Understanding διαλείπω (dialeipō) Strong’s G1257: The Persistent Continuity That Reveals Unwavering Devotion

Pronunciation Guide: dee-al-i’-po

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1257: διαλείπω (dialeipō) describes the act of leaving an interval between actions, to cease temporarily, or to intermit. It denotes a temporary pause or cessation of an activity with the expectation of resumption. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts emphasizing continuity and persistence through the negation of cessation, highlighting actions that continue without interruption.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Components: διά (dia, “through, thoroughly”) + λείπω (leipō, “to leave, forsake”)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative sections, primarily in Luke’s writings
• Voice/Mood/Tense: Appears in participle form in Luke 7:45

διαλείπω Morphology:

• διαλείπω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I leave an interval, cease for a time
• διαλείπεις (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you leave an interval
• διαλείπει (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it leaves an interval
• διέλιπον (aorist active indicative, 1st person singular) – I ceased for a time
• διαλιπών (aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular) – having ceased
• διέλειπε (imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it was ceasing

Origin & History

The verb διαλείπω has roots in classical Greek literature where it was used to denote intermission or leaving a space between things, both temporally and spatially. In medical writings of Hippocrates (5th century BCE), the term described intermittent fevers that would cease for a period before returning. Thucydides employed the word in his “History of the Peloponnesian War” to describe pauses in military actions.

In the Septuagint, διαλείπω appears in 2 Maccabees 13:12 describing continuous prayer without ceasing, establishing a precedent for its New Testament usage where the negative form (οὐ διέλιπεν, “did not cease”) emphasizes persistence. This transition from a neutral term for intervals to one emphasizing continuity reflects the early Jewish and Christian value of persistence in devotional practices.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Temporal Cessation – To pause or stop temporarily with the intention of resuming
• Spatial Interval – To leave a space or gap between objects or actions
• Intermittent Action – To perform an action with breaks or intervals
• Persistent Continuity (in negative form) – To continue without ceasing or interruption

διαλείπω Translation Options:

• “To intermit” – Emphasizes the periodic nature of the action, highlighting the intervals between occurrences
• “To leave off temporarily” – Captures both the cessation and the temporary nature of the pause
• “To cease for a time” – Focuses on the temporary suspension of an action
• “To continue without pause” (when negated) – Reflects the nuance when used with negative particles to emphasize persistence
• “To persist uninterrupted” (when negated) – Captures the intensity of continuous action implied in the negated form

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, διαλείπω appears only once in Luke 7:45, where Yeshua (Jesus) contrasts the actions of Simon the Pharisee with the sinful woman who anointed His feet. The phrase “οὐ διέλιπε καταφιλοῦσα” (“she has not ceased kissing”) employs διαλείπω in its negated form to emphasize the woman’s continuous, uninterrupted devotion. This usage powerfully illustrates how the absence of cessation becomes a profound statement about commitment and devotion.

While the explicit term appears only once, the concept it represents—unwavering persistence in devotion—resonates throughout Scripture. The woman’s actions parallel other biblical examples of persistent faith, such as the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8, the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7:24-30, and Anna who served in the temple “night and day” in Luke 2:36-38.

• “You gave Me no kiss, but this woman, since the time I came in, has not ceased [οὐ διέλιπε] to kiss My feet.” Luke 7:45

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Near Eastern context, kissing the feet was an extreme act of submission and honor, typically reserved for rulers or highly esteemed religious figures. For a Jewish woman to kiss the feet of a rabbi was extraordinarily unusual and would have shocked the Pharisee’s sensibilities. The use of διαλείπω in its negated form (οὐ διέλιπε) emphasizes that this was not a single ceremonial kiss but a continuous action throughout Yeshua’s presence—making the cultural transgression even more pronounced.

The Pharisaic tradition had established precise rituals for hosting a teacher or rabbi, including the washing of feet, a kiss of greeting, and anointing with oil. Simon had neglected all three customary acts of hospitality, which Yeshua pointedly contrasts with the woman’s extravagant expressions of devotion. The continuous nature of her actions, highlighted by διαλείπω, demonstrates not merely emotional excess but a deliberate, sustained act of worship that transcended social norms and religious formalities.

This cultural context illuminates why Yeshua specifically chose to highlight the uninterrupted nature of her actions—it wasn’t merely the intensity of a moment but the sustained commitment that revealed the true state of her heart.

Theological Significance

The theological implications of διαλείπω extend far beyond grammatical observations. In the singular New Testament usage, the word powerfully illustrates the nature of true repentance and devotion. When Yeshua contrasts Simon’s ceremonial hospitality with the woman’s unceasing acts of love, He reveals that authentic worship is not measured by momentary gestures but by persistent, uninterrupted devotion.

