1242. diathéké

Strong's Lexicon

diathéké: Covenant, Testament

Original Word: διαθήκη
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: diathéké
Pronunciation: dee-ath-ay'-kay
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ath-ay'-kay)
Definition: Covenant, Testament
Meaning: (a) a covenant between two parties, (b) (the ordinary, everyday sense [found a countless number of times in papyri]) a will, testament.

Word Origin: From the Greek verb διατίθημι (diatithēmi), meaning "to arrange" or "to dispose."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H1285 - בְּרִית (berith): Often translated as "covenant," this Hebrew term is used extensively in the Old Testament to describe agreements between God and His people, such as the covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Moses.

Usage: The term "diathéké" primarily refers to a covenant or agreement, often with a legal or formal connotation. In the New Testament, it is used to describe the solemn and binding agreements between God and humanity. It is most commonly translated as "covenant" in the context of God's promises and "testament" when referring to the division of the Bible into Old and New Testaments.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek culture, a "diathéké" was akin to a will or testament, a legal document outlining the distribution of one's estate after death. In the Hebrew context, a covenant was a sacred agreement, often sealed with a ritual or sacrifice, signifying a deep, binding relationship. The concept of covenant is central to the biblical narrative, illustrating God's commitment to His people and their responsibilities in return.

HELPS Word-studies

1242 diathḗkē (from 1223 /diá, "thoroughly," intensifying 5087 /títhēmi, "place, set") – properly, a set-agreement having complete terms determined by the initiating party, which also are fully affirmed by the one entering the agreement.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from diatithémi
Definition
testament, will, covenant
NASB Translation
covenant (30), covenants (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1242: διαθήκη

διαθήκη, διαθήκης, ἡ (διατίθημι);

1. a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid (German Verordnung, Willensverfugung): Galatians 3:15, where under the name of a man's disposition is meant specifically a testament, so far forth as it is a specimen and example of that disposition (cf. Meyer or Lightfoot at the passage); especially the last disposal which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will (so in Greek writings from (Aristophanes), Plato, legg. 11, p. 922 c. following down): Hebrews 9:16f

