διάστημα (diastēma)
diastēma
interval
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun diastēma refers to a distinct interval or space, whether measured in time or physical distance. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 5:7, describing the pause between Peter’s questioning of Ananias and his wife Sapphira.
Its root verb, histēmi, means "to stand," so diastēma literally signifies a standing apart or a gap created by that separation. In this narrative, the brief interval highlights the tension and silence before the judgment falls, emphasizing the weight of the moment rather than just the passage of minutes.
Translators typically render it as "interval" or "space," capturing the pause that separates two significant actions. This usage underscores how Scripture often uses physical concepts like distance to describe spiritual realities, where a moment of silence can carry profound consequence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word diastēma describes a distinct interval or space, whether measured in time or physical distance. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 5:7, describing the pause between Peter’s questioning of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. Its root verb, histēmi, means "to stand," so diastēma literally signifies a standing apart or a gap created by that separation.
In this narrative, the brief interval highlights the tension and silence before the judgment falls, emphasizing the weight of the moment rather than just the passage of minutes. Translators typically render it as "interval" or "space," capturing the pause that separates two significant actions. This usage underscores how Scripture often uses physical concepts like distance to describe spiritual realities, where a moment of silence can carry profound consequence.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God sees the heart in every moment, even the pauses. When you face difficult decisions or moments of silence, remember that God is present in those intervals. He uses them to reveal truth and bring about His purposes. Trust in His timing, knowing that He works even in the spaces between events.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- afterward1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διάστημα1×
Key Verses
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Acts 5:7
About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.
This verse captures the tense silence before judgment, showing how a brief pause can carry profound spiritual weight.