from διά and γίνομαι; to elapse meanwhile:--X after, be past, be spent.
Transliteration:diagínomai
Pronunciation:dee-ag-in'-om-ahee
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word διαγίνομαι (diagínomai, `{{G1230}}`) is a compound verb formed from the preposition διά (dia, `{{G1223}}`), meaning "through" or "across," and the verb γίνομαι (gínomai, `{{G1096}}`), meaning "to become," "to happen," or "to come into being." Etymologically, it conveys the sense of "to become through" or "to happen through a period of time." Its core meaning therefore denotes the *passage*, *elapse*, or *spending* of time. It describes a duration that has run its course, indicating that a particular period has concluded. The semantic range is quite focused on this temporal aspect, often translated as "after," "be past," or "be spent" in English versions, signifying the completion of a temporal interval.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
διαγίνομαι appears three times in the New Testament, each instance emphasizing the completion or passage of a specific period of time:
* **[[Mark 16:1]]**: "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him." Here, διαγίνομαι (diagínomai) precisely marks the conclusion of the Sabbath day. The passing of this period was crucial, as Jewish law prohibited certain activities, including the preparation of burial spices, on the Sabbath. The verb highlights the transition from a time of rest and restriction to the dawn of the first day of the week, enabling the women to perform their intended act of devotion. The elapsed time sets the stage for the climactic discovery of the empty tomb.
* **[[Acts 25:13]]**: "And after certain days were spent, king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus." In this context, διαγίνομαι (diagínomai) indicates that a non-specific but definite number of days had elapsed since Festus's arrival in Caesarea and his initial encounter with Paul. The phrase "certain days were spent" signifies the passage of time during which Festus presumably settled into his new role and became acquainted with the local affairs, before the arrival of the dignitaries Agrippa and Bernice. The elapsed time provides a natural progression for the narrative, setting up the subsequent hearing of Paul's case before a wider audience.
* **[[Acts 27:9]]**: "Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them." Here, διαγίνομαι (diagínomai) refers to a significant duration of time that had passed during Paul's sea voyage. The phrase "much time was spent" emphasizes a prolonged period, leading to a critical juncture where further sailing became perilous. The subsequent reference to "the fast" (Yom Kippur, occurring in late September/early October) having already passed provides a specific temporal marker, indicating that the season for safe maritime travel was over. The verb underscores the delay and the increasing danger, contributing to the dramatic tension of the narrative and foreshadowing the shipwreck.
In all three occurrences, διαγίνομαι functions as a temporal marker, signaling the completion of a period of time and often serving as a narrative hinge, transitioning to the next significant event or phase in the biblical account.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of διαγίνομαι naturally leads to a consideration of other Greek terms related to time and its passage.
* **γίνομαι (gínomai, `{{G1096}}`)**: The base verb, meaning "to become," "to happen," or "to come into being." Its presence in διαγίνομαι underscores the idea of time *becoming* or *happening through* a duration.
* **διά (dia, `{{G1223}}`)**: The preposition indicating passage "through" or "across." Its use as a prefix in διαγίνομαι highlights the concept of time moving *through* a period to its completion.
* **χρόνος (chronos, `{{G5550}}`)**: A general term for time, often referring to a chronological duration or interval. While διαγίνομαι speaks of time *passing*, χρόνος refers to time *itself*.
* **καιρός (kairos, `{{G2540}}`)**: Refers to an appointed time, an opportune moment, or a season, often with a qualitative or significant aspect. διαγίνομαι focuses on the *quantitative passage* of time, while καιρός emphasizes the *qualitative nature* of a moment.
* **ὥρα (hōra, `{{G5610}}`)**: Denotes an hour, a specific time, or a season.
* **παρέρχομαι (parerchomai, `{{G3928}}`)**: Meaning "to pass by" or "to pass away," often used for things that are transient or superseded. While similar in conveying passage, διαγίνομαι specifically emphasizes the *completion* of a temporal period.
These related terms help to delineate the precise nuance of διαγίνομαι, which is consistently used to mark the *elapse* or *completion* of a period of time, setting the stage for subsequent events.
### Theological Significance
While διαγίνομαι is primarily a descriptive verb of temporal progression and does not carry inherent theological weight in the same way terms like "faith" or "righteousness" do, its usage underscores several important theological realities within the biblical narrative:
1. **God's Sovereignty Over Time:** The consistent use of διαγίνομαι highlights that events in salvation history unfold within a linear, chronological framework. God's plans and purposes are enacted *in time*, not outside of it. The passage of time, whether short (the Sabbath in [[Mark 16:1]]) or long (the journey in [[Acts 27:9]]), is part of the divine ordering of creation and redemption.
2. **The Unfolding of Divine Purpose:** The "passing of time" often serves as a necessary prerequisite for the next stage of God's plan. In [[Mark 16:1]], the Sabbath had to pass for the resurrection events to unfold and for the women to act. In Acts, the passage of days and months sets the stage for Paul's continued ministry, trials, and ultimate journey to Rome, all part of God's overarching purpose for the spread of the Gospel.
3. **Human Experience of Time:** The verb reflects the human experience of waiting, anticipation, and the constraints of temporal reality. Decisions are made, journeys undertaken, and events transpire *as time passes*. The biblical narrative, through this simple verb, grounds its extraordinary events in the ordinary flow of human existence.
4. **The Imminence of Key Moments:** By marking the end of one period, διαγίνομαι implicitly points to the beginning of another, often a moment of significant divine action or human response. It creates a sense of transition and the dawning of new possibilities or challenges.
Thus, διαγίνομαι, though seemingly mundane, contributes to the biblical authors' portrayal of a world where God's will is progressively revealed and enacted within the fabric of time.
### Summary
διαγίνομαι (diagínomai, `{{G1230}}`) is a Greek verb that precisely conveys the meaning "to elapse," "to pass," or "to be spent" concerning a period of time. Formed from διά (through) and γίνομαι (to become/happen), it signifies the completion of a temporal duration. Its three occurrences in the New Testament—[[Mark 16:1]], [[Acts 25:13]], and [[Acts 27:9]]—consistently use it to mark the conclusion of a specific period (the Sabbath, certain days, much time), thereby serving as a narrative device to transition to subsequent events. While not a primary theological term, its usage underscores the reality of linear time within God's sovereign plan, highlighting the orderly unfolding of divine purpose and the human experience of waiting and progression. It functions as a subtle yet effective indicator of temporal transition, setting the stage for the significant actions and revelations that follow in the biblical narrative.
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