Brief Overview of διασείω (G1286: diaseíō)

Word Details

• Transliteration: διασείω (diaseíō) [dee-ah-SAY-oh]
• Etymology: From the root words διά (G1223: diá) meaning through, thoroughly and σείω (G4579: seíō) meaning to shake, to agitate. The compound form suggests a vigorous or thorough shaking, often with an element of force or intensity.
• Part of Speech: Verb
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings

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• To shake violently or agitate: Refers to the act of shaking something or someone forcefully, causing disruption or disturbance.
• To shake down or extort: In a figurative sense, the term can imply the act of coercing or extorting something from someone, often through threats or intimidation.
• To disturb or unsettle: Can also imply causing emotional or mental agitation, leading to a state of unrest or anxiety.

Further Insights

• Person: Third person
• Number: Singular
• Tense: Present
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Indicative

Further Insights Explained:

• The word διασείω in this form is in the third person singular, present, active, indicative form. It would translate as “he/she/it shakes” or “he/she/it extorts.” The present tense indicates an ongoing action, the active voice shows that the subject is performing the action, and the indicative mood presents this as a statement of fact.

Disclaimer: The morphological details provided above are specific to the word διασείω in its present, active, indicative form. These details may change depending on the context and use within different sentences.

Lexicon Descriptions

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

• διασείω is defined as shaking or agitating violently. The term is often used in contexts where something is shaken thoroughly or disturbed forcefully, either literally or figuratively.
• Scripture References: Acts 16:26

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

• Thayer defines διασείω as meaning to shake violently, to agitate, or to cause to tremble. It highlights both the physical act of shaking and the figurative use of the term to describe coercion or extortion.
• Scripture References: Acts 16:26

Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

• Vine’s describes διασείω as to shake or agitate, with a particular emphasis on the intensity of the action. The term can be used in both a literal sense (shaking a physical object) and a metaphorical sense (shaking down or extorting someone).
• Scripture References: Acts 16:26

LSJ (Liddell, Scott, Jones):

• LSJ defines διασείω as to shake thoroughly or agitate, often with the implication of causing disruption or disturbance. It is used in various contexts, including physical shaking and the act of extortion or coercion.
• Scripture References: Acts 16:26

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:

• Strong’s defines διασείω as a compound word from διά (G1223: diá) and σείω (G4579: seíō), meaning to shake violently or to extort. It is used to describe the action of shaking or agitating something or someone with force, as well as the figurative act of extortion.
• Scripture References: Acts 16:26

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

• Herodotus, Histories: Herodotus uses διασείω to describe the shaking of the earth during an earthquake, emphasizing the force and intensity of the natural event.
• Plato, Phaedrus: Plato employs the term in a metaphorical sense to describe the shaking or unsettling of the soul when confronted with powerful emotions or ideas.
• Sophocles, Antigone: Sophocles uses διασείω to depict the act of coercing or extorting a character, highlighting the power dynamics and the forceful nature of the action.

Summary

διασείω (G1286: diaseíō) is a Greek verb that primarily means to shake violently, to agitate, or to extort. Derived from διά (through, thoroughly) and σείω (to shake, to agitate), the term emphasizes the intensity and forcefulness of the action. In the New Testament, διασείω is used in Acts 16:26 to describe the shaking of the prison during an earthquake, illustrating the power and disruption caused by the event. The word is also prevalent in classical Greek literature, where it is used to describe both literal shaking, such as in the context of natural disasters, and figurative shaking, such as in acts of extortion or coercion. Overall, διασείω highlights the concept of forceful disruption, whether in a physical, emotional, or social context, making it a significant term in understanding both ancient and biblical perspectives on agitation, disturbance, and coercion.