Greek word · G1310

διαφημίζω

diaphēmizō

to publish abroad

Diaphēmizō means 'to spread a report widely, make something known everywhere, noise abroad'. It comes from dia ('through, throughout') and phēmizō ('to speak of, report'), which is related to phēmē, 'common talk, rumour, reputation'.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

δια-φημίζω

in late writers only, to spread abroad: τ. λόγον (= דָּבָר, the matter), Mark 1:45, Matthew 28:15; with accusative of person(s), to spread abroad one's fame: Matthew 9:31.†

(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 28:15

Range of meaning

Diaphēmizō means 'to spread a report widely, make something known everywhere, noise abroad'. It comes from dia ('through, throughout') and phēmizō ('to speak of, report'), which is related to phēmē, 'common talk, rumour, reputation'. It describes news passed by word of mouth, not an official announcement.

Against the English

KJV has 'is commonly reported'. BSB has 'has been circulated'. WEB and YLT have 'was spread abroad'. Modern versions say 'widely circulated' or 'spread'. All are fair. The Greek is aorist ('was spread'), but the 'until today' that follows makes the spreading continue into the writer's present, which is why BSB and NASB use English perfect forms.

Used elsewhere in the period

Elsewhere in the New Testament: Matthew 9:31 (the two healed blind men 'spread his fame through all that region') and Mark 1:45 (the healed leper 'spread the word'). BDAG gives 'spread the news widely, disseminate'.

From the study of Mark 1:45

Range of meaning

To spread a report widely, to make something known everywhere by word of mouth. It comes from phēmē, 'report, rumour, fame'.

Against the English

KJV 'blaze abroad', an old idiom meaning to trumpet or proclaim far and wide (from 'blaze' = to blow as on a trumpet), not anything to do with fire. Modern versions: 'spread the news'.

How it drifted

'Blaze abroad' is archaic. Modern readers may hear 'blaze' as fire or speed, but in 1611 it meant to trumpet or broadcast.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare in the NT: Matt 9:31 (healed blind men 'spread his fame' in spite of a command to silence, a close parallel), Matt 28:15 (the guards' story 'spread among the Jews'). Also used in later Greek writers for spreading reports.

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 9:31 διεφήμισαν they make known

    But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout the land.

  2. Matthew 28:15 διεφημίσθη is spread abroad

    So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.

    Here: 'Was spread around' or 'was put about widely'. The word is built on phēmē ('talk, rumour, report'), so it describes word-of-mouth spreading. Earlier, healed men 'spread abroad' Jesus' fame with this verb (9:31). Now a counter-story spreads the same way.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 1:45 διαφημίζειν to spread abroad

    But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.

    Here: 'To spread the story around', passing it by word of mouth in every direction (dia-, 'through'; phēmē, 'report, rumour').

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