διόπερ (dioper)
dioper
for
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The conjunction dioper serves as an emphatic connector, translating roughly to "for this very reason" or "on account of which." It appears only twice in the New Testament, both within Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 8:13 and 10:14). The word combines a base meaning of cause with an intensifying particle, pushing the reader to pay close attention to the logical link between what was just said and what follows.
Paul uses this term to ground his ethical instructions in theological reality. In chapter eight, he argues that since food does not bring one closer to God, he will never eat meat again if it causes a fellow believer to stumble. The word signals that his personal sacrifice is the direct result of that specific concern for others. It is not merely a casual "because," but a strong assertion that the preceding principle demands this particular action.
Its rarity in Scripture highlights its function as a rhetorical pivot. When Paul employs dioper, he is drawing a sharp line from doctrine to behavior. The word forces the reader to see that the ethical choice is not optional but inevitable given the truth just established. It underscores the weight of Christian liberty, showing how freedom is bounded by love.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dioper acts as a strong bridge between what we believe and how we live. It means 'for this very reason,' linking truth directly to action. When Paul uses it, he shows that our beliefs must shape our daily choices.
In 1 Corinthians, this word connects the freedom of eating meat with the responsibility to love others. It reminds us that Christian liberty is not about doing whatever we want, but about protecting those who are weaker in faith. Our actions flow from our understanding of God's grace.
This connection invites us to examine our own lives. Do our choices build up or tear down? Dioper calls us to let love guide our freedom, ensuring that our actions reflect the care Christ has shown for us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Therefore,1×
- Therefore1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διόπερ1×
- Διόπερ,1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.
This verse uses dioper to link the theological truth of food's neutrality with the ethical decision to abstain, showing that love for a brother overrides personal rights.
-
I Corinthians 10:14
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Here, dioper connects the previous warnings about idolatry and divine judgment to the urgent command to flee, emphasizing that the danger makes avoidance necessary.