Maranatha* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Aramaic expression used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:22, meaning either “Our Lord, come!” or “Our Lord has come.”

Show passage in OET: CO1 16:22

22 If there’s anyone there who doesn’t love the master, let him be cursed.
¶ Come, master!

22 If anyone not is _loving the master, him _let _be a_curse.
Marana qa.

Quite certainly the use of maranatha (cf. amen and abba) originated in the worship services of early Jewish Christians whose mother tongue was Aramaic. Since Paul wrote in the Greek language, he needed to transliterate (writing the Aramaic phrase with Greek letters), a process that sometimes creates ambiguities. In addition, words were not written separately in ancient documents. Therefore, since maranatha consists of two words, it can be analyzed in different ways.

Most scholars agree that the first word in the phrase is maran or marana, meaning “Lord,” or more probably “our Lord,” and that the second word represents the Aramaic verb “to come.” This verb, however, may be taken either as a prayer (imperative tha or etha, “come!”) or as a statement (perfect tense atha “has come”). Five different interpretations are then possible: (1) If the words are considered as a prayer, Paul is praying for either Jesus’ spiritual presence, with possible reference to the Lord’s Supper, or (2) Jesus’ second coming. As a statement, the expression may refer to the Incarnation; it may be translated (3, 4) “Our Lord is present,” either with reference to the Lord’s Supper or to Jesus’ more general promise in Matthew 18:20; or (5) it may be translated “Our Lord is coming” (the so-called “prophetic perfect,” although some prominent Aramaic scholars argue that this is not really possible).

Show passage in OET: MAT 18:20

OET-RV MAT 18:20

20 because any place where two or three people have gathered together in my name and authority, I’ll be right there among them.”

OET-LV MAT 18:20

20 For/Because where are two or three having _been _gathered _together in the my name, there I _am in the_midst of _them.

Jump to OET MAT 18:20 section.

In support of rendering the expression as a statement (“our Lord has come”) is the fact that the Syriac (a form of Aramaic) version translates the verb in the perfect tense; further, the early church fathers usually interpreted it the same way. A majority of scholars, however, believe that such an interpretation does not fit the context well. Further, if the phrase is understood as a prayer, it can be related to other passages (Phil 4:5b; 1 Pt 4:7; cf. Rv 22:20b, which may be a translation of maranatha).

Show passage in OET: PHP 4:5

OET-RV PHP 4:5

5 Let your gentleness be visible to everyone. The master is close.

OET-LV PHP 4:5

5 The gentle of _you _all let _be _known to _all people.
The master near.

Show passage in OET: PE1 4:7

OET-RV PE1 4:7

7 The end of everything is getting close, so make good decisions and be serious in prayer,

OET-LV PE1 4:7

7 And the end of _all things has _neared.
Therefore be _sensible and be _sober for the_prayers,

Show passage in OET: REV 22:20

OET-RV REV 22:20

20 The one who testified about these things says: ‘Yes, I’m coming quickly.’
¶ May it be so. Come, master Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus).

OET-LV REV 22:20

20 Is _saying the one testifying these things:
Yes, I _am _coming quickly.
Truly.
Be _coming, master Yaʸsous.

Jump to OET PHP 4:5 section.

Jump to OET PE1 4:7 section.

Jump to OET REV 22:20 section.

The fact that maranatha occurs immediately after Paul’s imprecatory curse (1 Cor 16:22) has led many to the view that the Aramaic expression is part of the curse itself. The KJB rendering (“let him be Anathema Maran-atha”) leaves the impression that the two words are a unit, whereas anathema is a Greek word meaning “curse” and probably ends the sentence. It is nevertheless quite possible, some modern scholars believe, to relate maranatha very closely to the curse, since the prayer for Jesus to come in judgment reinforces the solemnity and reality of Paul’s imprecation. Interestingly, a church council in the seventh century anathematizes dissidents with the words “anathema maranatha, let him be condemned at the Lord’s coming.”