### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **diaspeírō**, represented by `{{G1289}}`, means to **sow throughout** or, in a figurative sense, to **scatter abroad**. It appears 4 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, combining the agricultural idea of sowing with the concept of being distributed into foreign lands.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G1289}}` is used exclusively in the book of Acts to describe the dispersion of the early church from Jerusalem. After the death of Stephen, a "great persecution" rose up against the church, and as a result, the believers were all **scattered abroad** throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, with the exception of the apostles [[Acts 8:1]]. This event was not an end but a new beginning; those who were **scattered abroad** went everywhere preaching the word [[Acts 8:4]]. This same group, **scattered abroad** by the persecution, traveled as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch [[Acts 11:19]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the cause and effect of being **scattered abroad**:
* `{{G1375}}` **diōgmós** (persecution): This word identifies the direct cause of the scattering. The "great **persecution**" against the Jerusalem church is what initiated the dispersion of believers [[Acts 8:1]].
* `{{G1330}}` **diérchomai** (to traverse... travel, walk through): This describes the action of the scattered believers. They did not simply hide but actively "travelled" to new regions [[Acts 11:19]] and "went every where" [[Acts 8:4]] as a result of being dispersed.
* `{{G2097}}` **euangelízō** (to announce good news... preach (the gospel)): This word reveals the ultimate purpose that emerged from the scattering. Those who were scattered did not flee in silence but were **preaching** the word wherever they went [[Acts 8:4]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G1289}}` is centered on the theme of divine providence in the midst of hardship.
* **Persecution as a Catalyst:** The scattering of the church was not a random event but a direct result of **persecution** `{{G1375}}` and **tribulation** `{{G2347}}`, as detailed in the events following Stephen's death ([[Acts 8:1]], [[Acts 11:19]]). This demonstrates how human opposition became an instrument for divine expansion.
* **The Sowing of the Word:** The word's root meaning, "to sow throughout," is figuratively fulfilled as the believers are scattered like seeds. This scattering directly led to them "preaching the word" [[Acts 8:4]], effectively planting the gospel in new soil.
* **Missionary Expansion:** The act of being **scattered abroad** was the primary mechanism that pushed the gospel message beyond the confines of Jerusalem into Judaea, Samaria, and eventually to distant regions like Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch ([[Acts 8:1]], [[Acts 11:19]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{G1289}}` is more than a simple term for dispersion. It is a key concept in the book of Acts that links suffering to the spread of the faith. The term powerfully illustrates how a hostile act intended to destroy the church—scattering it abroad—was providentially used to "sow" the word of the gospel throughout new lands.
TRV