Brief Overview of διασπορά (G1290: diasporá)

Word Details

• Transliteration: διασπορά (diasporá) [dee-ah-spo-RAH]
• Etymology: From the root words διά (G1223: diá) meaning through, thoroughly and σπορά (G4690: sporá) meaning a sowing, seed. The compound form suggests a thorough scattering or sowing, particularly in the context of people being dispersed across different regions.
• Part of Speech: Noun (Feminine)
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings

• The dispersion or scattering of people: Refers to the act of dispersing a group of people from their original homeland to various locations, often under duress or exile.
• The diaspora: Specifically used to describe the Jewish communities living outside of Israel following various historical exiles, particularly the Babylonian exile.
• A sowing or spreading: In a broader sense, can refer to the act of scattering seeds or spreading something widely, though it is most commonly associated with the dispersion of people.

Further Insights

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Feminine

Further Insights Explained:

• διασπορά is a feminine noun and can be found in various cases (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative) depending on its grammatical function within a sentence. It is used in the singular form, reflecting the concept of a singular dispersion event or diaspora.

Disclaimer: The morphological details provided above are specific to the word διασπορά as it appears in the singular form. The function and meaning can vary slightly depending on the context and specific case used.

Lexicon Descriptions

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

• διασπορά is defined as a dispersion, particularly the scattering of people, with a specific emphasis on the Jewish diaspora. It refers to the communities of Jews living outside Israel after their exile.
• Scripture References: John 7:35, James 1:1, 1 Peter 1:1

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Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

• Thayer defines διασπορά as meaning a scattering abroad, particularly the dispersion of the Jewish people. The term is used to describe the forced or voluntary scattering of people from their homeland to different regions.
• Scripture References: John 7:35, James 1:1, 1 Peter 1:1

Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

• Vine’s describes διασπορά as a dispersion, specifically referring to the Jewish diaspora. It highlights the historical context of Jewish exile and the resulting communities that formed outside of Israel.
• Scripture References: John 7:35, James 1:1, 1 Peter 1:1

LSJ (Liddell, Scott, Jones):

• LSJ defines διασπορά as a scattering or dispersal, particularly used to describe the dispersion of people, such as the Jewish diaspora. The term is rooted in the idea of scattering seeds, metaphorically applied to people being spread across different regions.
• Scripture References: John 7:35, James 1:1, 1 Peter 1:1

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:

• Strong’s defines διασπορά as a dispersion or scattering. It is used to describe the dispersion of people, particularly the Jewish diaspora following the Babylonian exile and other historical events.
• Scripture References: John 7:35, James 1:1, 1 Peter 1:1

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

• Herodotus, Histories: Herodotus uses διασπορά to describe the scattering of populations due to conquests and migrations, emphasizing the widespread dispersion of people from their homelands.
• Philo of Alexandria, On the Embassy to Gaius: Philo employs the term to discuss the Jewish diaspora, particularly the challenges and identity struggles faced by Jewish communities living in diaspora across the Roman Empire.
• Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews: Josephus uses διασπορά in the context of Jewish history, describing the dispersal of the Jewish people following the Babylonian exile and other significant events.

Summary

διασπορά (G1290: diasporá) is a Greek noun that primarily means dispersion or scattering. Derived from διά (through, thoroughly) and σπορά (a sowing, seed), the term is most commonly associated with the scattering of people, particularly the Jewish diaspora. This word emphasizes the idea of a community being dispersed from its original homeland to various regions, often as a result of exile or other forms of displacement. In the New Testament, διασπορά is used in passages like John 7:35, James 1:1, and 1 Peter 1:1 to describe the Jewish communities living outside of Israel following historical exiles. The term also appears in classical Greek literature, where it is used to describe the broader concept of dispersion, whether of people or metaphorically of ideas or influence. Overall, διασπορά is a significant term in understanding the historical and social contexts of displacement, particularly in relation to the Jewish experience of exile and the formation of diaspora communities.