διανέμω
dianémō
G1268 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To distribute, apportion, or divide out something to various recipients; to give or assign portions among several. Primary meaning is the physical or metaphorical allocation or portioning out of materials, tasks, or information; may also be used for disseminating or spreading knowledge or messages.
Semantic Range
to distribute, to apportion, to allocate, to divide among, to deal out, to spread (information), to disseminate
Root / Etymology
Formed from διά ('through, across') and the verb νέμω ('to allot, divide, distribute'). The prefix intensifies the sense of thorough or widespread distribution. Not to be confused with νόμος ('law'), though both ultimately share an older Indo-European root related to allotment or apportionment.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, διανέμω is attested with the sense of actively dividing property, honors, or responsibilities among several people. It appears in administrative, legal, and rhetorical contexts for distributing resources or rights. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it retains the sense of distributing tangible or intangible items, such as gifts, goods, or information. In Acts 2:45, the verb relates specifically to the apportionment of property or possessions to meet communal needs, illustrating both physical distribution and social practice. The term may also be found outside biblical literature in administrative papyri or inscriptions, where it refers to the allocation of support, resources, or assignments. Standard English translations like 'distribute' capture the essential meaning but can obscure the nuance of methodical or measured allocation present in Greek. The verb seldom, but occasionally, refers to the spreading of information, as by making known or disseminating news. Distinct from verbs like διαδίδωμι ('to give through/out') or μερισμός ('division, partition'), διανέμω emphasizes the aspect of intentional apportionment among more than one party.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from διά and the base of νόμος; to distribute, i.e. (of information) to disseminate:--spread.
Root Family
διανέμω (dianemō) — to divide, to allot, to distribute
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1268-01 |
διανεμηθῇ | dianemethe | V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG |
spread | may be distributed | may be distributed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1268-01 |
Acts 4:17 | διανεμηθῇ | dianemethe | V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG |
spread | may be distributed | may be distributed |