διοπετής (diopetēs)
diopetēs
fallen from heaven
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective diopetēs describes something that has fallen from heaven, specifically referring to a sacred image believed to have descended from the sky rather than being made by human hands. In Acts 19:35, it modifies the statue of Artemis in Ephesus, which the city clerk cites as proof of the goddess’s greatness because it was not crafted by human artistry but fell from Zeus himself.
The word combines terms for "god" and "fallen," emphasizing a divine origin. This distinction mattered deeply in the ancient world, where such objects were often treated as tangible evidence of a deity’s presence and favor. The term highlights how physical artifacts could serve as powerful symbols of religious authority and local identity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word diopetēs means "fallen from heaven." In Acts 19:35, it describes a statue of Artemis that Ephesians believed came directly from Zeus. This object was not made by human hands but was seen as a divine gift. Such items held great power in the ancient world, serving as proof of a god's presence and favor.
For us today, this word highlights how people seek tangible signs of the sacred. While we do not rely on physical idols for our faith, the story reminds us that true worship is found in relationship with God rather than objects. It invites us to look beyond visible symbols to the spiritual reality behind them.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- fallen from the sky?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διοπετοῦς;1×
Key Verses
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Acts 19:35
When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
This verse uses diopetēs to describe the Artemis statue as a divine object that fell from Zeus, distinguishing it from human-made idols.