διαβαίνω (G1224) — Greek Lexicon

διαβαίνω

diabaínō

G1224 verb

SILEX Entry

Root βαιν- to go, to walk, to step

Definition

To go across, traverse, or cross over from one side to another. The verb primarily means to move through or over a boundary, space, or region, whether literally (as in crossing a river, sea, or territory) or, less often, in a figurative sense (crossing a threshold or limit). It is used commonly for physical transitions and movements from one place to another.

Semantic Range

to cross over, to pass through, to traverse, to come over (from one side to another)

Root / Etymology

From the preposition διά (through, across) and βαίνω (to go, to walk), forming a compound meaning 'to go across.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, διαβαίνω is attested in contexts relating to crossing physical spaces such as rivers, seas, or lands. The verb appears in authors such as Herodotus and Xenophon. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it retains its literal sense of crossing or passing over, used for significant crossings such as the Israelites traversing the Red Sea or other boundaries. The term is practical and almost always refers to an actual spatial transition, as opposed to the more metaphorical language sometimes found with terms like μεταβαίνω (to change, to transfer) or παρέρχομαι (to go past, to pass by). English translations often render it as 'cross over,' 'pass through,' or 'come over,' but these do not always capture the motion inherent in the original verb.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from διά and the base of βάσις; to cross:--come over, pass (through).

Root Family

διαβαίνω (diabainō) — to go, to walk, to step, to cross over, to traverse

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G1224-02`	διαβῆναι	diabenai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to pass	to cross over	1
`G1224-03`	διέβησαν	diebesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`		they crossed over	1
`G1224-01`	διαβὰς	diabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	come over	having crossed over	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G1224-02`	Luke 16:26	διαβῆναι	diabenai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to pass	to cross over
`G1224-01`	Acts 16:9	διαβὰς	diabas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	come over	having crossed over
`G1224-03`	Hebrews 11:29	διέβησαν	diebesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`		they crossed over

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