διαλύω (dialuō)
dialuō
to disperse
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb dialuō means to break apart or scatter something that was previously held together. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Acts 5:36, where Gamaliel advises the Sanhedrin not to threaten the followers of Theudas because his movement had already "dissolved" and its supporters were scattered.
This single usage highlights a specific sense of dispersion rather than physical destruction. It describes the natural end of a human gathering when leadership fails or influence wanes, leaving the group fragmented. The word conveys the image of an assembly coming undone, with individuals returning to their separate ways.
Its root combines dia ("through" or "apart") and luo ("to loose"), emphasizing the act of unbinding or releasing from a collective state. Unlike terms for violent destruction, dialuō suggests a fading away or dispersal that occurs without necessarily implying force against the individuals involved.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we look at human movements, they often rise with great energy and promise. Yet history shows that gatherings built on temporary leadership or fleeting influence tend to scatter when that foundation cracks. The word dialuō captures this natural dispersal. It describes a group coming undone not through external force, but because the binding force holding them together has faded.
This offers a quiet comfort for our own lives. We may see plans fall apart or communities dissolve. Such moments do not always signal failure or divine punishment. Sometimes they simply reflect the temporary nature of human efforts that lack enduring spiritual roots. Trusting in God’s steady presence helps us navigate these transitions with peace rather than panic.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they were dispersed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διελύθησαν1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 5:36
For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing.
This verse illustrates how a movement led by Theudas naturally dissolved when its leader died, showing the word's sense of scattering without violent destruction.