What does σχίζω (schízō) mean in the Bible?
Schizo means to tear, split, rend, or divide. Its uses can be physical, as with cloth, a temple veil, a garment, or a fishing net, and figurative, as when a city divides over the apostolic message.
Greek · G4977
σχίζω
To split or sever (literally or figuratively)
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σχίζω G4977
Pronunciation schízō
What does σχίζω (schízō) mean in the Bible?
Schizo means to tear, split, rend, or divide. Its uses can be physical, as with cloth, a temple veil, a garment, or a fishing net, and figurative, as when a city divides over the apostolic message.
Reader summary
Full entry for σχίζω (G4977) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G4977?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include was torn (3), breaking open (1), he will tear (1), Let us not tear it (1), tears (1).
Where does σχίζω (schízō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 27:51. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (3), Acts (2), John (2), Mark (2).
Are there verse guides for σχίζω (schízō)?
This entry includes 1 verse guide that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
Schizo means to tear, split, rend, or divide. Its uses can be physical, as with cloth, a temple veil, a garment, or a fishing net, and figurative, as when a city divides over the apostolic message. The verb does not carry one theological meaning in every occurrence. Mark's opened heavens belong to Jesus' baptism. Matthew's torn veil accompanies Jesus' death.
John's soldiers choose not to tear His tunic, while the resurrection-era catch does not tear the net. Acts applies the language to divided public response. These differences protect interpreters from collecting every tear into one symbolism. Teachers should begin with the object or community being divided, trace the immediate scene, and let broader theological conclusions arise from the passage rather than from the verb alone.
How the Bible Uses It
Schizo describes tearing, splitting, or division, ranging from cloth and nets to the opened heavens, the temple veil, and a divided city.
- Mark.1.10
As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
Mark uses vivid opening language as the Spirit descends upon Jesus at His baptism.
- Luke.5.36
He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will tear the new garment as well, and the patch from the new will not match the old.
The verb describes damage caused by tearing cloth from a new garment in Jesus' parable.
- Matt.27.51
At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split.
The tearing of the temple veil accompanies Jesus' death as a divinely framed Passion sign.
- John.19.24
So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing.” So that is what the soldiers did.
The soldiers refuse to tear Jesus' tunic and instead cast lots, which John relates to Scripture.
- John.21.11
So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn.
The net's surprising integrity is noted amid the abundant catch after Jesus directs the disciples.
- Acts.14.4
The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
The verb extends figuratively to a city divided in its response to the apostolic mission.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It was torn 3× Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45
breaking open 1× Mark 1:10
he will tear 1× Luke 5:36
Let us not tear it 1× John 19:24
tears 1× Luke 5:36
was divided 1× Acts 23:7
was not torn 1× John 21:11
were divided 1× Acts 14:4
were split 1× Matthew 27:51
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 27:51 ἐσχίσθη to was torn Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 27:51 ἐσχίσθησαν to were split Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural Mark 1:10 σχιζομένους to breaking open Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural Mark 15:38 ἐσχίσθη to was torn Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Luke 5:36 σχίσας to tears Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Luke 5:36 σχίσει to he will tear Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Luke 23:45 ἐσχίσθη to was torn Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular John 19:24 σχίσωμεν to Let us not tear it Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural John 21:11 ἐσχίσθη to was not torn Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Acts 14:4 Ἐσχίσθη to were divided Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 27:51
Aligned rows 11
Books represented 5
Matthew 2 Mark 2 Luke 3 John 2 Acts 2
Source forms
ἐσχίσθη 5x eschisthē Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45, John 21:11
Ἐσχίσθη 1x Eschisthē Acts 14:4
ἐσχίσθησαν 1x eschisthēsan Matthew 27:51
σχιζομένους 1x schizomenous Mark 1:10
σχίσας 1x schisas Luke 5:36
σχίσει 1x schisei Luke 5:36
σχίσωμεν 1x schisōmen John 19:24
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular 6x Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45, John 21:11
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural 1x Matthew 27:51
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular 1x Luke 5:36
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural 1x John 19:24
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 1x Luke 5:36
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural 1x Mark 1:10
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not combine every occurrence into one hidden theology of tearing.
- Do not make the torn veil carry claims beyond the Passion context and the Gospel's own presentation.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim every use of schizo signifies access to God or judgment.
