, 19; Lk 1:11; 2:9; Ac 5:19; 12:7, 23. τοῦ θεοῦ (Gen 31:11; 32:2 al.; Philo, Deus Imm. 1; Jos., Bell. 5, 388) Lk 12:8f; 15:10; J 1:51 (HWindisch, ZNW 30, ’31, 215–33; also s. below on Lk. 2:15). ἄ. θεοῦ (Gen 21:17 A; Judg 13:6 B; Jos., Ant. 1, 73; Orig., C. Cels. 8, 31, 18) Gal 4:14; Hb 1:6 (Ps 96:7; Dt 32:43); 1 Cl 29:2 (Dt 32:8). Abs. (Num 20:16; Judg 13:11; Tob 6:4ff al.) Lk 1:13, 18, 38; 2:10, 13, 15, 21; J 20:12; Ac 7:53; 1 Ti 3:16; 1 Pt 1:12 (in wordplay on the superiority of human beings to angels s. Sextus 32; on their status and classification s. also Orig., C. Cels. 4, 29, 16) al. ἅγιοι ἄ. (PGM 4, 1934, 1938) Mk 8:38; Lk 9:26; Ac 10:22; Rv 14:10; 1 Cl 39:7 (Job 5:1); Hv 2, 2, 7; ἐκλεκτοὶ ἄ. 1 Ti 5:21 (ἄ. as witnesses so TestLevi 19:3 and SIG 1181, 10=Dssm. LO 351–62 [LAE 413–24]; cp. Jos., Bell. 2, 401); ἄ. ἰσχυρός (cp. Da 4:13; Ps 102:20) Rv 5:2; 18:21. Their abode is heaven, and so they are ἄ. τῶν οὐρανῶν Mt 24:36 (unless οὐρ.=θεοῦ); ἄ. ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς Mk 12:25; ἄ. ἐν οὐρανῷ 13:32; ἄ. ἐξ οὐρανοῦ Gal 1:8, cp. Mt 22:30; 28:2; Lk 22:43. They return to heaven when they have fulfilled their mission on earth 2:15. Hence ἄ. φωτός (cp. SJCh 78, 17) 2 Cor 11:14; ἄ. φωταγωγοί B 18:1. There the good are united w. them after death Hv 2, 2, 7; Hs 9, 27, 3. They appear in dazzling light Lk 2:9; Ac 7:30 (Ex 3:2); ISm 6:1; cp. the ‘shining face’ of Ac 6:15; or in white garments J 20:12; cp. Mt 28:3; Lk 24:4. Called πνεύματα Hb 1:7; 1 Cl 36:3 (both after Ps 103:4). πνεύματα λειτουργικά serving spirits Hb 1:14. Their voice is like thunder J 12:29; γλῶσσαι τῶν ἀ. language of angels 1 Cor 13:1 (after the analogy of the languages of the gods, Plato in Clem. Al., Strom. 1, 143; cp. 2 Cor 12:4; Rv 14:2f; TestJob 48–50; GSteindorff, Apk. d. Elias: TU 17, 3a, 1899, 153). They bring messages fr. God to men Lk 1:11f; Mt 28:2ff, and were also active in the giving of the law νόμος διαταγεὶς διʼ ἀγγέλων Gal 3:19; cp. Ac 7:38, 53; Hb 2:2 (Jos., Ant. 15, 136 τῶν ἐν τοῖς νόμοις διʼ ἀγγέλων παρὰ τ. θεοῦ μαθόντων; cp. Did., Gen. 110, 15 κἂν γὰρ διὰ ὑπουργῶν ἀγγέλων ποιῇ ἃ βούλεται θεός). As guardian angels of individuals (Tob 5:6, 22; cp. PGM 1, 172ff; Ael. Aristid. 50, 57 K.