δέρω (G1194) — Greek Lexicon

δέρω

dérō

G1194 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To skin or flay (remove the skin from something); by extension, to beat or strike, especially with a whip or rod, often implying violent treatment or punishment. In extended uses within the New Testament and Hellenistic literature, denotes physical assault or beating, particularly in judicial or extra-judicial contexts, with emphasis on the severity of the action.

Semantic Range

to flay, to skin (animals); to beat, to scourge, to thrash, to strike violently, to punish physically

Root / Etymology

From root δερ– (der-) meaning 'to skin, to flay.' The verb is primarily attested in this form, with cognates in later and dialectal Greek indicating related actions involving skin or leather. No clear derivation from non-Greek sources; native Greek root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, δέρω primarily means 'to skin' (e.g., of animals, in hunting or sacrifice), and only by strong extension comes to refer to physical beating where the skin is metaphorically 'removed' by violence. In Koine and New Testament Greek, the original sense of 'flay' becomes rare or archaic, with the prevalent sense being 'to beat severely,' commonly in contexts of punishment or persecution (e.g., Matthew 21:35; Mark 12:3, 5). The verb may signify judicial punishment with rods or whips, or broader acts of violent assault. When used figuratively, it underscores the harshness of the treatment. English translations often render δέρω as 'beat' or 'flog,' but these do not always capture the severity implied by the Greek. In LXX and post-classical sources, the range narrows toward 'to beat, to strike (with rods or whips)' in both literal and legal contexts. Distinct from παιδεύω ('to discipline, chastise') and τύπτω ('to strike' in a more general sense), δέρω often conveys more brutal, skin-breaking violence.

Translation Consistency

primary "beat" 7 occurrences

δέρω primarily denotes violent striking or punishment (scourging, thrashing) and in extended use includes flaying; 'beat' is the most natural, common English verb that captures the typical sense of violent physical assault and punishment while remaining idiomatic. More literal choices like 'flay' are rarer and less natural for most contexts, so 'beat' ensures consistent, readable rendering across forms.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):

"having severely beaten" (3x) "he/she/it will be beaten" (2x) "beaten" (1x) "do you strike" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; properly, to flay, i.e. (by implication) to scourge, or (by analogy) to thrash:--beat, smite.

Root Family

δέρω (derō) — to skin, to flay, to beat

Root δερ- to skin, to flay, to beat

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1194-03`	δείραντες	deirantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having beaten	having severely beaten	having severely beaten	4
`G1194-07`	δέροντες	derontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	beating	those flaying	those beating	2
`G1194-08`	ἔδειραν	edeiran	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	beat	they flayed	they beat	2
`G1194-06`	δέρων	deron	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	beating	flaying one	beating	2
`G1194-02`	δαρήσεται	daresetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be beaten	he/she/it will be flayed	he/she/it will be beaten	2
`G1194-04`	δέρει	derei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	strikes	he is flaying	he beats	1
`G1194-01`	δαρήσεσθε	daresesthe	`V FUT PASS IND 2P PL`	you will be flogged	you will be flayed	you will be beaten	1
`G1194-05`	δέρεις	dereis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	do you strike	you are thrashing	do you strike	1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1194-08`	Matthew 21:35	ἔδειραν	edeiran	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	beat	they flayed	they beat
`G1194-08`	Mark 12:3	ἔδειραν	edeiran	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they beat	they flayed	they beat
`G1194-07`	Mark 12:5	δέροντες	derontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	beating	those flaying	those beating
`G1194-01`	Mark 13:9	δαρήσεσθε	daresesthe	`V FUT PASS IND 2P PL`	you will be flogged	you will be flayed	you will be beaten
`G1194-02`	Luke 12:47	δαρήσεται	daresetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be beaten	he/she/it will be flayed	he/she/it will be beaten
`G1194-02`	Luke 12:48	δαρήσεται	daresetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be beaten	he/she/it will be flayed	he/she/it will be beaten
`G1194-03`	Luke 20:10	δείραντες	deirantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having beaten	having severely beaten	having severely beaten
`G1194-03`	Luke 20:11	δείραντες	deirantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having beaten	having severely beaten	having severely beaten
`G1194-07`	Luke 22:63	δέροντες	derontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	beating	those flaying	beating
`G1194-05`	John 18:23	δέρεις	dereis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	do you strike	you are thrashing	do you strike
`G1194-03`	Acts 5:40	δείραντες	deirantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having flogged	having severely beaten	having severely beaten
`G1194-03`	Acts 16:37	δείραντες	deirantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having beaten	having severely beaten
`G1194-06`	Acts 22:19	δέρων	deron	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	beating	flaying one	beating
`G1194-06`	1 Corinthians 9:26	δέρων	deron	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	beating	flaying one	beating
`G1194-04`	2 Corinthians 11:20	δέρει	derei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	strikes	he is flaying	he beats

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