Maranatha
מָרַן אֲתָא (Maran atha)
An Aramaic phrase meaning 'Our Lord, come!' or 'The Lord is coming'
Maranatha is one of the earliest Christian prayers, an Aramaic cry for Christ's return. Used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:22, it expresses the church's longing for Jesus' second coming.
"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." — 1 Corinthians 16:22 (KJV)
Key Verses
1 Corinthians 16:22
“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.”Read in context
Revelation 22:20
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”Read in context
Strong's Concordance
Strong's G3134 — Maranatha (מָרַן אֲתָא (Maran atha))
Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where מָרַן אֲתָא (Maran atha) appears.
Open Strong's G3134An Aramaic Prayer in a Greek Letter
Maranatha stands out as one of the few Aramaic words preserved in the Greek New Testament. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in Greek, yet included this Aramaic expression untranslated — suggesting it was already so well-known and beloved among early Christians that it needed no translation. Like 'Amen' and 'Hallelujah,' Maranatha transcended language barriers to become a universal Christian prayer.
Two Possible Readings
Scholars note that Maranatha can be divided two ways: 'Marana tha' ('Our Lord, come!') — a prayer for Christ's return — or 'Maran atha' ('Our Lord has come') — a declaration of faith. Both readings are theologically true: Christ has come in the incarnation, and He will come again in glory. The early church lived in this tension between the 'already' and the 'not yet,' celebrating Christ's first coming while eagerly awaiting His second.
The Longing of the Early Church
Maranatha reveals the heartbeat of early Christianity. These believers expected Jesus to return in their lifetime. Their faith was not merely a system of beliefs but a living relationship with a Lord they expected to see face to face at any moment. This eager expectation shaped their worship, their ethics, and their courage in the face of persecution. They could endure anything because their Lord was coming back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Maranatha in Aramaic instead of Greek?
Aramaic was the everyday language of Jesus and His first disciples. The preservation of this Aramaic phrase in Paul's Greek letter suggests it was an ancient, pre-Pauline prayer — possibly one of the very first Christian liturgical expressions, dating back to the earliest Aramaic-speaking church in Jerusalem.
Is Maranatha a prayer or a statement?
It can be either, depending on how the Aramaic is divided. 'Marana tha' is a prayer: 'Our Lord, come!' 'Maran atha' is a statement: 'Our Lord has come.' Both meanings reflect essential Christian beliefs — Christ's first coming and His promised return.
How is Maranatha connected to the book of Revelation?
While the word 'Maranatha' does not appear in Revelation, the same prayer is expressed in the book's final words: 'Even so, come, Lord Jesus' (Revelation 22:20). This confirms that the longing for Christ's return expressed in Maranatha remained the church's prayer from the apostolic era to the end of the New Testament canon.
What is the Aramaic word for "Maranatha" in the Bible?
מָרַן אֲתָא (Maran atha), pronounced "MAR-ah-NAH-thah." It means an aramaic phrase meaning 'our lord, come!' or 'the lord is coming'. Its Strong's number is G3134. It is the word behind "Maranatha" in the New Testament, for example in 1 Corinthians 16:22.
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