- Do not claim the intact net in John 21 proves a doctrine of institutional unity from this verb alone.
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Evidence Summary
Presence
Greek word. To split or tear apart, with metaphorical sense of dividing a community into opposing factions
Source Gloss
to split or sever (literally or figuratively)
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
To split or tear apart, with metaphorical sense of dividing a community into opposing factions
to cleave, rend: Mat.27:51, Mrk.1:10 15:38, Luk.5:36 23:45, Jhn.19:24 21:11; metaphorically, in pass., to be divided into factions, Act.14:4 23:7.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
10 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
escisqh
I rend, divide asunder
Read verse Matthew 27:51 Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐσχίσθησαν· escisqhsan
I rend, divide asunder
Read verse Mark 1:10 Verb Present Passive Participle Accusative Plural Masculine
σχιζομένους scizomenouv
I rend, divide asunder
Read verse Mark 15:38 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐσχίσθη escisqh
I rend, divide asunder
Read verse Luke 5:36 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
σχίζει, scizei
I rend, divide asunder
Read verse Luke 23:45 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐσχίσθη escisqh
I rend, divide asunder
Read verse John 19:24 Verb First Person Plural Aorist Active Subjunctive
σχίσωμεν sciswmen
I rend, divide asunder
Read verse John 21:11 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐσχίσθη escisqh
I rend, divide asunder
Read verse Acts 14:4 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐσχίσθη escisqh
I rend, divide asunder
Read verse Acts 23:7 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Indicative
ἐσχίσθη escisqh
I rend, divide asunder
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 3 Aligned forms 11 Tenses Aorist, Present, Future Voices Passive, Active
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 8×
Future Active Luke 5:36 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 2×
Present Passive Mark 1:10 1×
Aorist Active Luke 5:36 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 1×
Aorist Active John 19:24 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 11 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 9 future 1 present 1
Voice
passive 8 active 3
Mood
indicative 8 participle 2 subjunctive 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 27:51 ἐσχίσθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 27:51 ἐσχίσθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Mark 1:10 σχιζομένους present passive participle participle Mark 15:38 ἐσχίσθη aorist passive indicative completed Luke 5:36 σχίσας aorist active participle participle Luke 5:36 σχίσει future active indicative prospective Luke 23:45 ἐσχίσθη aorist passive indicative completed John 19:24 σχίσωμεν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive John 21:11 ἐσχίσθη aorist passive indicative completed Acts 14:4 ἐσχίσθη aorist passive indicative completed Acts 23:7 ἐσχίσθη aorist passive indicative completed
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Additional Occurrences
Luke 23:44–49 κατεσχίσθη schízō
Was torn apart
New Testament Witnesses
to tear or split
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
σχίζω is a primary verb - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Signals dramatic divine intervention and anticipates temple veil imagery.
Canonical Themes
Presence
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Schizo is vivid because tearing changes the condition of what is torn, but the New Testament uses that vividness in distinct ways. A garment can be damaged, the heavens can appear opened at Jesus' baptism, the temple veil can be torn at His death, a tunic can remain untorn, a net can withstand an abundant catch, and a city can be divided by competing responses.
The lexical range establishes rupture or division; it does not authorize a single symbolic formula. Matthew 27 gives the torn veil its Passion setting, while Acts 14 gives social division its missionary setting. Faithful preaching will therefore name the concrete action, honor each author's narrative purpose, and avoid illegitimate totality. The verb serves the passage; the passage supplies the doctrine.
Anchor passage
Matt.27.51
Doctrinal connections
- Mark.1.10: the heavens open as the Spirit descends on Jesus at His baptism.
- Luke.5.36: torn cloth illustrates the damage produced by a mismatched patch.
- Matt.27.51: the temple veil is torn as Jesus dies, within Matthew's cluster of Passion signs.
- John.19.24: the soldiers do not tear Jesus' tunic and instead fulfill the cited Scripture.
- John.21.11: the net remains intact despite the large catch directed by the risen Jesus.
- Acts.14.4: the city's divided response shows the social force of the apostolic mission.
Schizo is a verb whose core action is splitting or tearing. The grammatical subject, object, voice, and literary setting determine whether the action is literal or figurative.
From Old to New Testament
Torn garments, divided communities, and sanctuary imagery appear across Scripture, but each connection must be established by its own context rather than by a shared English word.
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
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain