διατηρέω (diatēreō)
diatēreō
to keep
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb diatēreō means to keep something safely or carefully over time. It combines a prefix suggesting thoroughness with a root meaning to watch or guard. This word appears only twice in the New Testament, creating a focused emphasis on sustained protection rather than a single act of holding.
In Luke 2:51, Mary is described as keeping these events in her heart after Jesus’ childhood incident in the temple. Here, the sense is internal and reflective; she preserves the memory with care. In Acts 15:29, the Jerusalem council instructs Gentile believers to keep themselves from certain practices. This usage shifts to external conduct, implying a vigilant adherence to moral boundaries.
The distinction lies in the scope of preservation. Whether guarding an inner truth or maintaining outer purity, the word implies a continuous, attentive effort. It suggests that what is valuable requires ongoing vigilance to remain intact, whether it is a spiritual insight or a community standard.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word diatēreō reminds us that faithfulness is often a quiet, ongoing practice rather than a single dramatic event. In Luke’s Gospel, Mary keeps Jesus’ early words in her heart, holding them with care as they shape her understanding of who He is. This suggests that spiritual growth involves gathering moments of grace and letting them settle deep within us over time.
Similarly, the early church used this same term to describe how believers should guard their conduct. It was not about rigid rule-keeping for its own sake, but about protecting the community’s unity and witness by avoiding practices that would cause harm or division. Whether we are preserving truth in our minds or maintaining integrity in our actions, the call is the same: attend to what matters with steady care.
This gentle vigilance invites us to slow down and notice where God is placing things of value in our lives. It might be a promise from Scripture, a lesson learned through hardship, or a standard of love that requires daily choice. We are not asked to achieve perfection, but simply to keep watch over what has been entrusted to us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- was treasuring up1×
- keeping1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διετήρει1×
- διατηροῦντες1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 2:51
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Mary’s act of keeping these sayings in her heart shows how internal reflection preserves spiritual truth for future understanding.
-
Acts 15:29
that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
The Jerusalem council uses this word to urge Gentile believers to maintain moral boundaries that protect community unity and witness.