διανοίγω
dianoígō
G1272 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To open fully, make accessible or cause to be open, either in a physical or metaphorical sense; in literal contexts, to open thoroughly (such as a physical object or passage); in figurative contexts, to cause something to be understood, to reveal or explain (as with meaning or understanding).
Semantic Range
to open thoroughly (a physical object, door, or womb), to enable perception or understanding, to reveal or explain (a meaning, teaching, or Scripture), to remove barriers to access, to disclose
Root / Etymology
From the preposition διά ('through') and the verb ἀνοίγω ('to open'), thus conveying the sense of 'to open completely or thoroughly'. The compound formation intensifies the idea of opening inherent in ἀνοίγω.
Historical & Contextual Notes
διανοίγω appears in both literal and figurative senses in Koine Greek. While in earlier Greek literature it can refer simply to the thorough opening of physical objects (e.g., doors, wombs, ears), by the Hellenistic and particularly New Testament period it is frequently used figuratively for enablement of understanding or perception (such as 'opening the mind' or 'opening the Scriptures'). In the Septuagint, διανοίγω occurs in physical contexts (e.g., opening the womb—referring to birth), but in the New Testament, usage is often metaphorical (e.g., opening eyes or mind to comprehension). English translations often render it simply as 'open,' but this sometimes misses the intensive and/or revelatory connotation in Greek. The term shares semantic overlap with ἀνοίγω ('to open'), but the prefix διά more strongly emphasizes thoroughness or complete enablement. In some contexts, especially biblical ones, διανοίγω can indicate divine or supernatural action in facilitating understanding, but the core meaning remains the act of complete opening.
Translation Consistency
Open is the most natural, common English verb that covers both the literal sense (open wide, open a door or womb) and the frequent figurative sense (open the mind, open the meaning of Scripture—i.e., make accessible or reveal). It fits the typical usage across contexts and works consistently for all inflected forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from διά and ἀνοίγω; to open thoroughly, literally (as a first-born) or figuratively (to expound):--open.
Root Family
διανοίγω (dianoigō) — to open, to make accessible, to reveal
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1272-02 |
διανοῖγον | dianoigon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG |
explaining | fully opening | fully opening | 2 |
G1272-06 |
διήνοιξεν | dienoixen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
He opened | he thoroughly opened | he thoroughly opened | 2 |
G1272-05 |
διηνοιγμένους | dienoigmenous | V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M PL |
opened | having been fully opened | having been fully opened | 1 |
G1272-01 |
διανοίχθητι | dianoichtheti | V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG |
Be opened | Be fully opened | Be opened | 1 |
G1272-04 |
διήνοιγεν | dienoigen | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
he was opening | he was fully opening | he was opening | 1 |
G1272-03 |
διηνοίχθησαν | dienoichthesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
were opened | they were fully opened | they were fully opened | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1272-01 |
Mark 7:34 | διανοίχθητι | dianoichtheti | V AOR PASS IMP 2P SG |
Be opened | Be fully opened | Be opened |
G1272-02 |
Luke 2:23 | διανοῖγον | dianoigon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG |
opening | fully opening | fully opening |
G1272-03 |
Luke 24:31 | διηνοίχθησαν | dienoichthesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
were opened | they were fully opened | they were fully opened |
G1272-04 |
Luke 24:32 | διήνοιγεν | dienoigen | V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG |
he was opening | he was fully opening | he was opening |
G1272-06 |
Luke 24:45 | διήνοιξεν | dienoixen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
He opened | he thoroughly opened | he thoroughly opened |
G1272-05 |
Acts 7:56 | διηνοιγμένους | dienoigmenous | V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M PL |
opened | having been fully opened | having been fully opened |
G1272-06 |
Acts 16:14 | διήνοιξεν | dienoixen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
opened | he thoroughly opened | he thoroughly opened |
G1272-02 |
Acts 17:3 | διανοίγων | dianoigon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
explaining | fully opening | fully opening |