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διαμερισμός (diamerismos)

diamerismos

division

G1267 · Greek · New Testament · 1 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
1 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The noun diamerismos describes a sharp division or disunion, carrying the sense of things being split apart into hostile parts. It appears only once in the New Testament, found in Luke 12:51 where Jesus clarifies that His mission brings not universal peace, but a dividing line between those who accept His message and those who reject it.

Its root verb means to divide or distribute thoroughly, suggesting a complete separation rather than a minor disagreement. The sources note that this word stands in direct opposition to eirēnē (peace), highlighting a state of active discord or hostility. This usage reflects the social fractures Jesus’ presence would cause within families and communities.

Translators typically render it as "division" or "discord," capturing the tension inherent in the term. The single occurrence emphasizes that spiritual allegiance can create deep rifts, turning what might be expected as harmony into a profound split. This word underscores the costly nature of following Christ in a world resistant to His authority.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word diamerismos describes a sharp division or disunion, carrying the sense of things being split apart into hostile parts. It appears only once in the New Testament, found in Luke 12:51 where Jesus clarifies that His mission brings not universal peace, but a dividing line between those who accept His message and those who reject it.

Its root verb means to divide or distribute thoroughly, suggesting a complete separation rather than a minor disagreement. The sources note that this word stands in direct opposition to eirēnē (peace), highlighting a state of active discord or hostility. This usage reflects the social fractures Jesus’ presence would cause within families and communities.

Translators typically render it as "division" or "discord," capturing the tension inherent in the term. The single occurrence emphasizes that spiritual allegiance can create deep rifts, turning what might be expected as harmony into a profound split. This word underscores the costly nature of following Christ in a world resistant to His authority.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • division.1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • διαμερισμόν.1×

Key Verses

  • Luke 12:51
    Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.

    Jesus uses this rare noun to correct the expectation of universal peace, indicating that His arrival creates a definitive split between acceptance and rejection of His message.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does diamerismos mean in the Bible?

Diamerismos is a Greek noun that means division or disunion. It describes a sharp split where things are separated into hostile parts, rather than a minor disagreement.

Where does this word appear in the New Testament?

It appears only once, in Luke 12:51. Jesus uses it to explain that His mission brings a dividing line between those who accept Him and those who reject Him.

How is diamerismos different from eirēnē?

While eirēnē means peace or harmony, diamerismos represents the opposite: active discord and separation. The word highlights the social fractures that can result from spiritual allegiance.

Every Occurrence (1 verses across 1 books)