1304. diatribó

Lexical Summary

diatribó: To spend time, to stay, to remain

Original Word: διατρίβω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: diatribó
Pronunciation: dee-at-ree'-bo
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-at-ree'-bo)
KJV: abide, be, continue, tarry
NASB: spent, spending time, stayed, spending, staying
Word Origin: [from G1223 (διά - through) and the base of G5147 (τρίβος - paths)]

1. to wear through (time), i.e. remain

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

abide, be, continue, tarry.

From dia and the base of tribos; to wear through (time), i.e. Remain -- abide, be, continue, tarry.

see GREEK dia

see GREEK tribos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from dia and the same as tribos
Definition
to rub hard, rub away, to spend time
NASB Translation
spending (1), spending time (2), spent (3), stayed (2), staying (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1304: διατρίβω

διατρίβω; imperfect διέτριβον; 1 aorist διετριψα; to rub between, rub hard, (properly, Homer, Iliad 11, 847, others); to wear away, consume; χρόνον or ἡμέρας, to spend, pass time: Acts 14:3, 28; Acts 16:12; Acts 20:6; Acts 25:6, 14 (Leviticus 14:8; Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, others); simply to stay, tarry, (cf. Buttmann, 145 (127); Winer's Grammar, 593 (552)): John 3:22; John 11:54 (WH Tr text ἔμεινεν); Acts 12:19; Acts 14:18 (Lachmann edition min.); ; (Judith 10:2; 2 Macc. 14:23, and often in secular authors from Homer, Iliad 19, 150 down).

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 1304 depicts the deliberate investment of time in a given place. Whether applied to the Lord Jesus, the apostles, or Roman officials, the term consistently marks purposeful presence that advances God’s redemptive plan.

Distribution in the New Testament

John 3:22; Acts 12:19; Acts 14:3; Acts 14:28; Acts 15:35; Acts 16:12; Acts 20:6; Acts 25:6; Acts 25:14.

Jesus in Judea (John 3:22)

“After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.” By remaining in the rural districts Jesus furnishes a model of discipleship grounded in shared life, not hurried rallies. His stay provides space for baptism, teaching, and relational formation that would later bear fruit in wider ministry.

Apostolic Mission and Church Planting

1. Iconium (Acts 14:3) — “So they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.” The extended stay unites proclamation and authentication, proving that depth of witness often requires duration.
2. Syrian Antioch (Acts 14:28; Acts 15:35) — First-journey missionaries return to their sending church and “stayed there with the disciples for a long time,” then, after the Jerusalem Council, “remained in Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.” The verb underlines post-evangelism consolidation and doctrinal clarification.
3. Philippi (Acts 16:12; Acts 20:6) — “We stayed there several days”; later, “we stayed seven days.” The measured pace enabled contacts such as Lydia and the jailer, birthed the first European congregation, and allowed further edification on a return visit.

Roman Governance and Judicial Delay

Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:19) withdraws to Caesarea and “spent some time there,” setting the scene for divine judgment.

Festus (Acts 25:6, Acts 25:14) “spent no more than eight or ten days” in Jerusalem before convening court at Caesarea, and later “spending several days” with Agrippa II. These intervals, though politically motivated, preserve Paul’s life and propel the gospel toward Rome.

Historical Backdrop

First-century travel depended on seasons, roads, and ship schedules; thus lengthy stays were normal. Luke’s use of 1304 authenticates his narrative by mirroring realistic travel rhythms in places such as Philippi (a Roman colony), Iconium (a Hellenistic city), and Caesarea (a provincial capital).

Theological Themes

• Divine timing: Strategic pauses prove as vital as dramatic advances.
• Discipleship through presence: Teaching, mentoring, and pastoral care flourish when leaders linger.
• Sovereign use of secular delays: Roman bureaucratic hold-ups inadvertently further God’s purposes.

Practical Application

Ministry that lasts often grows out of patience. Congregations and leaders are encouraged to embrace seasons of staying—prioritizing thorough teaching, relational depth, and prayerful discernment—trusting that God ordains both movement and pause for the progress of the gospel.

Forms and Transliterations

διατρίβετε διατριβοντες διατρίβοντες Διατριψας Διατρίψας διατρίψει διέτριβε διετριβεν διέτριβεν διετριβον διέτριβον διετριψαμεν διετρίψαμεν διετριψαν διέτριψαν diatribontes diatríbontes Diatripsas Diatrípsas dietriben diétriben dietribon diétribon dietripsamen dietrípsamen dietripsan diétripsan

Englishman's Concordance

John 3:22 V-IIA-3S
GRK: καὶ ἐκεῖ διέτριβεν μετ' αὐτῶν
NAS: and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.
KJV: and there he tarried with them,
INT: and there he stayed with them

Acts 12:19 V-IIA-3S
GRK: εἰς Καισάρειαν διέτριβεν
NAS: to Caesarea and was spending time there.
KJV: to Caesarea, and [there] abode.
INT: to Ceasarea he stayed [there]

Acts 14:3 V-AIA-3P
GRK: οὖν χρόνον διέτριψαν παρρησιαζόμενοι ἐπὶ
NAS: Therefore they spent a long time
KJV: therefore abode they speaking boldly
INT: Therefore time they stayed speaking boldly for

Acts 14:28 V-IIA-3P
GRK: διέτριβον δὲ χρόνον
NAS: And they spent a long time
KJV: And there they abode long time
INT: they stayed moreover time

Acts 15:35 V-IIA-3P
GRK: καὶ Βαρνάβας διέτριβον ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ
NAS: and Barnabas stayed in Antioch,
KJV: and Barnabas continued in Antioch,
INT: and Barnabas stayed in Antioch

Acts 16:12 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: τῇ πόλει διατρίβοντες ἡμέρας τινάς
NAS: a [Roman] colony; and we were staying in this
KJV: that city abiding certain days.
INT: city staying days some

Acts 20:6 V-AIA-1P
GRK: πέντε ὅπου διετρίψαμεν ἡμέρας ἑπτά
NAS: days; and there we stayed seven days.
KJV: days; where we abode seven days.
INT: five where we stayed days seven

Acts 25:6 V-APA-NMS
GRK: Διατρίψας δὲ ἐν
NAS: After he had spent not more than eight
KJV: And when he had tarried among them
INT: having spent moreover among

Acts 25:14 V-IIA-3P
GRK: πλείους ἡμέρας διέτριβον ἐκεῖ ὁ
NAS: While they were spending many days
KJV: And when they had been there many
INT: many days they stayed there

Strong's Greek 1304
9 Occurrences

διατρίβοντες — 1 Occ.
Διατρίψας — 1 Occ.
διέτριβεν — 2 Occ.
διέτριβον — 3 Occ.
διετρίψαμεν — 1 Occ.
διέτριψαν — 1 Occ.