διαφημίζω (G1310) — Greek Lexicon

διαφημίζω

diaphēmízō

G1310 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make widely known, to publicize, to spread information thoroughly or everywhere. In Koine usage, it most often means to diffuse news or information broadly, to publish or relate openly. The core meaning is the thorough or widespread dissemination of a report, news, or message; contextually, it may refer to making an event or person's activity known to a broad audience, often openly and with emphasis on the extent of the news' diffusion.

Semantic Range

to spread news thoroughly, to disclose widely, to publish openly, to make something the subject of public knowledge, to proclaim or broadcast a report, to diffuse fame or reputation

Root / Etymology

From the preposition διά (through, throughout) and the verb associated with φήμη (report, fame, saying), from φημί (to say, speak). Thus, διαφημίζω literally means 'to make known throughout' or 'to report through and through.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φημί emphasizes the act of speaking or reporting, and φήμη connotes a report or fame. The compound διαφημίζω is not common in earlier literature but becomes more frequently attested in Hellenistic and later Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, where it particularly denotes publicizing a report widely. In the New Testament (notably in Mark), it is used of those making known the deeds or identity of Jesus, despite explicit instructions not to publicize them, emphasizing the rapid, uncontrollable spread of news. Standard English translations such as 'spread abroad' or 'blaze abroad' attempt to capture the breadth of dissemination but may not fully reflect the public, open character of the word. The term differs from related Greek words such as εὐαγγελίζομαι (to proclaim good news), as διαφημίζω focuses on publicity and thorough diffusion rather than necessarily on the content (good news).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from διά and a derivative of φήμη; to report thoroughly, i.e. divulgate:--blaze abroad, commonly report, spread abroad, fame.

Root Family

διαφημίζω (diaphēmizō) — to report, to make known, to publicize

Root διαφημ- to report, to make known, to publicize

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1310-01`	διαφημίζειν	diaphemizein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to blaze abroad	to publicize widely	to publicize widely	1
`G1310-02`	διεφήμισαν	diephemisan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	spread	they publicized widely	they publicized widely	1
`G1310-03`	διεφημίσθη	diephemisthe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	was spread	was widely publicized	was widely publicized	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1310-02`	Matthew 9:31	διεφήμισαν	diephemisan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	spread	they publicized widely	they publicized widely
`G1310-03`	Matthew 28:15	διεφημίσθη	diephemisthe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	was spread	was widely publicized	was widely publicized
`G1310-01`	Mark 1:45	διαφημίζειν	diaphemizein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to blaze abroad	to publicize widely	to publicize widely

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