Understanding διασκορπίζω (diaskorpizō) Strong’s G1287: The Powerful Act of Scattering That Reveals Divine Providence and Human Stewardship

Pronunciation Guide: dee-as-kor-PID-zoh (with emphasis on the third syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1287: Διασκορπίζω (diaskorpizō) fundamentally means “to scatter abroad, disperse, or distribute widely.” It carries the sense of thoroughly separating or scattering things that were previously together. In biblical contexts, it often describes the act of dispersing people, possessions, or resources, either in a positive sense (as in generous distribution) or a negative sense (as in wasteful squandering or destructive scattering).

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Components: Compound of διά (dia, “through, thoroughly”) + σκορπίζω (skorpizō, “to scatter”)
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Found in narrative sections and parables in the Gospels
• Tense Forms: Appears in present, future, aorist, and perfect forms
• Voice: Active and passive

Διασκορπίζω Morphology:

• διασκορπίζω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I scatter
• διασκορπίζεις (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you scatter
• διασκορπίζει (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it scatters
• διεσκόρπισα (aorist active indicative, 1st person singular) – I scattered
• διεσκορπίσθησαν (aorist passive indicative, 3rd person plural) – they were scattered
• διεσκορπισμένος (perfect passive participle) – having been scattered

Origin & History

The term διασκορπίζω emerges from classical Greek usage where it primarily denoted literal scattering or dispersing of physical objects. In works such as Xenophon’s “Anabasis,” the term describes the dispersion of troops across terrain. Its compound structure intensifies the action—the prefix διά (dia) adds thoroughness to the base verb σκορπίζω (skorpizō), emphasizing complete or thorough scattering.

In the Septuagint (LXX), διασκορπίζω gained theological significance, often translating Hebrew terms related to God’s judgment upon Israel through exile and dispersion among the nations. For instance, in Ezekiel 22:15, the prophet uses this term to describe God’s scattering of Israel among the nations as discipline. The early Church Fathers, particularly Chrysostom in his homilies, expanded on this concept to include spiritual implications of how sin “scatters” one’s spiritual focus away from God, while God’s mercy can “scatter” or disperse our transgressions.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To scatter abroad – Dispersing people or things widely from a central location
• To distribute liberally – Giving generously to various recipients
• To squander or waste – Using resources inappropriately or carelessly
• To winnow or separate – Dividing as in agricultural contexts
• To disperse in judgment – God’s act of scattering people as discipline

Διασκορπίζω Translation Options:

• Scatter – Most literal translation capturing the physical spreading out of objects or people
• Disperse – More formal option emphasizing systematic distribution across a wider area
• Distribute – Best when the context involves sharing resources or wealth among many
• Squander – Appropriate when the context implies wasteful misuse, as in the Prodigal Son parable
• Winnow – Suitable in agricultural contexts where separation is implied

Biblical Usage

Διασκορπίζω appears in pivotal moments throughout the New Testament, often in contexts that reveal both divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Its first appearance in Matthew 25:24 occurs in the Parable of the Talents, where the unfaithful servant accuses his master: “I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered [διασκορπίζω] no seed.” This mischaracterization reveals the servant’s flawed understanding of his master’s character and generosity.

In the Gospels, the term takes on particular significance in Jesus’ parables about stewardship. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:13), the younger son “scattered [διασκορπίζω] his substance with riotous living,” illustrating wasteful misuse of inherited wealth. Conversely, in Luke 1:51, Mary’s Magnificat uses the term to describe God’s sovereign action: “He has scattered [διασκορπίζω] the proud in the imagination of their hearts,” demonstrating divine judgment.

Significant verses using διασκορπίζω include:

• “I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered [διασκορπίζω] no seed.” Matthew 25:24
• “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there scattered [διασκορπίζω] his substance with riotous living.” Luke 15:13
• “He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered [διασκορπίζω] the proud in the imagination of their hearts.” Luke 1:51
• “He that is not with Me is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me scatters [διασκορπίζω].” Luke 11:23
• “He that scatters [διασκορπίζω] has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:9
• “Behold, the hour comes, and now is come, that you shall be scattered [διασκορπίζω], every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone.” John 16:32
• “Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters [διασκορπίζω] it.” John 10:12

Cultural Insights

In the agricultural society of ancient Israel, the concept of scattering had profound daily significance through the practice of seed sowing. Unlike modern precision farming, ancient sowing involved broadcast scattering of seed across plowed fields—a deliberate “διασκορπίζω” that was necessary for harvest. The farmer would carry seed in a pouch and cast it widely with a sweeping motion of the arm. This method ensured wide coverage but resulted in some seed landing on paths, rocky ground, or among thorns, precisely as Jesus described in His parable of the sower.

This cultural practice illuminates Jesus’ use of διασκορπίζω in His parables. It reveals an important paradox: proper scattering leads to multiplication, while improper scattering leads to loss. In ancient Jewish thought, this agricultural metaphor extended to spiritual concepts. The rabbis often spoke of “scattering the Torah” as a metaphor for teaching widely, believing that divine truth, like seed, should be liberally dispersed rather than hoarded. This provides important context for understanding Jesus’ severe criticism of those who “scatter” the flock rather than gathering it (Luke 11:23)—He was drawing on established cultural imagery that His audience would immediately recognize.

