Greek word · G1244

διαιρέω

diaireō

to distribute

To divide into parts. From that, to divide out or distribute, giving each person a share or portion (BDAG, Thayer). The related noun διαίρεσις means "distribution, allotment" or "difference".

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

δι-αιρέω, -ῶ

[in LXX for בּתר (as Genesis 15:10), חלק (as Joshua 18:5), etc. ;]

1. to divide into parts, cut asunder.

2. to distribute: with accusative of thing(s), dative of person(s), Luke 15:12, 1 Corinthians 12:11.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Corinthians 12:11

Range of meaning

To divide into parts. From that, to divide out or distribute, giving each person a share or portion (BDAG, Thayer). The related noun διαίρεσις means "distribution, allotment" or "difference".

Against the English

KJV and YLT have "dividing", which today sounds like splitting or causing division. BSB has "apportions", ESV "apportions", and NASB and WEB "distributing". These modern renderings bring out the sense of handing out shares.

How it drifted

In 1611 "divide to" someone meant to deal out a portion to them, as an inheritance or spoil is divided. Modern English "divide" mostly means to separate or split, or to set people against each other. Paul means the opposite: one source handing out portions.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) the verb is used for Abram cutting the covenant animals in two (Genesis 15:10) and for dividing up possessions and plunder. In the New Testament it appears only here and in Luke 15:12, where the father "divided his property" between his sons. That is an allotment of shares.

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 15:12 διεῖλεν he divided

    The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:11 διαιροῦν apportioning

    All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.

    Here: Present participle: "distributing" or "giving out shares". It picks up the related noun in verse 4 ("there are *distributions* of gifts"). The picture is portions being handed out, not something being split apart.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.