What Does ‘Maranatha’ Mean in the Bible?
Quick Summary
“Maranatha” is an Aramaic phrase found in the New Testament that means either “Our Lord, come” or “The Lord has come.” In the Bible, it functions as an urgent prayer and a confession of hope, expressing the early Christian longing for Christ’s return and the conviction that Jesus reigns even now.
Introduction
“Maranatha” is one of the few untranslated Aramaic words preserved in the New Testament. Like “Amen,” “Hosanna,” and “Abba,” it was carried directly from the earliest worship of the church into the Greek text of Scripture. That alone signals its importance. The word is short, but it carries enormous theological weight.
For the first Christians, “Maranatha” was not a slogan or a curiosity. It was a prayer whispered in suffering, spoken in worship, and shared as a marker of identity. To say “Maranatha” was to live with one eye on the present world and the other on the promised future of God.
The Language Behind Maranatha
“Maranatha” comes from Aramaic, the everyday spoken language of many Jews in the time of Jesus. It is formed from two words: maran (our Lord) and atha (has come or come). Because early Aramaic was written without vowels, the phrase can be read in two closely related ways.
One reading renders it as “Our Lord has come.” This emphasizes confession. It declares that Jesus is already Lord, that his life, death, and resurrection have inaugurated God’s reign. The other reading translates it as “Our Lord, come!” This emphasizes prayer and longing, calling for the completion of what God has begun.
Rather than choosing between these meanings, the early church appears to have embraced both. “Maranatha” holds together proclamation and petition, faith and hope, the present lordship of Christ and the future fulfillment of his kingdom.
Maranatha in the New Testament
The word appears explicitly in 1 Corinthians 16:22: “Let anyone be accursed who has no love for the Lord. Maranatha!” Paul closes his letter with this striking phrase, linking love for Christ with expectation of his coming.
Its placement is significant. Paul has addressed division, immorality, worship practices, and resurrection hope throughout the letter. Ending with “Maranatha” draws all of these concerns into an eschatological horizon. The life of the church is shaped by the certainty that the Lord is coming.
Many scholars also hear an echo of “Maranatha” in Revelation 22:20: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” While the Aramaic word itself is not used there, the prayer is the same. The Bible ends where the early church often lived, with longing for Christ’s return.
Maranatha as Early Christian Prayer
“Maranatha” likely functioned as a communal prayer in early Christian worship. It may have been spoken during the Lord’s Supper or at the close of gatherings. In a time of persecution and marginalization, the prayer expressed trust that history belonged to God, not to empire.
This prayer was not escapist. To pray “Our Lord, come” was also to confess allegiance to Jesus rather than Caesar. It named Jesus as the true Lord of the world and placed hope not in present power structures but in God’s future.
Theological Meaning of Maranatha
Theologically, “Maranatha” captures the tension at the heart of Christian faith. Salvation has begun, but it is not yet complete. Christ reigns, yet the world remains broken. The prayer refuses to resolve that tension prematurely.
By preserving this Aramaic word, the New Testament reminds readers that Christian hope is rooted in real history and lived experience. “Maranatha” emerged from communities who knew suffering, injustice, and waiting. Their hope was not abstract. It was personal and urgent.
Maranatha and Christian Hope Today
In modern Christianity, “Maranatha” can sound distant or overly apocalyptic. Yet its biblical meaning is deeply pastoral. It gives language to longing without despair and confidence without triumphalism.
To pray “Maranatha” today is to acknowledge that the world is not yet as God intends it to be, while trusting that God is faithful to finish what he has started. It keeps Christian faith oriented toward hope rather than nostalgia or fear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maranatha a prayer or a statement?
In the Bible, it functions as both. It can mean “Our Lord has come” and “Our Lord, come,” holding confession and prayer together.
Why is Maranatha not translated?
Like “Amen” or “Hosanna,” it was preserved because it carried deep meaning in early Christian worship and identity.
Is Maranatha only about the end times?
No. While it points toward Christ’s return, it also affirms his present lordship and shapes how believers live now.
Is Maranatha used in Christian worship today?
Yes. It appears in hymns, prayers, and theological writing as a way of expressing hope and expectation.
Works Consulted
Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford University Press.
Metzger, Bruce M. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. United Bible Societies.
Wright, N. T. Surprised by Hope. HarperOne.
Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. NICNT, Eerdmans.
Conclusion
“Maranatha” is one of the Bible’s most compact expressions of Christian faith. In a single word, it holds together memory and expectation, confession and prayer. It declares that Jesus is Lord and that his work is not finished.
To say “Maranatha” is to live with hope oriented toward God’s future, trusting that the Lord who has come will come again.
