διαπρίω (diapriō)
diapriō
be furious
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb diapriō literally means to saw through or cut asunder, using a saw to divide material. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in the book of Acts, where it is used metaphorically to describe an intense emotional reaction. It conveys being "cut to the heart" or driven to fury by what is heard.
This vivid image captures the sudden, sharp pain of anger and envy. In Acts 5:33, the Sanhedrin members are described as being cut to the quick after hearing Peter’s bold testimony, leading them to plot his death. Similarly, in Acts 7:54, the crowd becomes enraged at Stephen’s speech. The word suggests that their minds were rent by vexation, transforming intellectual disagreement into violent hostility.
Its rarity highlights the specific intensity of the moment. Translators often render it as "were furious" or "cut to the heart," emphasizing that this was not mere annoyance but a deep, visceral reaction that threatened to tear the community apart. The physical act of sawing serves as a powerful metaphor for how truth can provoke such sharp, defensive anger.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we stand for truth, especially in ways that challenge powerful systems or popular opinions, the reaction can be sharp and painful. The Greek word diapriō paints a vivid picture of this experience: it literally means to saw through something, describing a force so intense it feels like being cut to the quick. In Acts 5 and 7, religious leaders heard the apostles preach about Jesus and reacted with such fury that they wanted to kill them. This word captures the visceral sting of opposition when our witness threatens established comfort or authority.
Understanding this helps us prepare for times when our faith is met with hostility rather than curiosity. It reminds us that standing firm in Christ often invites strong resistance, not because we are wrong, but because the truth exposes what people prefer to keep hidden. When you face sharp criticism or envy, remember that even the apostles encountered this level of anger. You are not alone in feeling the sting of opposition.
This reality offers a strange comfort. It shows that faithful witness has weight and consequence. Instead of shrinking back from difficult conversations, we can trust that God is present even in the heat of conflict. The same Spirit who empowered Peter and Stephen to speak boldly is available to you, giving you grace to endure the sawing pain of opposition without returning hate for hate.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they felt cut up2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διεπρίοντο2×
Key Verses
-
Acts 5:33
But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.
This verse shows how the Sanhedrin's intellectual disagreement over Peter's testimony quickly turned into a violent desire to execute him, illustrating the word's link to lethal envy.
-
Acts 7:54
Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
Here the crowd's reaction escalates from fury to physical aggression, gnashing their teeth at Stephen, which highlights the loss of self-control that accompanies this intense anger.