Lexical Summary diaseió: To extort, to shake violently, to intimidate Original Word: διασείω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance intimidate, extortFrom dia and seio; to shake thoroughly, i.e. (figuratively) to intimidate -- do violence to. see GREEK dia see GREEK seio HELPS Word-studies 1286 diaseíō (from 1223 /diá, "thoroughly" and 4579 /seíō, "shake") – properly, shake violently, to manhandle (literally, "shake someone to-and-fro"); strongly intimidate, coerce (blackmail, extort), forcing someone to comply under threat (of being physically harmed, treated violently). 1286 /diaseíō ("exhort") is only used in Lk 3:14. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dia and seió Definition to shake violently, to intimidate NASB Translation take money...by force (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1286: διασείωδιασείω: 1 aorist διεσεισα; in Greek writings from Herodotus down; to shake thoroughly; tropically, to make to tremble, to terrify (Job 4:14 for הִפְחִיר) to agitate; likeconcurio in juridical Latin, to extort from one by intimidation money or other property: τινα, Luke 3:14 (A. V. do violence to); 3Macc. 7:21; the Basilica; (Heinichen on Eusebius, h. e. 7, 30, 7). Topical Lexicon Topical Definition and Imageryδιασείω pictures a person “shaking thoroughly” another, not with mere physical violence but with the menacing agitation that coerces money or favors. The act is the verbal and physical “shakedown” of the ancient world—an abuse of power that weaponizes fear. The word’s only New Testament appearance crystallizes the practice: threatening force in order to seize material gain. Single New Testament Occurrence Luke 3:14 records soldiers approaching John the Baptist during his Jordan-side call to repentance: “Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what about us, what should we do?’ He replied, ‘Do not extort money or accuse others falsely. Be content with your wages.’” John’s prohibition, directed toward men legally armed and salaried by the state, exposes διασείω as a sin grounded both in greed and in misuse of delegated authority. Historical Background Military units stationed in first-century Palestine were often underpaid auxiliaries. They supplemented income by threatening civilians with confiscation, trumped-up charges, or bodily harm. Roman law technically forbade such conduct, yet it flourished wherever garrisons lacked accountability. John’s prophetic rebuke therefore addressed a known societal wound; his command neither undermined soldiering itself nor called for wealth redistribution, but required integrity and contentment within one’s legitimate station. Continuity with Old Testament Ethics • Exodus 20:15 condemns theft in its purest form; διασείω adds intimidation to theft’s repertoire. Thus Luke 3:14 stands squarely within the biblical witness that God defends the powerless and holds rulers and agents of the sword to strict righteousness. Ethical and Theological Significance 1. Stewardship of Authority. διασείω violates the divine trust granted to civil servants (Romans 13:1–4). Pastoral and Contemporary Application • Law-enforcement, military, governmental, and corporate leaders must reject any form of intimidation for personal profit. Related New Testament Themes Opposite virtues include gentleness (Philippians 4:5) and servanthood (Mark 10:42-45). Negatively, διασείω aligns with “violent seizure” (Matthew 11:12) and “lover of money” (2 Timothy 3:2). While those terms differ in vocabulary, they trace the same dark root of coercive greed. Summary διασείω illustrates how sin corrupts legitimate power and how repentance reforms social conduct. John the Baptist’s lone use of the term indicts extortion, calls for contentment, and foreshadows the kingdom ethic fulfilled in Jesus Christ, where strength serves rather than exploits. Forms and Transliterations διασεισητε διασείσητε διασκεδάζει διασκεδάζοντα διασκεδάννυται διασκεδάσαι διασκεδάσει διασκεδάσης διασκεδασθή διασκεδασθήσεται διασκέδασον διασκέδασόν διασκεδάσουσι διασκεδάσω διασκευήν διεσκέδασαν διεσκέδασε διεσκέδασέ διεσκέδασεν διεσκέδασται διεσκευασμένοι diaseisete diaseisēte diaseísete diaseísēteLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |