διαῤῥήσσω
diarrhḗssō
G1284 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To tear apart, to rend asunder with force; primarily denotes the action of forcefully and completely tearing or splitting something into parts. In the context of physical objects, typically means to rip, burst, or break through by tearing. In certain contexts, it may describe violent or uncontrolled actions affecting garments, objects, or even personal states (metaphorically).
Semantic Range
to tear apart, to rend asunder, to break by tearing, to burst apart, to destroy by tearing, to split violently
Root / Etymology
Compound of διά ('through, across, apart') and ῥήγνυμι ('to break, tear, burst'). The prepositional prefix intensifies the sense of separation or complete rending.
Historical & Contextual Notes
διαῤῥήσσω appears primarily in Hellenistic and Koine Greek with a direct, physical sense of violent tearing or rending apart. It occurs rarely in Classical Greek, but is found more frequently in later Greek literature, including the Septuagint and New Testament. In the New Testament, its usage is generally literal, e.g., tearing garments as a sign of extreme distress or outrage (Mark 9:18, 20, 26; Matthew 9:16 par.). Septuagint usages often retain this literal sense, particularly linked to gestures of mourning. The English translations as 'break', 'tear', or 'rend' capture the literal action, but may not always reflect the intensity or completeness implied by the compound. The verb emphasizes the idea of separation into parts, in contrast to related verbs like σχίζω, which can indicate splitting or cleaving without necessarily complete rupture, or ῥήγνυμι alone, which may simply mean 'break' or 'burst'. The metaphorical uses, if present, typically involve descriptions of psychic or existential distress manifested in the symbolic tearing of garments.
Translation Consistency
“Tear” is the most natural, general English verb capturing the primary sense of διαῤῥήσσω: to rip or rend violently or forcefully. It fits both literal (rip, burst) and metaphorical uses, is common in modern English, and can be consistently inflected for all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from διά and ῥήγνυμι; to tear asunder:--break, rend.
Root Family
διαῤῥήσσω (diarrhēssō) — to tear, to break, to burst
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1284-02 |
διαρρήξαντες | diarrexantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having torn | having torn apart | having torn apart | 1 |
G1284-05 |
διέρρηξεν | dierrexen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
tore | tore apart | tore apart | 1 |
G1284-01 |
διαρήσσων | diaresson | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
breaking | tearing apart | the | 1 |
G1284-03 |
διαρρήξας | diarrexas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having torn | having torn apart | having torn apart | 1 |
G1284-04 |
διερρήσσετο | dierresseto | V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG |
it was breaking | was being torn apart | was being torn apart | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1284-05 |
Matthew 26:65 | διέρρηξεν | dierrexen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
tore | tore apart | tore apart |
G1284-03 |
Mark 14:63 | διαρρήξας | diarrexas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having torn | having torn apart | having torn apart |
G1284-04 |
Luke 5:6 | διερρήσσετο | dierresseto | V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG |
it was breaking | was being torn apart | was being torn apart |
G1284-01 |
Luke 8:29 | διαρήσσων | diaresson | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
breaking | tearing apart | the |
G1284-02 |
Acts 14:14 | διαρρήξαντες | diarrexantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
having torn | having torn apart | having torn apart |