from διά and σώζω; to save thoroughly, i.e. (by implication or analogy) to cure, preserve, rescue, etc.:--bring safe, escape (safe), heal, make perfectly whole, save.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb διασώζω (diasṓzō `{{G1295}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition διά (dia), meaning "through" or "thoroughly," and the verb σώζω (sōzō `{{G4982}}`), meaning "to save, deliver, preserve." The core meaning of διασώζω is therefore "to save thoroughly," "to bring safely through," or "to preserve completely." This intensification of the base verb σώζω emphasizes the successful and complete outcome of the saving action, often implying passage through a perilous or difficult situation. Its semantic range extends to various forms of deliverance: physical rescue from imminent danger (e.g., shipwreck, attack), healing from severe illness, and safe arrival at a destination after a journey fraught with risk. The "thoroughness" aspect highlights that the individual or group is not merely partially saved, but fully delivered to a state of safety or wholeness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
διασώζω appears several times in the New Testament, primarily in the book of Acts and in Luke's Gospel, illustrating its diverse applications:
* **Physical Rescue from Danger:** In [[Acts 27:43-44]], during the shipwreck, the centurion, desiring to διασώζω Paul, prevents the soldiers from killing the prisoners, ensuring that "all got safely to land." This vividly portrays deliverance from both human malice and natural disaster. Similarly, in [[Acts 28:1]], after the shipwreck, Paul and his companions διασώζω to the island of Malta, emphasizing their safe arrival after a harrowing experience. In [[Acts 28:4]], upon seeing a viper bite Paul, the islanders expect him to swell up or fall dead; when he does not, they marvel that he was not διασώζω (i.e., not preserved from death), underscoring a miraculous preservation.
* **Healing and Restoration:** In [[Luke 7:3]], the centurion sends elders to Jesus, pleading that He would come and διασώζω his servant, who was gravely ill. Here, the word means to heal or make perfectly whole, restoring health. Likewise, in [[Luke 8:50]], when Jairus's daughter is reported dead, Jesus encourages him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she will be διασώζω." This refers to her miraculous resuscitation and restoration to life and health.
* **Divine Preservation through Judgment:** Perhaps one of the most theologically significant uses is in [[1 Peter 3:20]], which states that "a few, that is, eight persons, were διασώζω through water" in Noah's ark. This passage highlights divine preservation through an act of judgment (the flood), emphasizing a complete and miraculous deliverance from destruction.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **σώζω (sōzō `{{G4982}}`):** The root verb, meaning "to save, deliver, preserve." διασώζω intensifies this, adding the nuance of thoroughness or successful passage *through* a difficulty.
* **ῥύομαι (rhyomai `{{G4506}}`):** "To rescue, deliver from." While similar in meaning, διασώζω often implies a process of being brought *through* a dangerous situation to a safe outcome.
* **θεραπεύω (therapeuō `{{G2323}}`):** "To heal, cure." This is a specific manifestation of διασώζω when the saving action involves restoring physical health, as seen in the Lukan passages.
* **Divine Providence:** The occurrences of διασώζω frequently illustrate God's active and sovereign hand in preserving individuals or groups from harm, disease, or death, guiding them safely through trials.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of διασώζω is multifaceted:
* **God's Active Preservation:** The consistent use of διασώζω in contexts of physical peril underscores God's active involvement in the lives of His people, demonstrating His power and will to preserve them. It speaks to a divine providence that extends even to the mundane and perilous aspects of human existence.
* **Holistic Nature of God's Salvation:** While the primary focus of the New Testament is spiritual salvation, διασώζω reminds us that God's concern for humanity is holistic. He cares not only for our eternal spiritual destiny but also for our physical well-being, safety, and health in this present life. The instances of healing demonstrate God's compassion and power over sickness and death.
* **Miraculous Intervention:** Many instances of διασώζω involve supernatural intervention, where natural consequences are averted or overcome (e.g., Paul's survival from the viper, the safe landing after a shipwreck). This highlights God's ability to act outside of natural laws to accomplish His purposes.
* **Type of Spiritual Salvation:** The preservation of Noah and his family through the flood ([[1 Peter 3:20]]) provides a powerful theological type. Their being διασώζω through water prefigures Christian baptism, which symbolizes salvation *through* judgment (the death of the old self) into new life in Christ. This points to a deeper spiritual reality where God brings His elect safely through the judgment of sin to eternal life.
### Summary
The Greek verb διασώζω (diasṓzō `{{G1295}}`), meaning "to save thoroughly" or "to bring safely through," conveys a complete and successful deliverance from peril, whether physical danger, illness, or impending destruction. Its occurrences in the New Testament, particularly in Acts and Luke, highlight its application to physical rescue (e.g., from shipwrecks, attacks) and miraculous healing. The use in [[1 Peter 3:20]] concerning Noah's family being διασώζω through the flood offers a profound theological insight into divine preservation through judgment, serving as a type for spiritual salvation. διασώζω thus emphasizes God's sovereign, active, and often miraculous intervention to ensure the complete safety and well-being of those He intends to preserve, encompassing both the physical and, by extension, the spiritual dimensions of His saving work.
TRV