διαβάλλω
diabállō
G1225 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To bring an accusation or charge against; to slander or malign by making statements (sometimes false or misleading) about someone, typically so as to cast them in a negative light. The core meaning is to set at variance by verbal means, functioning especially as a technical term in legal or adversarial settings for making accusations or denunciations. Contextually it may indicate hostile reporting, unjustified accusation, or defamation.
Semantic Range
to bring an accusation (especially in court), to slander, to defame, to inform against, to set one at variance with another by malicious report, to traduce or calumniate
Root / Etymology
From διά (through, across) and βάλλω (to throw, to cast). The compound conveys the sense of throwing across or setting at variance, and in figurative use, of casting accusations against a person. Cognate with διαβολή (accusation, slander) and διαβολος (slanderer, adversary).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, διαβάλλω meant primarily 'to throw over or across,' and by extension, 'to slander, calumniate, accuse.' It was often a legal term used for the actions of someone bringing an accusation in court. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, and especially in judicial and interpersonal contexts, it retained the meanings of 'to accuse' or 'to malign,' often by hostile or false report. The related noun διαβολή appears with the sense of 'malicious accusation' in Hellenistic literature. The semantic development shows a transition from the literal sense of 'casting across' to a metaphorical sense of 'setting people at odds through speech.' In the LXX and New Testament, the verb is rare, but its derivative διαβολή and the term διάβολος (slanderer, adversary) are more widely attested. English translations often render it as 'accuse,' 'inform,' or 'slander,' but these may not always capture the technical or legal connotations present in judicial settings.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from διά and βάλλω; (figuratively) to traduce:--accuse.
Root Family
διαβάλλω (diaballō) — to accuse, to slander, to set at variance by words
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1225-01 |
διεβλήθη | dieblethe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was accused | was slandered | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1225-01 |
Luke 16:1 | διεβλήθη | dieblethe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was accused | was slandered |