διανύω (dianuō)
dianuō
to continue
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb dianuō means to bring something to a full conclusion or to complete an action entirely. It carries a sense of finality, describing the act of finishing a task or journey so that nothing remains undone. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Acts 21:7, where the disciples urge Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
The context reveals its specific weight: they plead with him through their tears and spirit-led warnings, wanting to prevent him from completing his journey to the capital. Here, dianuō does not merely mean to travel, but to carry out the course of action to its end. The word emphasizes the totality of the completion, marking the boundary between what is in progress and what is fully accomplished.
Its etymology combines a prefix suggesting intensity or thoroughness with a root meaning to effect or do. This structure reinforces the idea that the action is not just started but brought to its proper close. Translators typically render it as "finish" or "complete," capturing the decisive nature of the verb in this singular biblical usage.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dianuō carries a sense of bringing a journey or task to its true end. It is not just about stopping, but about reaching the full measure of what was started. In Acts 21:7, we see this when Paul and his companions finish their voyage from Tyre. The text notes they arrived at Ptolemais after completing that leg of the trip.
This word reminds us that our spiritual walks have destinations. God calls us to run the race set before us with purpose. When we feel weary, we can trust that He brings every good work to completion. It is a promise that nothing we do in Him is wasted or left unfinished.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having completed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διανύσαντες1×
Key Verses
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Acts 21:7
When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day.
This verse uses the word to mark the specific moment the travelers completed their sea journey from Tyre, highlighting the finality of that leg of Paul's mission.