=26 p. 519 D.: ὁ σὸς Ἑρμῆς ἐστιν, to whom Aristid. has been entrusted since his birth) Mt 18:10 (PBarry, ET 23, 1912, 182); Ac 12:15 (JMoulton, JTS 3, 1902, 514–27, ET 14, 1903, 5ff); Lk 4:10 (Ps 90:11); Hv 5:1f. They conduct the blessed dead into heaven Lk 16:22 (Hermes does this acc. to Pythag. [Diog. L. 8, 31]); instruct humans to do good Hv 3, 5, 4; δικαιοσύνης m 6, 2, 1 (ParJer 8:12); rejoice at the repentance of a sinner Lk 15:10; cp. the ἄ. τῆς μετανοίας Hm 12, 4, 7; 12, 6, 1 al. They preside over various realms ἄ. ὁ ἔχων ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ τοῦ πυρός Rv 14:18; ἄ. τῶν ὑδάτων 16:5; the four winds 7:1. God assigns them διακόσμησις γῆς Pa (4) (cp. ἄγγελοι ἐπὶ τῶν ἐξουσιῶν GrBar 12:3). An angel, Thegri, rules the animal world Hv 4, 2, 4 (Synes., Ep. 57 p. 192b δαίμονες as leaders of the grasshoppers). ἄ. τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ προφητικοῦ m 11:9; τὸν ἄ. τὸν τιμωρητήν Hs 7:6; cp. ὁ ἄ. ὁ μέγας Hs 8, 4, 1.—As creator of the world AcPlCor 1:15. On ἄ. τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν Rv 1:20, cp. 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14 (on the textual problems associated w. these vss. s. RCharles, ICC Comm. 1920, I, clvii; clxf; II 244; RBorger, TRu 52, ’87, 42f) and s. on ἀστήρ.—Subordinate to Christ Mt 4:11; 13:41; 16:27; Hb 1:4ff (Ps 96:7; B-D-F §254, 2); 1 Pt 3:22; Rv 5:11f; glorify him J 1:51 (JFritsch “… videbitis … angelos Dei ascendentes …,” VD 37, ’59, 1–11). δώδεκα λεγιῶνας ἀ. Mt 26:53; μυριάσιν ἀ. Hb 12:22; cp. Rv 5:11. Seven principal angels (Tob 12:15) Rv 8:2, 6; 15:1, 6; 16:1; 17:1; 21:9 (GDix, The Seven Archangels and the Seven Spirits: JTS 28, 1927, 233–50). Six angels, created first, to whom the management of all creation is entrusted Hv 3, 4, 1. Angels at the Parousia Mt 24:31; 2 Th 1:7. Μιχαὴλ καὶ οἱ ἄ. αὐτοῦ Rv 12:7. Revered by people (Celsus 1, 26 Ἰουδαίους σέβειν ἀγγέλους; 5, 6) θρησκείᾳ τῶν ἀ. worship of angels Col 2:18; λατρεύειν ἀγγέλοις as a sign of Jewish piety PtK 2 p. 14, 26=Clem. Al., Strom. 6, 41 p. 452, 9. Christ as σεμνότατος ἄ. Hv 5:2; m 5, 1, 7; cp. ὁ ἅγιος ἄ. Hs 5, 4, 4 v.l.; ὁ ἔνδοξος ἄ. Hs 5, 4, 4; 7:1ff; 8, 1, 2. ὁ ἄ. κυρίου Hs 7:5; 8, 1, 2ff; called Michael in Hs 8, 3, 3, where it is to be noted that Michael was the guardian angel of God’s people (WLueken, D. Erzengel Michael 1900; MDibelius, Hdb. exc. on Hs 5, 6, 8 p. 575f).

ⓑ intermediate beings gener., w. no ref. to their relation to God (opp. ἄνθρωποι; s. 2 above immediately before a) 1 Cor 4:9 (cp. TestJos 19:9 ἔχαιρον ἐπʼ αὐτῷ οἱ ἄγγελοι κ. οἱ ἄνθρωποι κ. πᾶσα ἡ γῆ).—Ro 8:38 ἄ. as serving spirit-powers seem to be differentiated fr. the ἀρχαί, who rule.

