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Greek · G1242 · unreviewed

διαθήκη

Covenant

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διαθήκη G1242
Pronunciation diathḗkē

What does διαθήκη (diathḗkē) mean in the Bible?

διαθήκη (diathḗkē) is a Greek word meaning "covenant". διαθήκη, -ης, ἡ (διατίθημι), [frequently in LXX, and nearly always for בְּרִית ;] __1. Identifies Christ’s death as covenant-ratifying. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Messiah.

Full entry for διαθήκη (G1242) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

covenant
Extended definition

God's unilateral binding arrangement with his people, not a mutual contract between equals.

(διατίθημι), [frequently in LXX, and nearly always for בְּרִית ;]

1as usually in cl., a disposition, testament, will (Plat., al.): Gal.3:15 (R, mg., but see Lft., in l.), Heb.9:16, 17 (R, txt.; MM, Exp., xi; Milligan, NTD, 75; Abbott, Essays, 107; Deiss., LAE, 341; but see infr.).
2As in LXX (for בְּרִית) = cl. συνθήκη, a convention, arrangement, covenant (exc. in the disputed cases mentioned above, always between God and man, "perhaps with the feeling that the δια- compound was more suitable than the συν- for a covenant with God---συνθ. might suggest equal terms," MM, Exp., l.with): Gal.3:15 (R, txt., but see supr., and cf. Thayer, see word), Heb.9:16, 17 (R, mg., Westc., in l.; Hatch, Essays, 47; but see supr.), Mat.26:28, Mrk.14:24, Luk.1:72, Act.3:25 7:8, Rom.11:27" (LXX), 2Co.3:14, Gal.3:17, Heb.7:22 8:6, ib. 9, 10" (LXX) 9:4, 15-17 20" (LXX) 10:16 (LXX), 29 12:24 13:20, Rev.11:19; καινὴ δ., Mat.26:28, and Mrk.14:24 (R, mg.), Luk.22:20, 1Co.11:25, 2Co.3:6, Heb.8:8" (LXX) 9:15; pl. Rom.9:4, Gal.4:24, Eph.2:12.
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Identifies Christ’s death as covenant-ratifying. Acts 7:1-16
Identifies the new covenant established by Christ’s blood. Hebrews 8:7-13
Describes binding divine arrangement fulfilled in Christ. Hebrews 9:15-22
Explains the necessity of death for covenant activation. Luke 22:7–23
The covenant frames the unfolding promises that culminate in Christ. Mark 14:17–25
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Luke 22:20 · Rom 11:27 · 1 Cor 11:25 · Heb 8:10 · Heb 9:16 · Heb 9:17 · Heb 10:16 7×
Nominative · Plural · Feminine Rom 9:4 · Gal 4:24 2×
Genitive · Singular · Feminine Matt 26:28 · Mark 14:24 · Luke 1:72 · Acts 3:25 · 2 Cor 3:6 · 2 Cor 3:14 · Heb 7:22 · Heb 8:6 · Heb 9:4 · Heb 9:15 · Heb 9:20 · Heb 10:29 · Heb 12:24 · Heb 13:20 · Rev 11:19 16×
Genitive · Plural · Feminine Eph 2:12 1×
Dative · Singular · Feminine Heb 8:9 · Heb 9:15 2×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine Acts 7:8 · Gal 3:15 · Gal 3:17 · Heb 8:8 · Heb 8:9 5×
33 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Canonical Themes
Covenant Messiah
Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses
Acts 7:1-16 Covenant diathḗkē Accusative · Singular · Feminine
Binding agreement established by God.
Hebrews 8:7-13 διαθήκη diathḗkē Nominative · Singular · Feminine
covenant
Hebrews 9:15-22 διαθήκη diathḗkē Nominative · Singular · Feminine
covenant/testament
Luke 22:7–23 διαθήκη diathḗkē Nominative · Singular · Feminine
covenant
Mark 14:17–25 διαθήκη diathḗkē Genitive · Singular · Feminine
covenant
Additional Occurrences
Luke 1:67–79 διαθήκης diathḗkē
Covenant
Luke 22:7–23 διαθήκη diathḗkē
Covenant
Mark 14:12–25 διαθήκη diathḗkē
covenant; binding agreement established by God
Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

διαθήκη · αἰώνιος G1242, G166
eternal covenant
διαθήκη · καινός G1242, G2537
new covenant; promised covenantal arrangement
αἷμα · διαθήκη G129, G1242
covenant blood; blood that secures covenant relationship
καινός · διαθήκη G2537, G1242
new covenant
κρείττων · διαθήκη G2909, G1242
The superior covenant mediated by Christ.
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 11 — Honor, Worship Order, and the Lord’s Supper Under the Lordship of Christ Acts 7 — Stephen Testifies to Israel’s Resistance and Christ’s Glory Luke 22 — The Passover Betrayal, the New Covenant Meal, and the Suffering Servant King Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Matthew 26 — The Betrayal, Passover, Gethsemane, Trial, and Denial of Jesus Romans 11 — The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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