Brief Overview of διαπονέομαι (G1278: diaponéomai)

Word Details

• Transliteration: διαπονέομαι (diaponéomai) [dee-ah-po-NEH-oh-my]
• Etymology: From the root words διά (G1223: diá) meaning through, by means of and πονέω (G4192: ponéō) meaning to labor, to toil, to suffer. The middle-passive form emphasizes the experience or endurance of labor or suffering.
• Part of Speech: Verb (Middle/Passive voice)
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings

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• To endure great labor: To go through significant toil or hard work, often implying a strenuous effort.
• To suffer or be distressed: To experience suffering, hardship, or pain, whether physical or emotional.
• To be in toil or trouble: Indicates being in a state of ongoing difficulty or laborious activity.

Further Insights

• Person: First person
• Number: Singular
• Tense: Present
• Voice: Middle/Passive
• Mood: Indicative

Further Insights Explained:

• The word διαπονέομαι is in the first person singular form in the present tense, middle/passive voice, and indicative mood. In this form, it can be translated as “I endure great labor” or “I suffer.” The middle/passive voice indicates that the subject is experiencing the action upon themselves or participating in it reflexively, highlighting a personal involvement in the suffering or labor.

Disclaimer: The morphological details provided above reflect the word διαπονέομαι in its specific form. These details may change depending on its use in different contexts or sentence structures.

Lexicon Descriptions

BDAG (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich):

• διαπονέομαι is described as enduring significant toil or hardship. It can refer to both physical labor and emotional or mental distress, emphasizing the experience of intense effort or suffering.
• Scripture References: Acts 17:16

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

• Thayer defines διαπονέομαι as meaning to labor or toil with difficulty, or to suffer greatly. This word highlights the experience of hardship or pain, often with a focus on the ongoing nature of the struggle.
• Scripture References: Acts 17:16

Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

• Vine’s explains διαπονέομαι as to labor or suffer intensely, especially in situations where the suffering is prolonged or particularly strenuous. The word is used to describe deep emotional or physical distress.
• Scripture References: Acts 17:16

LSJ (Liddell, Scott, Jones):

• LSJ defines διαπονέομαι as to labor, toil, or suffer, particularly with an emphasis on enduring hardship. It often conveys the sense of being burdened by or struggling with difficult circumstances.
• Scripture References: Acts 17:16

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:

• Strong’s defines διαπονέομαι as a compound word from διά (G1223: diá) and πονέω (G4192: ponéō), meaning to labor or suffer intensely. It is used to describe the action of enduring great difficulty, whether in the form of labor, suffering, or emotional distress.
• Scripture References: Acts 17:16

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

• Homer, Iliad: Homer uses διαπονέομαι to describe the suffering of warriors on the battlefield, where they endure not only physical pain but also emotional and psychological turmoil.
• Sophocles, Antigone: Sophocles employs the term to convey the intense emotional suffering of characters facing moral dilemmas and tragic outcomes, highlighting the mental and emotional toll of their decisions.
• Plato, Republic: Plato uses διαπονέομαι in a philosophical context to discuss the toil and struggle involved in the pursuit of truth and justice, emphasizing the difficulty and labor inherent in such endeavors.

Summary

διαπονέομαι (G1278: diaponéomai) is a Greek verb that primarily means to endure great labor, suffer, or be distressed. Derived from διά (through, by means of) and πονέω (to labor, to toil), the term highlights the experience of intense effort, suffering, or hardship, often with a focus on the ongoing or enduring nature of the struggle. In the New Testament, διαπονέομαι is used to describe emotional or spiritual distress, as seen in Acts 17:16. The word is also prevalent in classical Greek literature, where it appears in contexts involving physical labor, emotional suffering, and philosophical toil. Overall, διαπονέομαι is a term that underscores the human experience of enduring hardship, whether through physical labor, emotional distress, or intellectual struggle, making it a key concept in understanding both ancient and biblical perspectives on suffering and perseverance.