2. a compact, covenant (Aristophanes av. 440), very often in the Scriptures for בְּרִית (Vulg.testamentum). For the word covenant is used to denote the close relationship which God entered into, first with Noah (Genesis 6:18; Genesis 9:9ff (cf. Sir. 44:18)), then with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their posterity (Leviticus 26:42 (cf. 2 Macc. 1:2)), but especially with Abraham (Genesis 15 and Genesis 17), and afterward through Moses with the people of Israel (Exodus 24; Deuteronomy 5:2; Deuteronomy 28:69 ()). By this last covenant the Israelites are bound to obey God's will as expressed and solemnly promulged in the Mosaic law; and he promises them his almighty protection and blessings of every kind in this world, but threatens transgressors with the severest punishments. Hence, in the N. T. we find mention of αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης (הַבְּרִית לוּחות, Deuteronomy 9:9, 15), the tables of the law, on which the duties of the covenant were inscribed (Exodus 20); of ἡ κιβωτός τῆς διαθήκης (הַבְּרִית אֲרון, Deuteronomy 10:8; Deuteronomy 31:9; Joshua 3:6, etc.), the ark of the covenant or law, in which those tables were deposited, Hebrews 9:4; Revelation 11:19; of ἡ διαθήκη περιτομῆς, the covenant of circumcision, made with Abraham, whose sign and seal was circumcision (Genesis 17:10ff), Acts 7:8; of τό αἷμα τῆς διαθήκης, the blood of the victims, by the shedding and sprinkling of which the Mosaic covenant was ratified, Hebrews 9:20 from Exodus 24:8; of αἱ διαθῆκαι, the covenants, one made with Abraham, the other through Moses with the Israelites, Romans 9:4 (L text Tr marginal reading ἡ διαθήκη) (Sap). 18:22; Sir. 44:11; 2 Macc. 8:15; Epistle of Barnabas 9 [ET]; (cf. Winer's Grammar, 177 (166))); of αἱ διαθῆκαι τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, the covenants to which the promise of salvation through the Messiah was annexed, Ephesians 2:12 (συνθηκαι ἀγαθῶν ὑποσχέσεων, Wis. 12:21); for Christian salvation is the fulfillment of the divine promises annexed to those covenants, especially to that made with Abraham: Luke 1:72; Acts 3:25; Romans 11:27; Galatians 3:17 (where διαθήκη is God's arrangement, i. e. the promise made to Abraham). As the new and far more excellent bond of friendship which God in the Messiah's time would enter into with the people of Israel is called, חֲדָשָׁה בְּרִית, καινή διαθήκη (Jeremiah 38:31 ()) — which divine promise Christ has made good (Hebrews 8:8-10; Hebrews 10:16) — we find in the N. T. two distinct covenants spoken of, δύο διαθῆκαι (Galatians 4:24), viz. the Mosaic and the Christian, with the former of which (τῇ πρώτη διαθήκη, Hebrews 9:15, 18, cf. 8:9) the latter is contrasted, as καινή διαθήκη, Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24 (in both passages in R G L (in Matthew in Tr also)); Luke 22:20 (WH reject the passage); 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:8; κρείττων διαθήκη, Hebrews 7:22; αἰώνιος διαθήκη, Hebrews 13:20; and Christ is called κρείττονος or καινῆς or νέας διαθήκης μεσίτης: Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 12:24. This new covenant binds men to exercise faith in Christ, and God promises them grace and salvation eternal. This covenant Christ set up and ratified by undergoing death; hence, the phrases τό αἷμα τῆς καινῆς διαθήκης, τό αἷμα τῆς διαθήκης (see αἷμα sub at the end) (Hebrews 10:29); τό αἷμα μου τῆς διαθήκης, my blood by the shedding of which the covenant is established, Matthew 26:28 T WH and Mark 14:24 T Tr WH (on two genitives after one noun cf. Matthiae, § 380, Anm. 1; Kühner, ii., p. 288f; (Jelf, § 543, 1, cf § 466; Winers Grammar, § 30, 3 Note 3; Buttmann, 155 (136))). By metonymy of the contained for the container ἡ παλαιά διαθήκη is used in 2 Corinthians 3:14 of the sacred books of the O. T. because in them the conditions and principles of the older covenant were recorded. Finally must be noted the amphiboly or twofold use (cf. Philo de mut. nom. § 6) by which the writer to the Hebrews, in Hebrews 9:16f, substitutes for the meaning covenant which διαθήκη bears elsewhere in the Epistle that of testament (see 1 above), and likens Christ to a testator — not only because the author regards eternal blessedness as an inheritance bequeathed by Christ, but also because he is endeavoring to show, both that the attainment of eternal salvation is made possible for the disciples of Christ by his death (Hebrews 9:15), and that even the Mosaic covenant had been consecrated by blood (Hebrews 9:18ff). This, apparently, led the Latin Vulg. to render διαθήκη wherever it occurs in the Bible (i. e. in the New Testament, not always in the Old Testament; see B. D. under the word , and B. D. American edition under the word ) by the wordtestamentum.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

covenant, testament.

From diatithemai; properly, a disposition, i.e. (specially) a contract (especially a devisory will) -- covenant, testament.

see GREEK diatithemai

Forms and Transliterations

διαθηκαι διαθήκαι διαθῆκαι διαθηκη διαθήκη διαθήκῃ διαθηκην διαθήκην διαθηκης διαθήκης διαθηκων διαθηκών διαθηκῶν διάθρυπτε διαθρύψεις διεθρύβη διεθρύβησαν diathekai diathêkai diathēkai diathē̂kai diatheke diathēkē diathḗke diathḗkē diathḗkei diathḗkēi diatheken diathēkēn diathḗken diathḗkēn diathekes diathēkēs diathḗkes diathḗkēs diathekon diathekôn diathēkōn diathēkō̂n

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 26:28 N-GFS
GRK: μου τῆς διαθήκης τὸ περὶ
NAS: is My blood of the covenant, which is poured
KJV: of the new testament, which
INT: of me of the covenant that for

Mark 14:24 N-GFS
GRK: μου τῆς διαθήκης τὸ ἐκχυννόμενον
NAS: is My blood of the covenant, which
KJV: of the new testament, which
INT: of me of the covenant that is poured out

Luke 1:72 N-GFS
GRK: καὶ μνησθῆναι διαθήκης ἁγίας αὐτοῦ
NAS: And to remember His holy covenant,
KJV: his holy covenant;
INT: and to remember [the] covenant holy of him

Luke 22:20 N-NFS
GRK: ἡ καινὴ διαθήκη ἐν τῷ
NAS: out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
KJV: cup [is] the new testament in my
INT: the new covenant in the

Acts 3:25 N-GFS
GRK: καὶ τῆς διαθήκης ἧς ὁ
NAS: of the prophets and of the covenant which
KJV: and of the covenant which
INT: and of the covenant which

