Word Study for G1265 (διαμένω)

diaménō /dee-am-en'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom διά and μένω

Meaningto stay constantly (in being or relation)

KJV usagecontinue, remain.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of diaménō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word diamenō, represented by G1265, means to stay constantly (in being or relation):--continue, remain. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible, emphasizing a state of endurance, persistence, or permanence.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the scriptures, G1265 is used to convey several dimensions of constancy. It describes a physical state, as when Zacharias remained speechless after his vision in the temple Luke 1:22. It is also used to affirm relational faithfulness, as when Jesus commends the disciples who have continued with him in his temptations Luke 22:28. The word highlights the endurance of an abstract concept, like the apostle's desire for the truth of the gospel to continue with the Galatians Galatians 2:5. Theologically, it establishes a stark contrast between the creation that will perish and God who remainest forever Hebrews 1:11. It is also used sarcastically by scoffers who claim that all things continue as they have from the beginning of creation 2 Peter 3:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help frame the meaning of constancy and its opposite:

G622 apóllymi (to destroy fully...:--destroy, die, lose, mar, perish): This is a direct antonym used in Hebrews 1:11, where created things will perish in contrast to God who remains.
G3822 palaióō (to make (passively, become) worn out, or declare obsolete:--decay, make (wax) old): Also used in contrast to G1265, this word describes how the heavens and earth shall wax old like a garment, while God remains Hebrews 1:11.
G1502 eíkō (properly, to be weak, i.e. yield:--give place): In Galatians 2:5, the refusal to give place or yield is the action that allows the truth of the gospel to continue.
G5292 hypotagḗ (subordination:--subjection): This word is linked with the refusal to yield in Galatians 2:5, specifying that the apostles did not yield "by subjection" for even an hour.
G3779 hoútō (in this way...:--after that, after (in) this manner, as, even (so)... so (in like manner), thus...): This adverb is used with G1265 in 2 Peter 3:4 to describe the claim that all things continue in this way since the beginning.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1265 is significant, highlighting key principles of faith and divinity.

Divine Permanence: The word is used to express the eternal and unchanging nature of God. In Hebrews 1:11, the created world will perish and wax old, but "thou remainest," establishing God's immutable existence in contrast to the transient nature of creation.
Preservation of Truth: The struggle to ensure the "truth of the gospel might continue" Galatians 2:5 shows that doctrinal purity is something that must be actively guarded so that it remains with the believers.
Steadfast Faithfulness: Jesus identifies his true followers as those who have continued with him through his trials Luke 22:28. This use of the word elevates it to a quality of persevering loyalty and discipleship.

Summary

In summary, G1265 provides a crucial concept of constant endurance. While it can describe a simple physical state, its most profound uses relate to core theological truths. It defines the permanence of God in contrast to a decaying creation, the steadfastness required of a faithful disciple, and the enduring nature of the gospel truth that must be preserved.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Subjunctive 3rd Singular 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Perfect Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Active Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (2 verses); never once in the other 23.

Luke

Galatians

Hebrews

2 Peter

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.