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δέρω

dérō

G1194 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To skin or flay (remove the skin from something); by extension, to beat or strike, especially with a whip or rod, often implying violent treatment or punishment. In extended uses within the New Testament and Hellenistic literature, denotes physical assault or beating, particularly in judicial or extra-judicial contexts, with emphasis on the severity of the action.

Semantic Range

to flay, to skin (animals); to beat, to scourge, to thrash, to strike violently, to punish physically

Root / Etymology

From root δερ– (der-) meaning 'to skin, to flay.' The verb is primarily attested in this form, with cognates in later and dialectal Greek indicating related actions involving skin or leather. No clear derivation from non-Greek sources; native Greek root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, δέρω primarily means 'to skin' (e.g., of animals, in hunting or sacrifice), and only by strong extension comes to refer to physical beating where the skin is metaphorically 'removed' by violence. In Koine and New Testament Greek, the original sense of 'flay' becomes rare or archaic, with the prevalent sense being 'to beat severely,' commonly in contexts of punishment or persecution (e.g., Matthew 21:35; Mark 12:3, 5). The verb may signify judicial punishment with rods or whips, or broader acts of violent assault. When used figuratively, it underscores the harshness of the treatment. English translations often render δέρω as 'beat' or 'flog,' but these do not always capture the severity implied by the Greek. In LXX and post-classical sources, the range narrows toward 'to beat, to strike (with rods or whips)' in both literal and legal contexts. Distinct from παιδεύω ('to discipline, chastise') and τύπτω ('to strike' in a more general sense), δέρω often conveys more brutal, skin-breaking violence.

Translation Consistency

primary "beat" 7 occurrences

δέρω primarily denotes violent striking or punishment (scourging, thrashing) and in extended use includes flaying; 'beat' is the most natural, common English verb that captures the typical sense of violent physical assault and punishment while remaining idiomatic. More literal choices like 'flay' are rarer and less natural for most contexts, so 'beat' ensures consistent, readable rendering across forms.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"having severely beaten" (3x) "he/she/it will be beaten" (2x) "beaten" (1x) "do you strike" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; properly, to flay, i.e. (by implication) to scourge, or (by analogy) to thrash:--beat, smite.

Root Family

δερ- (dérma) — to skin, to flay, covering

Root δερ- to skin, to flay, to beat
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1192 δέρμα with hides

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1194-03 δείραντες deirantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having beaten having severely beaten having severely beaten 4
G1194-02 δαρήσεται daresetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be beaten he/she/it will be flayed he/she/it will be beaten 2
G1194-06 δέρων deron V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG beating flaying one beating 2
G1194-07 δέροντες derontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL beating those flaying those beating 2
G1194-08 ἔδειραν edeiran V AOR ACT IND 3P PL beat they flayed they beat 2
G1194-01 δαρήσεσθε daresesthe V FUT PASS IND 2P PL you will be flogged you will be flayed you will be beaten 1
G1194-04 δέρει derei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG strikes he is flaying he beats 1
G1194-05 δέρεις dereis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG do you strike you are thrashing do you strike 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1194-08 Matthew 21:35 ἔδειραν edeiran V AOR ACT IND 3P PL beat they flayed they beat
G1194-08 Mark 12:3 ἔδειραν edeiran V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they beat they flayed they beat
G1194-07 Mark 12:5 δέροντες derontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL beating those flaying those beating
G1194-01 Mark 13:9 δαρήσεσθε daresesthe V FUT PASS IND 2P PL you will be flogged you will be flayed you will be beaten
G1194-02 Luke 12:47 δαρήσεται daresetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be beaten he/she/it will be flayed he/she/it will be beaten
G1194-02 Luke 12:48 δαρήσεται daresetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG will be beaten he/she/it will be flayed he/she/it will be beaten
G1194-03 Luke 20:10 δείραντες deirantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having beaten having severely beaten having severely beaten
G1194-03 Luke 20:11 δείραντες deirantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having beaten having severely beaten having severely beaten
G1194-07 Luke 22:63 δέροντες derontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL beating those flaying beating
G1194-05 John 18:23 δέρεις dereis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG do you strike you are thrashing do you strike
G1194-03 Acts 5:40 δείραντες deirantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having flogged having severely beaten having severely beaten
G1194-03 Acts 16:37 δείραντες deirantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having beaten having severely beaten
G1194-06 Acts 22:19 δέρων deron V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG beating flaying one beating
G1194-06 1 Corinthians 9:26 δέρων deron V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG beating flaying one beating
G1194-04 2 Corinthians 11:20 δέρει derei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG strikes he is flaying he beats
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