Greek word · G1291

διαστέλλω

diastellō

to give orders

Literally 'to set apart, distinguish'. In the middle voice: to give a specific order, to charge or instruct someone explicitly (Mk 5:43; 7:36; Mt 16:20; Heb 12:20).

Appears 8 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

δια-στελλω

[in LXX for בָּדַל hi. (Deuteronomy 10:8, al.), זְהַר hi. (Ezekiel 3:18, al.), and 19 other words]

1. to divide, distinguish, define.

2. to command, charge expressly: pass., τὸ διαστελλόμενον, Hebrews 12:20. Mid., in late Gk. with same sense (so Ez, l.with; and al. in LXX; MM, see word); a. dative of person(s), Mark 8:15, Acts 15:24; before ἵνα, Matthew 16:20, Mark 5:43 7:36 9:9.†

(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 Acts 15:24

Range of meaning

Literally 'to set apart, distinguish'. In the middle voice: to give a specific order, to charge or instruct someone explicitly (Mk 5:43; 7:36; Mt 16:20; Heb 12:20).

Against the English

BSB has 'without our authorization'. KJV has 'we gave no such commandment', where 'such' is printed in italics because the translators supplied it. ESV has 'gave them no instructions'. NLT turns it into an exclamation: 'we did not send them!'

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament it is used for giving commands (e.g., Ezek 3:18–21, 'warn'). In the Gospels it is used for Jesus' strict orders. In legal and administrative papyri it is used for official instructions.

From the study of Mark 8:15

Range of meaning

To give an explicit order, to charge someone strictly. It is the language of a firm command, not a passing remark.

Against the English

KJV and YLT 'charged' and NASB 'was giving orders' keep the force of the word. BSB and ESV 'cautioned' and WEB 'warned' soften it into advice.

Used elsewhere in the period

Elsewhere in Mark (5:43; 7:36; 9:9) it introduces strict orders to keep silent. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) it is used for formal instructions.

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 16:20 διεστείλατο he ordered

    Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

Mark · 5

  1. Mark 5:43 διεστείλατο He instructed

    Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.

  2. Mark 7:36 διεστείλατο διεστέλλετο, He instructed, was instructing,

    Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it.

  3. Mark 8:15 διεστέλλετο He was instructing

    “Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

    Here: A strong word for a firm instruction. The past tense here describes ongoing action ('he was charging them'), as if Jesus pressed the point while they were busy worrying about bread. Elsewhere in Mark the same verb mostly introduces orders to keep silent (5:43; 7:36; 9:9). Here it introduces a warning.

  4. Mark 9:9 διεστείλατο He instructed

    As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus admonished them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 15:24 διεστειλάμεθα, we had given instructions,

    It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.

    Here: 'We gave no instructions / no commission.' The word means giving a clear, specific order. The leaders say these men were not acting on their orders, whatever they may have claimed.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 12:20 διαστελλόμενον· is being commanded:

    For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”

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