middle voice from διά and στέλλω; to set (oneself) apart (figuratively, distinguish), i.e. (by implication) to enjoin:--charge, that which was (give) commanded(-ment).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb G1291 (διαστέλλομαι, *diastéllomai*) is formed from the preposition διά (*diá*), meaning "through" or "apart," and the verb στέλλω (*stéllō*), meaning "to arrange," "to prepare," or "to send." In its active voice, *stéllō* can also mean "to check" or "to restrain." The middle voice, as seen in *diastéllomai*, inherently implies an action performed by or for oneself. Thus, the core meaning of *diastéllomai* is "to set oneself apart," "to distinguish oneself," or "to make a distinction."
From this foundational sense of making something distinct or setting it apart, the word develops the secondary, yet prevalent, meaning of "to enjoin," "to give a strict charge," or "to command." A command, by its very nature, sets apart a particular action or prohibition as distinct and authoritative, demanding a specific response and separating it from other options. Therefore, G1291 conveys not merely a suggestion or request, but an authoritative and often strict injunction, emphasizing the clear delineation of a directive.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
G1291 appears five times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospel of Mark and once each in Acts and Hebrews. Each occurrence highlights the authoritative and distinct nature of the command given.
* **Mark 5:43:** Following the raising of Jairus's daughter, Jesus "charged them strictly that no one should know this" (*καὶ διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς πολλὰ ἵνα μηδεὶς γνοῖ τοῦτο*). Here, the command is emphatic ("strictly charged"), underscoring Jesus' deliberate intent to control the timing and manner of the revelation of His miraculous power. The command serves to "set apart" this event from public knowledge.
* **Mark 7:36:** After healing a deaf man with a speech impediment, Jesus "charged them to tell no one" (*καὶ διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς ἵνα μηδενὶ λέγωσιν*). Similar to the previous instance, this is part of the "Messianic Secret" motif in Mark, where Jesus repeatedly seeks to manage the understanding of His identity and mission. The command is a distinct prohibition.
* **Mark 9:9:** As Jesus, Peter, James, and John descend from the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus "charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead" (*καὶ διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς ἵνα μηδενὶ ἃ εἶδον διηγήσωνται, εἰ μὴ ὅταν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῇ*). This command is again a strict injunction, setting apart the revelation until a specific eschatological event, emphasizing the distinct phases of God's redemptive plan.
* **Acts 15:24:** In the letter from the Jerusalem Council, it is stated, "Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no charge" (*ἐπειδὴ ἠκούσαμεν ὅτι τινὲς ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐτάραξαν ὑμᾶς λόγοις ἀνασκευάζοντες τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν οἷς οὐ διεστειλάμεθα*). Here, G1291 explicitly denotes an authoritative command. The council clarifies that they had given no distinct or specific instruction (no "charge") to those who were causing trouble, thereby distinguishing their unauthorized teaching from official apostolic doctrine.
* **Hebrews 12:20:** Referring to the encounter at Mount Sinai, the author states, "For they could not endure the charge that was given, 'If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned'" (*οὐ γὰρ ἔφερον τὸ διαστελλόμενον, Ἐάν τε θηρίον θίγῃ τοῦ ὄρους, λιθοβοληθήσεται*). This verse highlights the severity and distinct nature of the divine command given at Sinai, which set apart the holy mountain and established strict boundaries. The "charge that was given" was a clear, unyielding boundary.
Across these contexts, *diastéllomai* consistently conveys a command that is distinct, authoritative, and often carries a sense of strictness or prohibition, serving to set apart a particular action, knowledge, or boundary.
### Related Words & Concepts
G1291 is closely related to its root verb G4724 (*stéllō*), which means "to arrange," "to prepare," or "to send." The prefix διά (*diá*) adds the nuance of "through" or "apart," emphasizing distinction or separation.
Other Greek words often translated as "command" or "order" include:
* G1781 (*entéllomai*): A common word for "to command," often implying a solemn injunction or a divine mandate (e.g., [[Matthew 4:10]]). While similar, *diastéllomai* often carries a stronger sense of strictness or the act of making a specific distinction.
* G3853 (*paraggéllō*): Means "to command," "to instruct," often with a connotation of a charge given, sometimes in a military context (e.g., [[Luke 5:14]]). *Diastéllomai* often implies a more singular, often prohibitive, distinction.
* G2753 (*keleúō*): Means "to command," "to order," often in a more general sense of giving an instruction (e.g., [[Matthew 14:28]]).
The distinctiveness of G1291 lies in its etymological root of "setting apart" or "distinguishing." This implies that the command is not merely an instruction but a definitive boundary or a specific, often restrictive, directive that sets a course of action apart from all others. This nuance is particularly evident in the Markan "Messianic Secret," where Jesus' commands serve to "distinguish" or "set apart" His identity and work from premature or misunderstood revelation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of G1291 lies in several key areas:
1. **Divine Authority and Sovereignty:** When used of Jesus, *diastéllomai* highlights His absolute authority to issue commands that are not to be questioned or disobeyed. His commands are not suggestions but authoritative injunctions that delineate the will of God. This underscores His divine sovereignty over events, knowledge, and human actions.
2. **Strategic Revelation:** In the context of the Messianic Secret, G1291 reveals Jesus' deliberate and strategic control over the revelation of His identity as the Messiah. The commands to silence were not arbitrary but served a theological purpose: to prevent a premature or politically misconstrued understanding of His kingship, allowing His mission to culminate in the cross and resurrection before His full identity was proclaimed. This demonstrates God's ordered and purposeful plan of salvation.
3. **Clarity of God's Will:** The word's core meaning of "setting apart" or "distinguishing" implies that God's commands are clear and precise. They are given to delineate what is permissible and what is forbidden, what is true and what is false. As seen in [[Acts 15:24]], a "charge" from the apostles was a clear, authoritative statement of doctrine, distinguishing it from unauthorized teachings. Similarly, the "charge" at Sinai in [[Hebrews 12:20]] established clear, unyielding boundaries for a holy encounter with God.
4. **Holiness and Obedience:** God's commands inherently call His people to be set apart for Him. Obedience to a *diastéllomai* implies a willingness to respect the boundaries God sets, to follow His distinct directives, and thus to live a life that is distinct and holy unto Him.
### Summary
G1291 (διαστέλλομαι, *diastéllomai*) carries the fundamental meaning of "to set oneself apart" or "to distinguish," which then extends to "to give a strict charge" or "to command authoritatively." This nuance emphasizes that the command is a clear, definitive injunction that sets a particular action or prohibition apart from all others. Its use in the New Testament, particularly in Mark's Gospel concerning the Messianic Secret, highlights Jesus' divine authority and strategic control over the revelation of His identity. In other contexts, it underscores the clarity and distinctiveness of authoritative instruction, whether from the Jerusalem Council or from God at Sinai. Theologically, G1291 speaks to God's sovereignty, His purposeful plan of revelation, and the call for His people to respond with clear and distinct obedience to His set-apart will.
TRV