Greek word · G1285

διασαφέω

diasapheō

to explain

To make clear, explain in detail, or report precisely. Built from saphēs, 'clear, plain', with the prefix dia-, 'through'. It covers explaining something obscure and also giving a full, clear report.

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

What it means

δια-σαφέω, -ῶ

(σαφής, clear), [in LXX: Deuteronomy 1:5 (בָּאַר pi.), Dan LXX 2:6 (חָוָה aphel.), I-III Ma 9 * ;]

to make clear, explain fully: with accusative of thing(s), dative of person(s), Matthew 13:26 18:31.†

(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 Matthew 13:36

Range of meaning

To make clear, explain in detail, or report precisely. Built from saphēs, 'clear, plain', with the prefix dia-, 'through'. It covers explaining something obscure and also giving a full, clear report.

Against the English

'Explain' (BSB, ESV, NIV, WEB, YLT) is accurate. KJV 'Declare' renders the variant reading φράσον and leans toward 'tell us'. Neither fully captures the sense of 'make it fully clear'.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint of Deuteronomy 1:5, Moses 'began to make this law clear' (diasaphēsai), so the verb is used for explaining authoritative teaching. Matthew uses it again in 18:31, where the fellow servants 'reported in full' to their master. Hellenistic papyri use it for giving a clear report or explanation.

From the study of Matthew 18:31

Range of meaning

(1) To make clear, explain. (2) To report plainly, tell in detail (BDAG). Built from σαφής, 'clear, plain', with διά, 'through, thoroughly'.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, NIV and NLT say 'told'. BSB has 'recounted'. YLT's 'shewed fully' keeps the sense of thoroughness best. 'Told' is not wrong, but it loses the idea of a clear, complete account.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare in the New Testament. It appears here and in Matthew 13:36 in the critical text, where the disciples ask 'explain to us the parable'. In the Septuagint, Deuteronomy 1:5 uses it of Moses beginning to 'make plain' the law. In administrative papyri and in historians such as Polybius it is used for clear, official reports.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 13:36 διασάφησον do explain

    Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

    Here: An aorist command (a single, direct request): 'Make it plain to us!' The root saphēs means 'clear, distinct', and the prefix dia- adds the idea of 'all the way through'. They want the hidden meaning brought fully into the open.

  2. Matthew 18:31 διεσάφησαν they narrated

    When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.

    Here: More than 'told': they laid out the facts plainly and fully. It is the language of a clear, detailed report, and it sets up the master's ruling in verses 32–34.

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