διαχειρίζομαι (G1315) — Greek Lexicon

διαχειρίζομαι

diacheirízomai

G1315 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To handle with the hands, especially with force; to lay hands upon in a violent manner, frequently with the sense of to put to death or to kill. In literary and documentary Koine Greek, the verb typically refers to laying hands on someone with the intention to kill, slay, or destroy. Contextually, it can also connote to deal decisively or to handle a matter thoroughly, often with lethal result when used of persons.

Semantic Range

to lay violent hands upon, to kill, to slay, to deal with by violence, to execute (with hands), to destroy (by force)

Root / Etymology

Compound of διά ('through, thoroughly') and χείρ ('hand'), thus meaning 'to thoroughly handle (with the hands)'. The word formation expresses the idea of intensive or forceful action with the hands.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek literature, the term is extremely rare and is primarily attested in later Greek, especially Koine documentary and literary texts. Its primary attestation in the New Testament is in Acts 5:30 and 26:21, where it clearly refers to the act of killing. The Septuagint uses related verbal forms similarly. The physical act described involves violence, usually in the context of execution or murder. Standard English translations often render διαχειρίζομαι as 'slay,' 'kill,' or 'put to death,' but the Greek specifically emphasizes the act as a violent, direct handling resulting in death, rather than judicial execution or military action per se. The term is distinct from φονεύω ('to murder') and ἀναιρέω ('to take away, to kill'), as its etymology highlights the manner (by hand, direct contact), and its use in Koine often has a forensic or hostile connotation. The development of the term coincides with the broader Koine Greek tendency to use compounds with διά for intensive or thorough actions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from διά and a derivative of χείρ; to handle thoroughly, i.e. lay violent hands upon:--kill, slay.

Root Family

διαχειρίζομαι (diacheirizomai) — to handle, to use the hand, to deal with forcibly

Root δια- + χειρ- to handle, to use the hand, to deal with forcibly

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1315-02`	διεχειρίσασθε	diecheirisasthe	`V AOR MID IND 2P PL`	put to death	you laid violent hands on	put to death	1
`G1315-01`	διαχειρίσασθαι	diacheirisasthai	`V AOR MID INF`	to kill	to lay violent hands on	to lay violent hands on	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1315-02`	Acts 5:30	διεχειρίσασθε	diecheirisasthe	`V AOR MID IND 2P PL`	put to death	you laid violent hands on	put to death
`G1315-01`	Acts 26:21	διαχειρίσασθαι	diacheirisasthai	`V AOR MID INF`	to kill	to lay violent hands on	to lay violent hands on

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