Understanding διΐστημι (diistēmi) Strong’s G1339: The Divine Separation that Reveals Time’s Significance in God’s Sovereign Plan

Pronunciation Guide: dee-IS-tay-mee

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1339: διΐστημι (diistēmi) fundamentally means “to set apart, to separate by placing between, to put asunder.” It conveys the concept of creating distance or interval, whether physical, temporal, or metaphorical. The term emphasizes the intentional nature of separation, often with purpose or design behind the placing of distance between objects, people, or moments in time.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Verb
• Root components: διά (dia, “through, across”) + ἵστημι (histēmi, “to stand, to place”)
• Language origin: Classical Greek
• Primary usage: Narrative sections, particularly in Luke-Acts
• Compound verb formation combining the preposition διά (implying “through” or “between”) with the common verb ἵστημι (“to stand” or “to place”)

διΐστημι Morphology:

• διΐστημι (present active indicative) – I separate, put apart
• διίστησι(ν) (3rd person singular present) – he/she/it separates
• διέστη (aorist active indicative) – he/she/it stood apart, separated
• διεστώς (perfect active participle) – having been separated, standing apart
• διαστήσας (aorist active participle) – having separated

Origin & History

The word διΐστημι has ancient roots in classical Greek, where it originally described the physical act of placing objects at a distance from each other. In early Greek literature, including Xenophon’s “Cyropaedia” and Plato’s “Timaeus,” the word was used to describe tactical military formations and philosophical concepts of spatial arrangements. The term carried connotations of deliberate organization and purposeful arrangement of elements.

In the Septuagint (LXX), διΐστημι appears sparingly, notably in 2 Maccabees 14:28 where it describes Nicanor “withdrawing himself” from Judas, indicating a deliberate distancing. This usage bridges the classical meaning to its New Testament applications. The early church fathers, particularly Origen in his “Commentary on John,” expanded the term’s application to include spiritual separation and the divine ordering of time intervals, reflecting an understanding that God’s timing involves purposeful periods of waiting and separation.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To create distance or separate physically between two objects or people
• To make a temporal division, creating an interval of time
• To withdraw oneself, to stand apart from others
• To establish distinct categories or divisions
• To cause division or discord (in rare contexts)

διΐστημι Translation Options:

• “To separate” – emphasizes the action of dividing or creating distance between things that were previously together
• “To put an interval between” – highlights the temporal aspect, especially appropriate when discussing periods of time
• “To withdraw” – best used when the subject is removing themselves from a situation (middle voice usage)
• “To stand apart” – captures the perfective aspect (διεστώς) where separation has been completed
• “To place asunder” – conveys the deliberate nature of the separation, with emphasis on the agent causing the separation

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, διΐστημι appears most prominently in Luke’s writings. Its first appearance in Luke 22:59 describes a temporal interval: “About an hour later [διαστάσης ὡσεὶ ὥρας μιᾶς], still another insisted, ‘Certainly this man was with Him, for he is a Galilean.'” Here, the term indicates a purposeful passage of time in the narrative of Peter’s denial, highlighting the deliberate way Luke structures his account of this pivotal moment.

The word carries significant narrative weight in Luke-Acts, where it often marks important transitions or intervals in the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan. Luke uses διΐστημι to indicate not just the passage of time but the theological significance of divinely appointed intervals. This reflects the Hebraic understanding of time as qualitative (kairos) rather than merely quantitative (chronos).

• “And after about one hour had passed [διαστάσης ὡσεὶ ὥρας μιᾶς], another confidently affirmed, ‘Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.'” Luke 22:59
• “And when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near [διάστημα] Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.” Acts 1:9-12
• “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?’… And after an interval [διάστημα] of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.” Acts 5:1-3, 7

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Near Eastern world, the concept of time differed significantly from our modern, linear understanding. For Hebrew thought, time was viewed as cyclical and event-oriented rather than strictly chronological. The use of διΐστημι in Luke-Acts reflects this cultural perspective, where intervals of time were not merely empty waiting periods but purposeful seasons ordained by God for spiritual preparation or divine intervention.

The specific mention of “about an hour” in Luke 22:59 carries cultural significance beyond mere chronology. In Roman culture, which influenced Luke’s Gentile audience, the day was divided into twelve hours from sunrise to sunset, making an “hour” a flexible unit dependent on the season. This flexibility reinforces that Luke was less concerned with exact chronometry and more with conveying the theological significance of the interval. Peter’s third denial coming after this διΐστημι (interval) emphasizes the deliberate nature of the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy about the three denials before the rooster crowed.

Additionally, the concept of “a Sabbath day’s journey” mentioned in connection with διάστημα in Acts 1:12 reflects Jewish halakhic (legal) limitations on travel during the Sabbath, approximately 2,000 cubits or just under one kilometer. This precise measurement demonstrates how the concept of separation and distance was intricately woven into Jewish religious observance, with boundaries deliberately established to honor God’s commandments.

