Quick Definition
μετάθεσις, εως, ἡ n.f. change, transformation, removal
Strong's Definition
transposition, i.e. transferral (to heaven), disestablishment (of a law)
Derivation: from G3346 (μετατίθημι);
KJV Usage: change, removing, translation
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -εως | τίθημι
15.2 · Linear Movement · Move, Come/Go
to move from one place to another, to change one’s location, to depart, departure to effect a change of location in space, with the implication that the two locations are significantly different In view of the specific reference of μετάθεσις in HEB 11:5, it is possible to speak of ‘being taken up,’ but the meaning is clearly a significant change of location from one place to another, that is to say, from earth to heaven.
13.52 · Be, Become, Exist, Happen · Change of State
change, transformation a change from one state to another
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μετάθεσις, -ews, ἡ, (μετατίθημι) ; 1. a transfer: from one place to another (Diod. 1, 23); τινός (gen. of obj.), the translation of a person to heaven, Heb. xi. 5. 2. change (of things instituted or established, as ἱερωσύνης, νόμου) : Lleb. vii. 12; τῶν σαλευομένων, Heb. xii. 27. (Thue. 5, 29; Aristot., Plut.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μετάθεσις metathesis 3x
a removal, translation, Heb. 11:5; 12:27; a transmutation, change by the abolition of one thing, and the substitution of another, Heb. 7:12*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** μετά-θεσις, -εως, ἡ
(< μετατίθημι), [in LXX: II Mac 11:24*;]
change of position, removal: He 11:5.
change, as of that which has been established: He 7:12 12:27.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μετάθεσις. PSI V. 546% (mid. iii/B.c.) τοῦ ἀναβαθμοῦ τὴν μετάθεσιν, “the removal of the stair ”’—in connexion with repairs on a house. In Aristeas 160 the subst. is used of the divine and incomprehensible ‘‘interchange” of the states of sleeping and waking: ὡς θεία τίς ἐστι Kal ἀκατάληπτος τούτων ἡ μετάθεσις.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
μετάθεσις (metathesis) — removal/change. μετάθεσις, εως, ἡ, (μετατίθημι) change of position, transposition, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τοῦ ἐμβρύου [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; couching of a cataract, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
2. generally, change, θεὸς οὐδεμίαν ἐπιδεχόμενος μ. [NT+5th c.BC+]; especially change of sides or opinions, ἐπὶ τὸ βέλτιον [Refs 2nd c.BC+] (hence, amendment, τῶν ἡμαρτημένων [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; going over, πρός τινα [Refs]
3. exchange, barter, [Refs]
4. Grammars, change of a letter, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; also, metathesis, transposition of letters, as κραδίη for καρδία, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
5. plagiarism, opposed to μίμησις, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II. power or right of changing sides, [Refs 5th c.BC+]