Brief Overview of διακρίνω (G1252: diakrínō)

Word Details

• Transliteration: διακρίνω (diakrínō) [dee-ah-KREE-noh]
• Etymology: From the root words διά (G1223: diá) meaning through, by means of and κρίνω (G2919: krínō) meaning to judge, to decide.

Word Breakdown:

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

Disclaimer: The above morphological breakdown can differ based on the contextual use of the word in a sentence. For example, διακρίνω may appear in different persons, tenses, voices, or moods depending on its usage in various scriptural or literary contexts.

Primary Meanings

• To separate, distinguish, or make a distinction.
• To judge or evaluate critically.
• To differentiate between two or more things.
• To doubt or waver in judgment.
• To discern or recognize differences.

Lexicon Descriptions

• BDAG (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich):
• διακρίνω primarily refers to the act of distinguishing or separating something from another, often with the connotation of judgment or evaluation. In the New Testament, it can also carry the sense of doubting or hesitating, especially in the context of faith.
• Scripture References: Matthew 21:21, Romans 14:23, James 1:6
• Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:
• Thayer describes διακρίνω as meaning to distinguish or separate, particularly in contexts where judgment or discernment is required. It also includes the sense of doubting or wavering, often in relation to one’s beliefs or decisions.
• Scripture References: Matthew 21:21, Romans 14:23, James 1:6
• Vine’s Expository Dictionary:
• According to Vine’s, διακρίνω has both the sense of separating or discriminating between things and the notion of doubting or hesitating. The word is used in various New Testament contexts where critical judgment or discernment is necessary.
• Scripture References: Matthew 21:21, Romans 14:23, James 1:6
• LSJ (Liddell, Scott, Jones):
• The LSJ dictionary emphasizes the meaning of διακρίνω as separating, distinguishing, or making a decision between two or more things. In classical usage, it also has the meaning of judging or deciding, often in legal or philosophical contexts.
• Scripture References: Matthew 21:21, Romans 14:23, James 1:6
• Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:
• Strong’s defines διακρίνω as derived from διά (G1223: diá) and κρίνω (G2919: krínō), with meanings ranging from separating or distinguishing to doubting or hesitating. The term is frequently used in contexts where judgment, discernment, or differentiation is required.
• Scripture References: Matthew 21:21, Romans 14:23, James 1:6

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

• Herodotus, Histories: In Herodotus’ work, διακρίνω is used in the context of making distinctions or judgments between different accounts of historical events, highlighting its function in critical evaluation.
• Plato, Republic: Plato uses διακρίνω in discussions of philosophy and ethics, where it involves distinguishing between true and false knowledge or between just and unjust actions.
• Sophocles, Oedipus Rex: In Sophocles’ tragedy, διακρίνω is employed in the context of the protagonist’s struggle to discern the truth from misleading or ambiguous information, reflecting the term’s association with judgment and critical thinking.

Summary

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διακρίνω (G1252: diakrínō) is a versatile Greek verb with a range of meanings, including to separate, distinguish, judge, doubt, or discern. Its roots in διά (through, by means of) and κρίνω (to judge, to decide) reflect its core function in contexts involving judgment, evaluation, or differentiation. In both classical literature and the New Testament, διακρίνω is used to describe the act of making distinctions or decisions, whether in philosophical debates, legal proceedings, or matters of faith. It also carries the connotation of doubt or hesitation, particularly in situations where a clear judgment is difficult to reach. As such, διακρίνω serves as a crucial term in understanding how ancient Greek thought approached the processes of reasoning, discernment, and decision-making.