διδασκαλία (G1319) — Greek Lexicon

διδασκαλία

didaskalía

G1319 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Instruction or teaching; the process or content of imparting knowledge or practical information. Refers to both the act of teaching and the body of teachings delivered, whether general instruction, specialized training, or authoritative teaching. In certain contexts, especially in later texts, it can denote a body of doctrine or teachings that define a group's beliefs or practice.

Semantic Range

instruction, teaching, act or art of teaching, educational content, doctrine, body of teachings, moral or religious instruction, formal or informal training, method of teaching

Root / Etymology

From διδάσκαλος (teacher), itself from διδάσκω (to teach) plus the abstract noun suffix -ία. Thus, διδασκαλία denotes 'teaching' or 'instruction' as a quality, activity, or result.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, διδασκαλία primarily referred to the act or art of teaching, instruction in poetry, music, or drama, or general education. In the Hellenistic period and especially in the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew terms for 'instruction' (such as תּוֹרָה, torah) but usually with a focus on educational or moral content rather than authoritative law. In the New Testament, the word retains the general sense 'instruction' or 'teaching,' but in some contexts (notably the Pastoral Epistles) is used for specific bodies of teaching or doctrinal content, sometimes set over against 'other teachings' or 'false teachings.' English Bible translations often render διδασκαλία as 'doctrine' or 'teaching,' but this can obscure the everyday or practical nuance of 'instruction' implicit in the Greek term. There are occasions where it refers to the method or manner of teaching, and others where it means the content itself. διδασκαλία differs from διδαχή, which can more often mean a set teaching or a handed-down tradition, though overlap exists in usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "teaching" 18 occurrences

"Teaching" is the most natural, common English rendering that covers both the act/process and the body of doctrine denoted by διδασκαλία. It is the most frequent choice in the P2 data and smoothly handles contexts ranging from general instruction to authoritative religious doctrine, making it the best consistent base word for all forms of this lemma.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):

"instruction" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from διδάσκαλος; instruction (the function or the information):--doctrine, learning, teaching.

Root Family

διδασκαλία (didaskalia) — instruction, teaching, body of teaching, doctrine

Root διδασκ- to teach, to instruct, to impart knowledge

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1319-01`	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	teaching	to instruction	to teaching	11
`G1319-04`	διδασκαλίας	didaskalias	`N ACC F PL`	doctrine	teachings	teachings	6
`G1319-03`	διδασκαλίαν	didaskalian	`N ACC F SG`	teaching	instruction	instruction	3
`G1319-02`	διδασκαλίαις	didaskaliais	`N DAT F PL`	teachings	to teachings	to teachings	1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1319-04`	Matthew 15:9	διδασκαλίας	didaskalias	`N ACC F PL`	doctrines	teachings	teachings
`G1319-04`	Mark 7:7	διδασκαλίας	didaskalias	`N ACC F PL`	doctrines	teachings	teachings
`G1319-01`	Romans 12:7	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	teaching	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-03`	Romans 15:4	διδασκαλίαν	didaskalian	`N ACC F SG`	instruction	instruction	instruction
`G1319-04`	Ephesians 4:14	διδασκαλίας	didaskalias	`N GEN F SG`	doctrine	teachings	teachings
`G1319-04`	Colossians 2:22	διδασκαλίας	didaskalias	`N ACC F PL`	teachings	teachings	teachings
`G1319-01`	1 Timothy 1:10	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	doctrine	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-02`	1 Timothy 4:1	διδασκαλίαις	didaskaliais	`N DAT F PL`	teachings	to teachings	to teachings
`G1319-04`	1 Timothy 4:6	διδασκαλίας	didaskalias	`N GEN F SG`	teaching	teachings	teachings
`G1319-01`	1 Timothy 4:13	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	teaching	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-01`	1 Timothy 4:16	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	teaching	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-01`	1 Timothy 5:17	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	teaching	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-01`	1 Timothy 6:1	διδασκαλία	didaskalia	`N NOM F SG`	doctrine	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-01`	1 Timothy 6:3	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	teaching	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-01`	2 Timothy 3:10	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	teaching	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-03`	2 Timothy 3:16	διδασκαλίαν	didaskalian	`N ACC F SG`	teaching	instruction	instruction
`G1319-04`	2 Timothy 4:3	διδασκαλίας	didaskalias	`N GEN F SG`	doctrine	teachings	teachings
`G1319-01`	Titus 1:9	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	teaching	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-01`	Titus 2:1	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	doctrine	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-01`	Titus 2:7	διδασκαλίᾳ	didaskalia	`N DAT F SG`	teaching	to instruction	to teaching
`G1319-03`	Titus 2:10	διδασκαλίαν	didaskalian	`N ACC F SG`	doctrine	instruction	instruction

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