Theological Significance

The theological implications of διΐστημι extend far beyond mere chronological markers. When Luke employs this term, he invites us to consider divine purpose in separation and intervals. The distance created—whether temporal, spatial, or relational—often serves as preparation for a significant act of God. This reflects the biblical pattern of divine timing, where God frequently institutes periods of waiting before significant revelations or interventions.

In Luke 22:59, the hour that “stood between” (διαστάσης) Peter’s denials reveals God’s sovereignty even amidst human failure. The precise fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy about Peter’s denials demonstrates that even in moments of human weakness, God’s purposes unfold according to His perfect timing. The διΐστημι here serves as a poignant reminder that no moment falls outside God’s redemptive plan—even our failures occur within the framework of His foreknowledge and redemptive purpose.

Similarly, in Acts, the intervals marked by forms of διΐστημι often precede significant spiritual developments. The three-hour gap before Sapphira’s arrival in Acts 5:7 demonstrates God’s patience in giving opportunity for repentance while also emphasizing the deliberate nature of divine judgment. Through these carefully placed intervals, we glimpse Yahweh’s character as both patient and just, orchestrating time itself to accomplish His redemptive purposes and to reveal the hearts of His people.

Personal Application

Understanding διΐστημι challenges us to reconsider our perspective on the intervals in our lives—those seasons of waiting or separation that often feel purposeless. Rather than viewing these times as empty delays, we can recognize them as divinely appointed spaces where God is often doing His deepest work. Just as the hour between Peter’s denials was part of God’s redemptive plan, the intervals in our lives may be preparation for deeper revelation or significant spiritual growth.

When we experience separation—whether from loved ones, from desired outcomes, or from clear understanding of God’s purposes—we can draw comfort from the knowledge that διΐστημι is often God’s method rather than His absence. The Messiah Jesus Himself experienced the ultimate separation on the cross, crying out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” Yet this terrible διΐστημι became the means of our reconciliation. As you walk through seasons of waiting or separation, consider asking: “What might God be preparing through this interval? How might this διΐστημι be serving His greater purposes in my life and in the world?”

Related Words

• χωρίζω (chōrizō, “to separate, divide, depart”) – While διΐστημι often emphasizes the space or interval created, χωρίζω focuses more on the act of division itself, particularly in contexts of separation between people or things previously united. It’s commonly used for marital separation in the New Testament. See G5563
• μερίζω (merizō, “to divide, distribute, assign”) – Related to διΐστημι in the concept of division, but μερίζω typically involves dividing something into portions for distribution rather than creating distance or interval. It often carries connotations of apportionment or allocation. See G3307
• διάστημα (diastēma, “interval, distance”) – The noun form derived from διΐστημι, specifically referring to the space or interval created by separation. While διΐστημι emphasizes the act of separating, διάστημα focuses on the resulting gap or interval itself. See G1292
• διαχωρίζω (diachōrizō, “to separate completely”) – A more intensive form of separation than διΐστημι, emphasizing complete or thorough division. While διΐστημι may indicate temporary or partial separation, διαχωρίζω suggests more definitive division. See G1339
• ἀφίστημι (aphistēmi, “to withdraw, depart, desist”) – While διΐστημι emphasizes the space created between, ἀφίστημι focuses more on the act of departure or withdrawal itself, often with connotations of desertion or abandonment in certain contexts. See G868

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the concept embedded in διΐστημι appears in ancient Jewish mystical tradition? In Kabbalah, the concept of “tzimtzum” describes God’s self-contraction or withdrawal to create space for creation—a divine act of separation that allows for relationship. While not directly related etymologically, this parallel illustrates how deeply the concept of purposeful separation is woven into Jewish theological thought, enriching our understanding of διΐστημι in its cultural context.
• Did you know that in ancient Greek medical texts by Hippocrates and Galen, forms of διΐστημι were used to describe the separation of bodily tissues or the intervals between symptoms in diseases? This medical usage illuminates Luke’s precision in employing this term, as Luke himself was a physician. His careful attention to the intervals in his narrative reflects a medical mind’s appreciation for the significance of timing in diagnosis and treatment—a beautiful parallel to God’s perfect timing in spiritual healing and redemption.
• Did you know that in modern Greek, derivatives of διΐστημι survive in scientific terminology? The term “diastole” in cardiology (from διαστολή, related to διΐστημι) refers to the phase of heart relaxation and chamber filling—the necessary interval between contractions. This modern usage reminds us that intervals and separations, like the diastolic phase of the heartbeat, are not merely empty spaces but essential components of life-sustaining rhythms, reinforcing the theological truth that God’s appointed times of waiting serve vital purposes in our spiritual lives.

Remember This

διΐστημι reminds us that in God’s economy, intervals are never wasted time—they are divinely appointed spaces where preparation meets purpose, creating the perfect moment for His redemptive work to unfold.