This concept of “not ceasing” becomes a profound theological principle throughout Scripture. The Apostle Paul echoes this idea when he encourages believers to “pray without ceasing” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, and to “not grow weary in doing good” in Galatians 6:9. The woman’s unceasing acts of devotion prefigure the kind of persistent faith that characterizes those who truly understand the depth of their forgiveness and the magnitude of Yahweh’s grace.

Moreover, the negated διαλείπω (not ceasing) in this passage reflects the very character of God Himself, whose love and mercies “never cease” (לֹא־תָמְנוּ – lo tamnu) as declared in Lamentations 3:22. The woman’s persistent devotion becomes a human echo of the divine attribute of unwavering faithfulness.

Personal Application

Understanding διαλείπω challenges us to examine the consistency of our devotion to the Messiah. Do we approach our relationship with Yeshua with intermittent bursts of devotion, or with the unceasing commitment displayed by the woman in Simon’s house? Her example invites us to consider whether our worship extends beyond comfortable religious ceremonies into costly, continuous expressions of love.

This word also offers profound encouragement for those experiencing spiritual fatigue. Just as the woman’s persistent devotion flowed from her recognition of great forgiveness, our ability to “not cease” in worship and service stems not from our own strength but from a deep appreciation of Yahweh’s grace in our lives. When we feel tempted to pause or interrupt our spiritual disciplines, διαλείπω reminds us that true transformation is evident in consistent, unwavering devotion rather than sporadic religious intensity.

Related Words

• ἀδιαλείπτως (adialeiptōs) – “without ceasing, uninterruptedly” (pronounced: ah-dee-al-ipe’-toce) – This adverb, derived from the negative of our word διαλείπω, appears in Paul’s epistles to describe persistent prayer and thanksgiving. While διαλείπω focuses on the potential for intervals, ἀδιαλείπτως emphasizes the complete absence of cessation. See G89
• προσκαρτερέω (proskartereō) – “to persist, continue steadfastly” (pronounced: pros-kar-ter-eh’-o) – Unlike διαλείπω which focuses on intervals or their absence, προσκαρτερέω emphasizes active persistence and steadfast devotion, particularly in prayer and ministry. See G4342
• ἐπιμένω (epimenō) – “to remain, continue, persist” (pronounced: ep-ee-men’-o) – While διαλείπω addresses temporal intervals, ἐπιμένω emphasizes remaining or continuing in a state or condition, often with an intensity that suggests determination. See G1961
• ἐκκακέω (ekkakeō) – “to be weary, faint” (pronounced: ek-kak-eh’-o) – This verb represents the opposite concept of not ceasing (οὐ διαλείπω), as it describes growing weary or giving up. Where διαλείπω in its negated form celebrates persistence, ἐκκακέω warns against abandoning consistent devotion. See G1573
• παύω (pauō) – “to stop, cease” (pronounced: pow’-o) – This term involves a more definitive stopping than διαλείπω, which implies a temporary interval. Παύω suggests a complete cessation without necessarily implying resumption. See G3973

Did you Know?

• Did you know that in ancient Greek medical texts, διαλείπω was a technical term used by physicians like Galen and Hippocrates to describe intermittent fevers that would come and go in regular patterns? This medical usage may have informed Luke’s precise choice of this term, as Luke himself was a physician. Just as these fevers followed predictable patterns of presence and absence, the woman’s devotion defied the pattern by never entering the “absence” phase—a subtle medical metaphor that would have resonated with educated Greek readers.
• Did you know that while διαλείπω appears only once in the New Testament, the concept of “not ceasing” became central to early Christian prayer traditions? The Desert Fathers developed what became known as the “Prayer of the Heart” or the “Jesus Prayer,” practiced without ceasing in fulfillment of Paul’s instruction in 1 Thessalonians. This practice, rooted in the understanding of οὐ διαλείπω (not ceasing), eventually developed into the hesychast tradition of Eastern Orthodox spirituality that continues to this day.
• Did you know that the modern Greek descendant of διαλείπω (διαλείπω in contemporary Greek) is still used in Greek Orthodox liturgical settings to describe intervals in worship sequences? However, in secular contexts, it has evolved to describe intermission periods in theatrical performances—a fascinating evolution from its sacred usage in Luke’s Gospel where the absence of intermission was the very point of the woman’s extraordinary devotion.

Remember This

The single New Testament appearance of διαλείπω delivers a powerful message: true worship is not measured by isolated moments of devotion but by the unwavering persistence that refuses to cease in its expression of love for the Messiah.