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διορύσσω

diorýssō

G1358 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To dig or break through (by digging), specifically to penetrate obstacles such as walls or earth, often with the purpose of gaining illicit access. In New Testament contexts, most often refers to the action of breaking through a wall or barrier, as in house burglary.

Semantic Range

to dig through, to break through (by digging), to penetrate (a wall or barrier), to burglarize

Root / Etymology

From διά (through, across) + ὀρύσσω (to dig, to excavate), thus 'to dig through.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, διορύσσω appears in contexts describing the physical action of digging through ground or structural barriers. In the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 6:19, 6:20; Luke 12:39), it denotes the act of a thief breaking through (literally, 'digging through') the clay or mud-brick walls of houses to commit theft. Houses of the period often used materials that made 'digging through' a literal method of entry. Standard English translations render the term as 'break in' or 'break through,' but the Greek implies a method of forced entry specifically by excavation rather than by force or climbing. This distinguishes it from verbs like εἰσέρχομαι ('to enter'), which lack this aspect of physical penetration by digging. The term does not carry the abstract sense of overcoming non-physical obstacles.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from διά and ὀρύσσω; to penetrate burglariously:--break through (up).

Root Family

διορύσσω (diorýssō) — to dig, to excavate, to dig through, to break through

Root ὀρυσσ- to dig, to excavate

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1358-01 διορυχθῆναι dioruchthenai V AOR PASS INF to be broken into to be dug through to be dug through 2
G1358-02 διορύσσουσιν diorussousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL break through they dig through dig through 2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1358-02 Matthew 6:19 διορύσσουσιν diorussousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL break through they dig through they dig through
G1358-02 Matthew 6:20 διορύσσουσιν diorussousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL break through they dig through dig through
G1358-01 Matthew 24:43 διορυχθῆναι dioruchthenai V AOR PASS INF to-be-broken-into to be dug through to be dug through
G1358-01 Luke 12:39 διορυχθῆναι dioruchthenai V AOR PASS INF to be broken into to be dug through to be dug through
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