ὀρθοτομέω
orthotoméō
G3718 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cut straight, to proceed along a straight path; by extension, to handle, guide, or interpret something correctly or accurately. In the New Testament, specifically refers to handling or interpreting speech or teaching (usually the 'word' or message) in a straightforward, accurate, and reliable manner, without alteration or distortion.
Semantic Range
to cut in a straight line, to guide on a straight path, to handle correctly (teachings or words), to interpret accurately, to act with integrity and directness
Root / Etymology
From ὀρθός ('straight, upright') and τομή/τέμνω ('to cut'), forming a compound meaning 'to cut straight.' The construction echoes similar Greek compound verbs in classical and technical language; the sense is rooted in manual activities (e.g., roadmaking, carpentry, cutting).
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὀρθοτομέω appears only twice in extant Greek literature prior to the New Testament, notably in the Septuagint (Proverbs 3:6, 11:5, both with the sense 'make straight [paths]'), and rarely if at all in other Hellenistic sources. In 2 Timothy 2:15, the term is used figuratively to describe the desired manner of teaching or interpreting the 'word of truth,' urging accuracy and correctness, likely drawing from the imagery of cutting a straight path (such as road building) for clarity and integrity. In the Septuagint, the metaphorical sense is that God or Wisdom makes straight the paths for the righteous, implying guidance in a right course. The translation tradition often rendered this as 'rightly dividing,' but this specific sense of 'divide' is not supported by broader Greek usage, which emphasizes the ideas of uprightness, directness, and accuracy. There is no evidence in non-biblical Greek for a technical sense of 'expositing' or 'dissecting' in a rhetorical or analytical sense. English translations that render it 'rightly dividing' can mislead, suggesting a narrower, more technical activity than the original term intends. The word contrasts with verbs like στρέφω ('to twist') or πλαστάζω ('to form falsely'), which connote distortion or perversion.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a compound of ὀρθός and the base of τομώτερος, to make a straight cut, i.e. (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message):--rightly divide.
Root Family
ὀρθοτομ- (orthotoméō) — to cut straight, to make straight, to act uprightly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3718-01 |
ὀρθοτομοῦντα | orthotomounta | V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG |
rightly dividing | cutting straight | rightly handling | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3718-01 |
2 Timothy 2:15 | ὀρθοτομοῦντα | orthotomounta | V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG |
rightly dividing | cutting straight | rightly handling |