Acts 7:8 N-AFS
GRK: ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ διαθήκην περιτομῆς καὶ
NAS: And He gave him the covenant of circumcision;
KJV: him the covenant of circumcision:
INT: he gave to him a covenant of circumcision and

Romans 9:4 N-NFP
GRK: καὶ αἱ διαθῆκαι καὶ ἡ
NAS: and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law
KJV: and the covenants, and
INT: and the covenants and the

Romans 11:27 N-NFS
GRK: παρ' ἐμοῦ διαθήκη ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι
NAS: THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN
KJV: this [is] my covenant unto them, when
INT: from me covenant when I might have taken away

1 Corinthians 11:25 N-NFS
GRK: ἡ καινὴ διαθήκη ἐστὶν ἐν
NAS: is the new covenant in My blood;
KJV: is the new testament in my
INT: the new covenant is in

2 Corinthians 3:6 N-GFS
GRK: διακόνους καινῆς διαθήκης οὐ γράμματος
NAS: of a new covenant, not of the letter
KJV: of the new testament; not
INT: servants of a new covenant not of letter

2 Corinthians 3:14 N-GFS
GRK: τῆς παλαιᾶς διαθήκης μένει μὴ
NAS: of the old covenant the same
KJV: of the old testament; which
INT: of the old covenant remains not

Galatians 3:15 N-AFS
GRK: ἀνθρώπου κεκυρωμένην διαθήκην οὐδεὶς ἀθετεῖ
NAS: it is [only] a man's covenant, yet
KJV: a man's covenant, yet [if it be] confirmed,
INT: of man a confirmed covenant no on sets aside

Galatians 3:17 N-AFS
GRK: δὲ λέγω διαθήκην προκεκυρωμένην ὑπὸ
NAS: does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified
KJV: I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before
INT: moreover I say [the] covenant confirmed beforehand by

Galatians 4:24 N-NFP
GRK: εἰσιν δύο διαθῆκαι μία μὲν
NAS: [women] are two covenants: one
KJV: are the two covenants; the one from
INT: are two covenants one indeed

Ephesians 2:12 N-GFP
GRK: ξένοι τῶν διαθηκῶν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας
NAS: and strangers to the covenants of promise,
KJV: strangers from the covenants of promise,
INT: strangers from the covenants of the promise

Hebrews 7:22 N-GFS
GRK: καὶ κρείττονος διαθήκης γέγονεν ἔγγυος
NAS: the guarantee of a better covenant.
KJV: a surety of a better testament.
INT: also of a better covenant has become [the] guarantee

Hebrews 8:6 N-GFS
GRK: κρείττονός ἐστιν διαθήκης μεσίτης ἥτις
NAS: of a better covenant, which
KJV: of a better covenant, which
INT: of a better he is covenant mediator which

Hebrews 8:8 N-AFS
GRK: οἶκον Ἰούδα διαθήκην καινήν
NAS: A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE
KJV: a new covenant with
INT: house of Judah a covenant new

Hebrews 8:9 N-AFS
GRK: κατὰ τὴν διαθήκην ἣν ἐποίησα
NAS: NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE
KJV: according to the covenant that
INT: according to the covenant which I made

Hebrews 8:9 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ μου κἀγὼ
NAS: FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE
KJV: in my covenant, and I regarded
INT: in the covenant of me and I

Hebrews 8:10 N-NFS
GRK: αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη ἣν διαθήσομαι
NAS: FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE
KJV: this [is] the covenant that
INT: this [is] the covenant which I will covenant

Hebrews 9:4 N-GFS
GRK: κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης περικεκαλυμμένην πάντοθεν
NAS: and the ark of the covenant covered
KJV: the ark of the covenant overlaid
INT: ark of the covenant having been covered around in every part

Hebrews 9:4 N-GFS
GRK: πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης
NAS: and the tables of the covenant;
KJV: and the tables of the covenant;
INT: tablets of the covenant

Hebrews 9:15 N-GFS
GRK: διὰ τοῦτο διαθήκης καινῆς μεσίτης
NAS: of a new covenant, so
KJV: of the new testament, that
INT: because of this of a covenant new mediator

Hebrews 9:15 N-DFS
GRK: τῇ πρώτῃ διαθήκῃ παραβάσεων τὴν
NAS: the first covenant, those
KJV: the first testament, they which are called
INT: the first covenant transgressions the

Strong's Greek 1242
33 Occurrences

διαθῆκαι — 2 Occ.
διαθήκη — 9 Occ.
διαθήκην — 5 Occ.
διαθήκης — 16 Occ.
διαθηκῶν — 1 Occ.