Brief Overview of διδάσκω (G1321: didáskō)

Word Details

• Transliteration: διδάσκω (didáskō) [dee-DAS-ko]
• Etymology: Derived from the root word διδάσκαλος (G1320: didáskalos), which means teacher. The verb διδάσκω signifies the action associated with teaching or instructing.
• Part of Speech: Verb
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings

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• To Teach: The primary sense of διδάσκω is to impart knowledge or skills to others. It involves instructing, educating, or providing guidance in a formal or informal setting.
• To Instruct: Emphasizes the process of delivering information or knowledge in a systematic way.
• To Explain: In some contexts, διδάσκω can also mean to make something clear or understandable by giving detailed information or instruction.
• To Train: In a broader sense, it can involve not only teaching but also training someone in a particular skill or discipline.

Further Insights

• Person: First person, Second person, Third person
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Tense: Present, Imperfect, Future, Aorist, Perfect, Pluperfect
• Voice: Active, Middle, Passive
• Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative, Optative, Infinitive, Participle
• Aspect: Imperfective (continuous), Perfective (simple), Stative (resulting state)

Further Insights Explained:

• διδάσκω is a versatile verb used in various forms throughout the New Testament and classical literature. It can appear in different persons (first, second, third), numbers (singular, plural), and tenses (present, past, future), depending on the context of the sentence. The verb also shifts between active, middle, and passive voices, indicating whether the subject is performing the action, receiving the action, or experiencing the action as a state. Additionally, it can appear in different moods, showing whether the action is a statement of fact (indicative), a command (imperative), a wish or potential (optative), or a condition (subjunctive).

Disclaimer: The morphological details provided above reflect the general use of διδάσκω as a verb. The word’s specific form and function may vary depending on its context within a sentence.

Lexicon Descriptions

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

• διδάσκω is defined as to teach or instruct, particularly in the context of imparting religious, moral, or intellectual knowledge. It is often used in the New Testament to describe the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ and His disciples.
• Scripture References: Matthew 4:23, Mark 6:2, John 7:14

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

• Thayer describes διδάσκω as meaning to teach or to give instruction. The term is frequently used in the Gospels and Acts to describe the teaching activity of Jesus and the Apostles. It also appears in the Epistles, where it often refers to the instruction of the early Christian communities.
• Scripture References: Matthew 4:23, Mark 6:2, John 7:14

Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

• Vine’s explains that διδάσκω refers to teaching or instruction, with a focus on the content of what is being taught. It emphasizes the role of teaching in the communication of truth and the transmission of doctrine within the Christian faith.
• Scripture References: Matthew 4:23, Mark 6:2, John 7:14

LSJ (Liddell, Scott, Jones):

• LSJ defines διδάσκω as to teach or instruct, particularly in an educational or didactic context. The term is used in both classical and biblical Greek to describe the process of imparting knowledge or skills through instruction.
• Scripture References: Matthew 4:23, Mark 6:2, John 7:14

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:

• Strong’s defines διδάσκω as a verb meaning to teach or instruct, derived from the noun διδάσκαλος (G1320: didáskalos). The term is used extensively in the New Testament to describe the teaching activities of Jesus, the Apostles, and other Christian leaders.
• Scripture References: Matthew 4:23, Mark 6:2, John 7:14

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

• Plato, Meno: Plato uses διδάσκω to describe the process of teaching virtue and knowledge, emphasizing the role of the teacher in guiding the learner toward truth.
• Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics: Aristotle employs the term in discussions about moral education, where διδάσκω is used to describe the instruction of ethical principles and the cultivation of virtuous habits.
• Homer, Iliad: In Homer’s Iliad, διδάσκω is used in a more general sense to describe the training of warriors in the skills of battle, highlighting the role of instruction in preparing individuals for their duties.

Summary

διδάσκω (G1321: didáskō) is a Greek verb that primarily means to teach, instruct, or impart knowledge. Derived from διδάσκαλος (teacher), it captures the essence of the teaching process, whether in a formal educational setting or in the context of religious instruction. In the New Testament, διδάσκω is frequently used to describe the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ, as well as the instructional activities of the Apostles and early Christian leaders (Matthew 4:23, Mark 6:2, John 7:14). The term also appears in classical Greek literature, where it is used to describe various forms of teaching, from moral education to the training of warriors. Overall, διδάσκω is a foundational term for understanding the role of teaching and instruction in both religious and secular contexts.