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διατίθεμαι

diatíthemai

G1303 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To set out, arrange, or establish, especially in the sense of instituting, making arrangements, or disposing (as in a will or covenant). In the middle voice, often to make arrangements for oneself or one's interests, to institute by disposition, particularly in legal or testamentary (will-making) language. Can refer to the act of making a covenant, contract, or testament, as well as generally arranging or setting forth something for another's benefit.

Semantic Range

to arrange, to institute, to make a covenant, to make a testament or will, to appoint, to dispose (of property), to set forth

Root / Etymology

From the preposition διά (through, across) and the verb τίθημι (to place, to set), thus originally meaning 'to set out through' or 'arrange thoroughly.' The form is a middle deponent.

Historical & Contextual Notes

διατίθεμαι appears in both classical and Koine Greek predominantly in legal or administrative contexts. In the Septuagint, it is frequently used to render Hebrew כָּרַת בְּרִית (karat berit, 'cut a covenant'), highlighting the institutional act of establishing a formal agreement or covenant, often between deity and humans, or between humans themselves. In the New Testament (e.g., Heb 8:10, Heb 9:16), the word acquires the dual legal sense relating both to covenant-making and to the disposition of a testament or will. The English translation 'appoint' does not always capture the nuance of instituting a formal, binding arrangement. In later Hellenistic legal Greek, διατίθεμαι is often used for the act of making one's final will (testament), but in scriptural contexts, the nuance can alternate between 'to make a covenant' and 'to stipulate a testament.' The middle voice indicates the subject's active participation for their own or another's benefit. Related verbs such as συντίθημι ('to agree together') and ἐπιτίθημι ('to lay upon') differ in focus: διατίθεμαι emphasizes the thorough arrangement or setting forth. The standard English 'make a covenant' or 'appoint' may obscure the legal-formal shade of meaning present in the Koine usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "arrange" 6 occurrences

"Arrange" is a natural, flexible English verb that fits the primary semantic range — to set out, make dispositions, institute or make arrangements (including testamentary or covenantal arrangements). It captures both the general sense (to set forth or order) and the legal/testamentary sense (to dispose, appoint, make provisions) while remaining simple and consistent for all forms of διατίθεμαι.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"made" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from διά and τίθημι; to put apart, i.e. (figuratively) dispose (by assignment, compact, or bequest):--appoint, make, testator.

Root Family

διατίθεμαι (diatithemai) — to set, to place, to arrange, to institute, to dispose

Root τιθ- to set, to place, to arrange

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1303-05 διέθετό dietheto V AOR MID IND 3P SG has granted he arranged for himself he arranged for himself 2
G1303-03 διαθήσομαι diathesomai V FUT MID IND 1P SG I will make I will arrange for myself I will arrange for myself 2
G1303-02 διαθεμένου diathemenou V AOR MID PTCP GEN M SG who made it of the one who arranged for himself of the one who arranged for himself 1
G1303-04 διατίθεμαι diatithemai V PRS MID IND 1P SG appoint I arrange for myself arrange for myself 1
G1303-01 διαθέμενος diathemenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG one who made it having arranged for himself having arranged for himself 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1303-04 Luke 22:29 διατίθεμαι diatithemai V PRS MID IND 1P SG appoint I arrange for myself arrange for myself
G1303-05 Luke 22:29 διέθετό dietheto V AOR MID IND 3P SG has granted he arranged for himself he arranged for himself
G1303-05 Acts 3:25 διέθετο dietheto V AOR MID IND 3P SG made he arranged for himself made
G1303-03 Hebrews 8:10 διαθήσομαι diathesomai V FUT MID IND 1P SG I will make I will arrange for myself I will arrange for myself
G1303-02 Hebrews 9:16 διαθεμένου diathemenou V AOR MID PTCP GEN M SG who made it of the one who arranged for himself of the one who arranged for himself
G1303-01 Hebrews 9:17 διαθέμενος diathemenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG one who made it having arranged for himself having arranged for himself
G1303-03 Hebrews 10:16 διαθήσομαι diathesomai V FUT MID IND 1P SG I will make I will arrange for myself I will arrange for myself
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