Theological Significance

Διασκορπίζω reveals profound theological truths about both divine sovereignty and human responsibility. When attributed to God, as in Luke 1:51 where He “scatters the proud,” it demonstrates Yahweh’s sovereign authority to judge and His opposition to human pride. This echoes numerous Old Testament passages where God’s scattering of peoples (particularly Israel in exile) served both as judgment and as a means of ultimately extending His knowledge throughout the nations. The scattering was never the final word—it was always preliminary to a future gathering.

The term also illuminates the nature of spiritual stewardship. In the Parable of the Talents, the unfaithful servant mischaracterizes his master as one who “scatters” where he has not sown—ironically revealing his own failure to properly “scatter” (invest) what he had been entrusted with. This teaches us that God expects a proper “scattering” of our resources, talents, and spiritual gifts—not hoarding but generous distribution that produces multiplication. This principle reaches its fullest expression in 2 Corinthians 9:9, where Paul cites Psalm 112:9 about the righteous who “have scattered abroad, they have given to the poor.” Here, διασκορπίζω becomes the very definition of godly generosity that reflects the character of our infinitely generous Creator, who liberally scatters His blessings throughout creation.

Personal Application

Understanding διασκορπίζω challenges us to examine our own approach to God’s blessings in our lives. Are we “scattering” what we’ve been given in ways that honor the Master, or are we hoarding out of fear like the unfaithful servant? The paradox of the kingdom is that we must scatter to gather—give to receive, sow to reap. Our time, talents, resources, and spiritual gifts are not meant to be safeguarded but generously distributed.

This concept applies not only to material possessions but to every blessing we’ve received: knowledge, wisdom, encouragement, forgiveness, and love. When we withhold these, believing we’re protecting ourselves, we actually diminish what we have. But when we scatter them widely and generously, we participate in God’s economy of abundance. As you reflect on areas where you might be clinging too tightly to what God has given you, ask: “What blessing am I holding back that should be scattered abroad for His glory?” Remember, in God’s kingdom, proper scattering doesn’t deplete—it multiplies.

Related Words

• σπείρω (speirō, “to sow”) – Focuses specifically on the sowing of seed, whereas διασκορπίζω has broader applications to any form of scattering. Both share agricultural imagery but σπείρω emphasizes the purposeful act of planting for future growth. See G4687
• λικμάω (likmaō, “to winnow”) – Refers specifically to the agricultural process of winnowing grain, separating wheat from chaff by tossing it into the air. While διασκορπίζω can describe general scattering, λικμάω specifically implies judgment and separation. See G3039
• διασπείρω (diaspeirō, “to disperse”) – Used specifically of people being scattered due to persecution in Acts. While similar to διασκορπίζω, it carries a stronger sense of forced dispersion and is the root of the term “diaspora.” See G1289
• σκορπίζω (skorpizō, “to scatter”) – The root verb from which διασκορπίζω is derived. It has the same basic meaning but lacks the intensification that the διά prefix provides. See G4650
• διαμερίζω (diamerizō, “to divide, distribute”) – Emphasizes division or distribution of items among people, whereas διασκορπίζω emphasizes the act of spreading things widely. See G1266

Did you Know?

• Did you know? The concept of “scattering” in ancient Jewish thought had a particularly strong connection to exile. The Hebrew term for diaspora (גָּלוּת, galut) was regularly translated using forms of διασκορπίζω in the Septuagint. This created a powerful theological framework where the Jewish people understood their historical dispersions as divinely orchestrated events with redemptive purpose. Jesus’ prediction that His disciples would be “scattered” (διασκορπίζω) in John 16:32 would have evoked this entire theological framework, suggesting a temporary dispersion that would ultimately serve God’s greater redemptive purpose.
• Did you know? In ancient Mediterranean agricultural practices, the concept of “scattering” (διασκορπίζω) was paradoxically connected to careful stewardship. While modern readers might associate scattering with carelessness, ancient farmers had developed highly skilled techniques for broadcast sowing that maximized germination despite the seemingly random distribution. Experienced sowers knew exactly how to cast the seed with calculated movements that appeared random but actually achieved optimal coverage. This skill illuminates why the unfaithful servant’s accusation that his master “scattered where he had not sown” was not only disrespectful but revealed the servant’s ignorance about true stewardship.
• Did you know? The imagery of διασκορπίζω appears in modern Greek Orthodox liturgy in a fascinating way. During the Divine Liturgy, at the moment of preparing the Eucharistic bread (the prosphora), the priest cuts it into pieces while reciting from Isaiah 53:7: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.” This ritual “scattering” or breaking of the bread symbolizes Christ’s body being broken for many, connecting the concept of διασκορπίζω to Christ’s sacrificial distribution of Himself for humanity’s salvation—transforming what could be seen as a negative breaking into the ultimate act of divine generosity.

Remember This

Διασκορπίζω reminds us that in God’s kingdom economy, proper scattering is never wasteful—it is the very means by which multiplication occurs, turning apparent loss into abundant gain through the mysterious power of divine providence.