Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
μακρος
The adjective μακρος (makros) means long or distant, and is the opposite of the adjectives μικρος (mikros), which means small or short, and βραχυς (brachus), which also means short. It stems from a Proto-Indo-European root "mehk-", to increase, suffixed with the common "-ros" which would translate into "-able" or "-er/-or" in English. Our adjective μακρος (makros) occurs 6 times in the New Testament, see full concordance, and is mostly used of space (Luke 15:13) but also of time (Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47).
In the Bible the following derivations and compounds occur:
- The adverb μακραν (makran), meaning lengthily or distantly. When it's used in combination with the noun οδος (hodos), meaning road it means a long way (Matthew 8:30, Mark 12:34), and with the definite article and in plural it denotes those who are far removed from God (the gentiles), as opposed to those who are near (the Jews; Ephesians 2:13). This adverb is used 9 times; see full concordance.
- The adverb μακροθεν (makrothen), also meaning distantly (Mark 8:3, Luke 18:13). With the preposition απο (apo), meaning from, it means from afar (Matthew 26:58). It's used 14 times; see full concordance.
- Together with θυμος (thumos), meaning anger: the verb μακροθυμεω (makrothumeo), literally meaning "keeping anger at long distance/ stay far away from anger": to endure patiently. This verb is used 10 times, see full concordance, and from it in turn derive:
- The noun μακροθυμια (makrothumia), meaning forbearance , long-suffering, patience. It occurs 14 times; see full concordance.
- The adverb μακροθυμως (makrothumos), meaning patiently (Acts 26:3 only).
- Together with χρονος (chronos), meaning time: the adjective μακροχρονιος (makrochronios), meaning long-lived (Ephesians 6:3 only).
μεκος
The noun μεκος (mekos) means length, and stems from the same PIE root as the above. In the Greek classics, our word tends to refer to the larger of several measurement. It may refer to a distance thrown, the height of a wall or of a standing person. It may describe the length of time or the duration of some event (like a long speech), and it may refer to longitude in a geographic sense. Slightly different than "macro" in English, our word may also describe a general or abstract "greatness" or "magnitude". Our word occurs three times in the New Testament, but in Ephesians 3:18 and Revelation 21:16 only (twice in the latter).