διά

diá

G1223 preposition

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primarily indicates the sense of 'through,' denoting the means, agency, manner, or ground by which an action is accomplished. Depending on context, it can mark: (1) movement or extension through space or time; (2) means, instrument, or intermediary agency; (3) cause, reason, or basis for an action (esp. with accusative). Commonly governs either the genitive or accusative case, shifting nuance accordingly.

Semantic Range

through (of place or time), by means of, via, by the agency of, by, on account of, because of, for the sake of, owing to, during, throughout, as a result of

Root / Etymology

From Greek root δι- related to the Proto-Indo-European *dwo ('two'), reflecting a sense of passage between or across two points; ultimately etymologically akin to the idea of division or separation, though the prepositional uses in Koine are not strictly derived from numerals. As a preposition in classical Greek, already shows varied spatial and logical uses.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, διά commonly expressed motion 'through' (of place, time), as well as mediation or agency. In Koine Greek (including the Septuagint and New Testament), its use broadens to include logical, causal, and instrumental relations—particularly in abstract senses. With the genitive (διά + gen.), it generally means 'through' (spatial, temporal, or instrumental), emphasizing the medium or agent (e.g. διὰ τοῦ προφήτου, 'through the prophet'). With the accusative (διά + acc.), it usually denotes 'because of,' 'on account of,' marking cause or reason (e.g. διὰ τὴν ἀγάπην, 'because of love'). Translation tradition varies: 'through,' 'by means of,' 'because of,' 'on account of,' but sometimes also simply as 'by.' The range of meaning in Hellenistic documents (including papyri) matches that found in biblical Greek, making διά a core preposition for expressing means, cause, and mediation. When compounded with other words, διά often preserves the sense of passage, means, or motive, though the semantic contribution may merge with the new lexical context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.

Root Family

διά (dia) — through, by means of, by the agency of, because of

Root δι- through, by means of, because of, on account of
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2203 Ζεύς through

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1223-02 διὰ dia PREP GEN through through through 521
G1223-01 δι’ di PREP GEN through through through 147

Occurrences in Scripture

668 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1223-02 Matthew 1:22 διὰ dia PREP GEN through through through
G1223-02 Matthew 2:5 διὰ dia PREP GEN by through through
G1223-01 Matthew 2:12 δι’ di PREP GEN by through through
G1223-02 Matthew 2:15 διὰ dia PREP GEN through through through
G1223-02 Matthew 2:17 διὰ dia PREP GEN through through through
G1223-02 Matthew 2:23 διὰ dia PREP GEN through through through
G1223-02 Matthew 3:3 διὰ dia PREP GEN by through through
G1223-02 Matthew 4:4 διὰ dia PREP GEN out of through through
G1223-02 Matthew 4:14 διὰ dia PREP GEN by through through
G1223-02 Matthew 6:25 διὰ dia PREP ACC Therefore through because of