ⓒ evil spirits (Lactant., Inst. 2, 15, 8 daemonas Trismegistus ἀγγέλους πονηρούς appellat. Cp. also Job 1:6; 2:1; Philo, Gig. 16; TestAsh 6:4; PGM 4, 2701; αἱ πονηραὶ δυνάμεις, διάβολος καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ Did., Gen. 45, 5; ADieterich, Nekyia 1893, 60f) τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ Mt 25:41; cp. Rv 12:9. ὁ δράκων καὶ οἱ ἄ. αὐτοῦ vs. 7; ἄ. τῆς ἀβύσσου 9:11 (s. Ἀβαδδών); ἄ. πονηρός B 9:4; ἄ. τῆς πονηρίας in contrast to guardian angels Hm 6, 2, 1; ἄ. Σατανᾶ, which causes physical pain 2 Cor 12:7; esp. called ἄ. τρυφῆς καὶ ἀπάτης Hs 6, 2, 1f; leading men into evil B 18:1. Of the angels’ fall and their punishment (cp., in the opinion of many, Gen 6:2; En 6ff; 54; Book of Jubilees 5; SyrBar 56:13; LJung, Fallen Angels in Jewish, Christian, and Mohammedan Lit. 1926; ALods, Congr. d’Hist. du Christ. I 29–54) ὁ θεὸς ἀγγέλων ἁμαρτησάντων οὐκ ἐφείσατο 2 Pt 2:4; ἀ. τοὺς μὴ τηρήσαντας τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀρχήν who did not keep to their proper domain (s. ἀρχή 7) Jd 6. From the pass. already quoted above w. Gen. 6:2 (cp. also TestReub 5:3; Jos., Ant. 1, 73 ἄγγελοι θεοῦ γυναιξὶ συνιόντες; and polytheists’ concept of erotic desires of transcendent beings: HUsener, Weihnachtsfest² 1911, 74f; Rtzst., Poim. 228ff. Herr der Grösse 14f; and GJs 14:1) some conclude that the angels were subject to erotic desires; this is held to explain the regulation that women are to wear a veil in church services, since angels are present (cp. Origen, Orat. 31 and Ps 137:1 ἐναντίον ἀγγέλων ψαλῶ σοι) 1 Cor 11:10 (for another view and for the lit. s. ἐξουσία 7; s. also JFitzmyer, [Qumran angelology] NTS 4, ’57/58, 48–58; LJervis, JBL 112, ’93, 243–45: angels mediate God’s presence). In 6:3 οὐκ οἴδατε, ὅτι ἀγγέλους κρινοῦμεν; it is not certain whether only fallen angels are meant; θρησκείᾳ τῶν ἀ. worship of angels Col 2:18 polemicizes against what appears to be a type of gnostic reverence for angels. (On Qumran angelology s. Fitzmyer, cited above.)—OEverling, D. paulinische Angelologie u. Dämonologie 1888; Dibelius, Geisterwelt 1909; GKurze, D. Engels-u. Teufels-glaube d. Ap. Pls 1915; MJones, St Paul and the Angels: Exp. 8th ser., 16, 1921, 356–70; 412–25; EPeterson, D. Buch von den Engeln ’35; JMichl, D. Engelvorstellungen in Apk I ’37; ELangton, The Angel Teaching of the NT ’37; JBernardin, JBL 57, ’38, 273–79; ESchick, D. Botschaft der Engel im NT ’40; WMichaelis, Z. Engelchristol. im Urchristent. ’42; GHatzidakis, Ἄγγελος u. Verwandtes: SBWienAk 173, 1914.—B. 1486. DELG. DDD 81–96 (lit.). M-M. New Docs 5, 72f. TW. Sv.