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ῥήγνυμι

rhḗgnymi

G4486 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ῥηγ- to break, to split, to rend, to tear

Definition

To break, split, or rend; primarily denotes the act of violently separating into parts, whether by breaking, tearing, or splitting. In extended contexts, can refer to convulsions (as of the body in fits), or to bursting forth (as in erupting with sound or emotion). The sense usually implies a forceful or disruptive action, with physical or sometimes metaphorical objects.

Semantic Range

to break, to split, to rend, to tear, to convulse, to burst forth (emotionally or vocally), to disrupt

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root ῥηγ- (rēg-), possibly a strengthened form related to ἄγνυμι (ágnymi, 'to break') and found especially in ῥήγνυμι and compound forms such as διαρρήγνυμι (‘to tear apart, rend in pieces’), κατάγνυμι (‘to break in pieces, shatter’). The etymology is linked to the idea of breaking or bursting, but the exact primitive root beyond Greek is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ῥήγνυμι frequently describes the action of breaking or tearing physical objects (such as garments, bonds, or even the earth). Homeric usage often uses the sense 'to break through,' especially in battle contexts. During the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the term expanded metaphorically (e.g., 'to tear open' the heavens, 'to convulse' with emotion, or physical fits such as epileptic seizures). In Mark 9:26, it describes physical convulsion, indicating a violent tearing motion within the body. The use overlaps with κατάγνυμι (‘to break down’) but ῥήγνυμι typically focuses on rending or splitting rather than reducing to smaller fragments (for which θραύω is used), and is distinguished from λύω, which means 'to loosen,' not necessarily by rending. English translations often render the term as 'break,' 'rend,' or 'tear,' but the underlying action is more forceful and disruptive than the generic 'break.' In certain contexts (e.g., 'burst forth in song'), the word's force is directed to emotional or vocal outburst rather than physical destruction.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

both prolonged forms of (which appears only in certain forms, and is itself probably a strengthened form of agnumi (see in κατάγνυμι)); to "break," "wreck" or "crack", i.e. (especially) to sunder (by separation of the parts; κατάγνυμι being its intensive (with the preposition in composition), and θραύω a shattering to minute fragments; but not a reduction to the constituent particles, like λύω) or disrupt, lacerate; by implication, to convulse (with spasms); figuratively, to give vent to joyful emotions:--break (forth), burst, rend, tear.

Root Family

ῥήγνυμι (rhēgnymi) — to break, to split, to rend, to tear

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G4486-04 ῥήξει rexei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG bursts he/she/it will rend 2
G4486-02 ῥήγνυνται regnuntai V PRS PASS IND 3P PL are being torn apart 1
G4486-01 ἔρρηξεν errexen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG threw he tore apart 1
G4486-03 ῥήσσει ressei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG tears he/she/it rends 1
G4486-05 ῥῆξον rexon V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG break forth Rend! 1
G4486-06 ῥήξωσιν rexosin V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL they might rend apart 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G4486-06 Matthew 7:6 ῥήξωσιν rexosin V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL they might rend apart
G4486-02 Matthew 9:17 ῥήγνυνται regnuntai V PRS PASS IND 3P PL are being torn apart
G4486-04 Mark 2:22 ῥήξει rexei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG bursts he/she/it will rend
G4486-03 Mark 9:18 ῥήσσει ressei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG tears he/she/it rends
G4486-04 Luke 5:37 ῥήξει rexei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will burst he/she/it will rend
G4486-01 Luke 9:42 ἔρρηξεν errexen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG threw he tore apart
G4486-05 Galatians 4:27 ῥῆξον rexon V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG break forth Rend!
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