The Collaborative International Dictionary
Maranatha \Mar`a*nath"a\, n. [Aramaic m[=a]ran ath[=a].] ``Our Lord cometh;'' -- an expression used by St. Paul at the conclusion of his first Epistle to the Corinthians (xvi. 22). This word has been used in anathematizing persons for great crimes; as much as to say, ``May the Lord come quickly to take vengeance of thy crimes.'' See Anathema maranatha, under Anathema.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
late 14c., a Bible word, from Greek maranatha, untranslated Semitic word in I Cor. xvi:22, where it follows Greek anathema, and therefore has been taken as part of a phrase and used as "a curse." Usually assumed to be from Aramaic maran atha "Our Lord has come," which would make the common usage erroneous (see OED entry), but possibly it is a false transliteration of Hebrew mohoram atta "you are put under the ban," which would make more sense in the context. [Klein]
Wikipedia
Maranatha (Aramaic: either מרנא תא: 'maranâ thâ' ' or מרן אתא: ' maran 'athâ' ', Greek: Μαραναθα) is a two-word Aramaic formula occurring only once in the New Testament (see Aramaic of Jesus) and also in the Didache, which is part of the Apostolic Fathers' collection. It is transliterated into Greek letters rather than translated and, given the nature of early manuscripts, the lexical difficulty lies in determining just which two Aramaic words constitute the single Greek expression, found at the end of Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians (1Cor 16:22).
If one chooses to split the two words as מרנא תא (maranâ thâ), a vocative concept with an imperative verb, then it can be translated as a command to the Lord to come. On the other hand, if one decides that the two words מרן אתא ( maran 'athâ), a possessive "Our Lord" and a perfect/preterite verb "has come," are actually more warranted, then it would be seen as a credal expression. This interpretation, "Our Lord has come," is supported by what appears to be an equivalent of this in the early credal acclamation found in the biblical books of Romans 10:9 and 1 Corinthians 12:3, "Jesus is Lord."
In general, the recent interpretation has been to select the command option ("Come, Lord!"), changing older decisions to follow the preterite option ("Our Lord has come") as found in the ancient Aramaic Peshitta, in the Latin Clementine Vulgate, in the Greek Byzantine texts, Textus Receptus, critical Greek texts like Westcott and Hort, Tischendorf, Cambridge, etc., and in the English translations like the King James Version, the Finnish Raamattu, etc.
The NRSV of 1 Cor 16:22 translates the expression as: "Our Lord, come!" but notes that it could also be translated as: "Our Lord has come"; the NIV translates: "Come, O Lord"; the Message version puts it differently as: "Make room for the Master!" 1; the NAB notes:
The 1985 New Jerusalem Bible translates 1 Cor 16:22, "If there is anyone who does not love the Lord, a curse on such a one. Maran atha." In the context of 1 Corinthians, understanding the Greek "maranatha" as Aramaic "Maran atha" in the preterite sense would provide substantiation for the preceding anathema. That is, one who does not love the Lord is accursed because our Lord has ascended and come unto his throne (e.g., Dan 7:13) and wields power to implement such a curse. It would also substantiate the following prayer for grace from the ascended Lord Jesus, who has come to his throne and then sends the Holy Spirit.
Maranatha is an Aramaic phrase in the New Testament of the Bible, translated as O Lord, come.
Maranatha may also refer to:
- Maranatha Baptist University, in Watertown, Wisconsin, U.S.
- Maranatha Campus Ministries, a Charismatic/Pentecostal-oriented Christian ministry
- Maranatha College, in Meridian, Idaho, U.S.
- "Maranatha" (Millennium), an episode of the TV series Millennium
- Maranatha! Music, a Christian music label
- Maranatha Village, a Baptist retirement community near Sebring, Florida, U.S.
- Maranatha Volunteers International, a Christian non-profit organization based in Sacramento, California, U.S.
- A brand of nut butter 1
Maranatha is sludge metal band from Ohio. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist, and drummer, Collin Simula, and vocalist and bassist, Jack Huston.
"'Maranatha" is the twenty-first episode of the first season of the American crime- thriller television series Millennium. It premiered on the Fox network on May 9, 1997. The episode was written by Chip Johannessen, and directed by Peter Markle. "Maranatha" featured guest appearances by Bill Nunn, Boris Krutonog and Levani Outchaneichvili.
Millennium Group consultant Frank Black ( Lance Henriksen) aids both the New York Police Department and a Russian investigator to track down the mysterious "Yupanchik", a criminal from the Russian underworld who may be an incarnation of the biblical beast from the sea.
"Maranatha", a title which translates from Aramaic as "our lord has come", connects the 1986 Chernobyl disaster to biblical prophecies of the star of Wormwood. The episode features the first of two directorial contributions from Markle, and sees future guest star Brian Downey appear in a minor role.
Usage examples of "maranatha".
Number seventy-eight on my list, the Maranatha Primitive Baptist Church, was a little jewel at the foot of a hill, next to a creek, under a cluster of pin oaks that were at least two hundred years old.
Cooper of the Maranatha Primitive Baptist Church was with them, and he was a saint.
When Miss Callie, along with Sam and Esau, walked into the Maranatha Primitive Baptist Church, there were a few quick stares but nothing more.
Her sensations probably resolved themselves into an excess of admiration for the pastor in his new character of a denouncer of detected guilt and champion of imperiled innocence, added to which was a vague desire to lanch her own anathema maranatha at Royston Keene.
Also, Rosalynn and I make a special effort to be home in Plains on Sundays, and I teach a Bible class between thirty-five and forty times each year at Maranatha Baptist Church to our own adult members and to the visitors who come.
Our own Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains was formed while I was in the White House by a small group who were more moderate on some issues than our parent church, including the acceptance of black worshipers and welcoming other visitors.
I have derived great benefit from the intense discussions at Maranatha Baptist Church during weekly Sunday Bible lessons, where concepts of the Scriptures are melded with those of modern life.
They drove slowly through McCook and Sharon Springs and Maranatha, looking for flyers on telephone poles and in store windows, calling out the towns and dates to B.