ἐπιδιατάσσομαι (epidiatassomai)
epidiatassomai
to add to
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb epidiatassomai means to add provisions or stipulations to a legal document, specifically a will or covenant. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Galatians 3:15, where Paul uses it as a legal analogy to explain how human agreements work. The word combines a prefix meaning "upon" with a root related to arranging or ordering, suggesting the act of supplementing an existing arrangement.
Paul’s usage highlights that once a covenant is ratified, no one can add to it or revoke its terms. This rare term underscores the finality and stability of divine promises. By choosing this specific legal language, Paul argues that God’s promise to Abraham cannot be nullified by later laws, just as a human will cannot be altered after it is sealed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Galatians 3:15, Paul uses a legal term meaning 'to add to' in order to explain the stability of God's promises. He compares divine covenants to human wills or agreements. Once these documents are ratified, no one can change their terms or add new conditions.
This word reminds us that God’s commitment to us is secure. Unlike human contracts that might be amended over time, His promise stands firm. We do not need to worry about adding extra requirements to earn His love. Instead, we rest in the fact that His grace is complete and unchangeable.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- adds thereto.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπιδιατάσσεται.1×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 3:15
Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it.
Paul uses this specific legal term to argue that once God's covenant was confirmed, no additional laws or conditions could be added to it.