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διδάσκω

didáskō

G1321 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To instruct, impart knowledge or skill, give systematic or formal teaching; to explain or expound a subject; in religious or moral contexts, to guide or form people through instruction. Depending on context, emphasizes the transfer of knowledge, the communication of tradition, or the formation of character and conduct through didactic activity.

Semantic Range

to instruct formally, to impart knowledge, to explain, to give systematic teaching, to expound, to train (in a skill or discipline), to guide morally or religiously, to form character and conduct through education

Root / Etymology

From the root διδάσκω, possibly related to the reduplicated present stem of an ancient Indo-European base *didask-, meaning 'to teach.' Some scholars connect it to διδάκτωρ ('teacher, instructor'). Relationship to the verb διδάσκω ('to teach') is direct; related noun is διδασκαλία ('teaching, instruction').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, διδάσκω appears as early as the 5th century BCE (e.g., Herodotus, Plato), primarily denoting the formal instruction of pupils (e.g., in arts, rhetoric, or music). The term carries a broad sense of any form of imparting knowledge or skill, from didactic poetry to the formal instruction in schools and philosophical contexts. In the Septuagint, διδάσκω is often used to translate Hebrew roots such as למד (lamad, 'to teach'), frequently with reference to teaching law, wisdom, or divine commandments. In the New Testament, it retains the sense of instructing, whether in a public or private setting, and is frequently used for the activity of Jesus or his followers conveying divine teaching, but also for other forms of guidance (e.g., ethical, social, ritual). The term highlights the role of a person (didáskalos, 'teacher') in formal and informal settings. In contrast to related verbs such as παραινεῖν ('to advise') or νουθετεῖν ('to admonish'), διδάσκω centers on systematic instruction rather than mere advice or warning. English translations generally render διδάσκω as 'teach,' which adequately covers the main sense, but may under-represent its more formal or authoritative connotations, especially in religious or philosophical contexts. In Koine, the scope can include catechetical, halakhic, or liturgical transmission. The verb generally does not denote the initial process of learning, which more properly belongs to μανθάνω ('to learn').

Translation Consistency

primary "teach" 41 occurrences

διδάσκω primarily means to give systematic instruction or impart knowledge/skill. "Teach" is the most natural, common English verb that covers the range (instruct, explain, train, guide morally) and matches the dominant P2 renderings (teaching, instructing, taught). Using "teach" ensures clear, consistent translation across all forms.

Alternatives (9 occurrences):
"instruct" (3x) "taught" (3x) "instructing" (1x) "instructed" (1x) "while he was instructing" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application):--teach.

Root Family

διδασκ- (didaskalía) — to teach, to instruct, to impart knowledge

Root διδασκ- to teach, to instruct, to impart knowledge
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1319 διδασκαλία to instruction
G1320 διδάσκαλος Teacher

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1321-06 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching 23
G1321-03 διδάσκειν didaskein V PRS ACT INF to teach to be instructing to be teaching 13
G1321-18 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he was teaching was instructing was teaching 13
G1321-07 διδάσκοντες didaskontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL teaching instructing ones teaching 9
G1321-04 διδάσκεις didaskeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you teach you are teaching you are teaching 7
G1321-01 δίδασκε didaske V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG teach be instructing be teaching 3
G1321-02 διδάσκει didaskei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG teaches he/she teaches teaches 3
G1321-10 διδάξαι didaxai V AOR ACT INF to teach to instruct to instruct 3
G1321-17 ἐδιδάχθητε edidachthete V AOR PASS IND 2P PL you were taught you were instructed you were taught 3
G1321-23 ἐδίδαξεν edidaxen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG taught he/she taught he taught 3

Occurrences in Scripture

96 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1321-06 Matthew 4:23 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-18 Matthew 5:2 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he was teaching was instructing was teaching
G1321-11 Matthew 5:19 διδάξῃ didaxe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG teaches he/she may instruct may instruct
G1321-11 Matthew 5:19 διδάξῃ didaxe-2 V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG teaches he/she may instruct may instruct
G1321-06 Matthew 7:29 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-06 Matthew 9:35 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-03 Matthew 11:1 διδάσκειν didaskein V PRS ACT INF teach to be instructing to be teaching
G1321-18 Matthew 13:54 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he was teaching was instructing was teaching
G1321-07 Matthew 15:9 διδάσκοντες didaskontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL teaching instructing ones teaching ones
G1321-08 Matthew 21:23 διδάσκοντι didaskonti V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG teaching to the one instructing as he was instructing
G1321-04 Matthew 22:16 διδάσκεις didaskeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you teach you are teaching you are teaching
G1321-06 Matthew 26:55 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-16 Matthew 28:15 ἐδιδάχθησαν edidachthesan V AOR PASS IND 3P PL they had been taught they were instructed they were instructed
G1321-07 Matthew 28:20 διδάσκοντες didaskontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL teaching instructing ones teaching ones
G1321-18 Mark 1:21 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he was teaching was instructing was teaching
G1321-06 Mark 1:22 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-18 Mark 2:13 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he was teaching was instructing was teaching
G1321-03 Mark 4:1 διδάσκειν didaskein V PRS ACT INF to teach to be instructing to be teaching
G1321-18 Mark 4:2 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG He was teaching was instructing was teaching
G1321-03 Mark 6:2 διδάσκειν didaskein V PRS ACT INF to teach to be instructing to be teaching
G1321-06 Mark 6:6 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-21 Mark 6:30 ἐδίδαξαν edidaxan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they had taught they instructed they taught
G1321-03 Mark 6:34 διδάσκειν didaskein V PRS ACT INF to teach to be instructing to be teaching
G1321-07 Mark 7:7 διδάσκοντες didaskontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL teaching instructing ones teaching ones
G1321-03 Mark 8:31 διδάσκειν didaskein V PRS ACT INF to teach to be instructing to be teaching
G1321-18 Mark 9:31 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG He was teaching was instructing was teaching
G1321-18 Mark 10:1 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG He taught was instructing was teaching
G1321-18 Mark 11:17 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he was teaching was instructing was teaching
G1321-04 Mark 12:14 διδάσκεις didaskeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you teach you are teaching you are teaching
G1321-06 Mark 12:35 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-06 Mark 14:49 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-18 Luke 4:15 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG was teaching was instructing was teaching
G1321-06 Luke 4:31 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-18 Luke 5:3 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG taught was instructing was teaching
G1321-06 Luke 5:17 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-03 Luke 6:6 διδάσκειν didaskein V PRS ACT INF to teach to be instructing to be teaching
G1321-13 Luke 11:1 δίδαξον didaxon V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG teach Instruct! Instruct
G1321-23 Luke 11:1 ἐδίδαξεν edidaxen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG taught he/she taught he taught
G1321-12 Luke 12:12 διδάξει didaxei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will teach will instruct he will teach
G1321-06 Luke 13:10 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-06 Luke 13:22 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-22 Luke 13:26 ἐδίδαξας edidaxas V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you taught you instructed you taught
G1321-06 Luke 19:47 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-09 Luke 20:1 διδάσκοντος didaskontos V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG teaching of the one instructing while he was instructing
G1321-04 Luke 20:21 διδάσκεις didaskeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you teach you are teaching you are teaching
G1321-04 Luke 20:21 διδάσκεις didaskeis-2 V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you teach you are teaching you are teaching
G1321-06 Luke 21:37 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-06 Luke 23:5 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-06 John 6:59 διδάσκων didaskon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG teaching instructing teaching
G1321-18 John 7:14 ἐδίδασκεν edidasken V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG was teaching was instructing was teaching
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