Word Study for G1299 (διατάσσω)

diatássō /dee-at-as'-so/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom διά and τάσσω

Meaningto arrange thoroughly, i.e. (specially) institute, prescribe, etc.

KJV usageappoint, command, give, (set in) order, ordain.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of diatássō — 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 diatássō, represented by G1299, means to arrange thoroughly, to institute, or prescribe. Derived from διά and τάσσω, it carries the sense of a definitive command or an established order. It appears 17 times across 16 unique verses in the Bible, signifying its use in contexts of authority and regulation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G1299 is used by various figures of authority. Jesus uses the word when He finishes commanding His twelve disciples Matthew 11:1 and when He commanded that the revived girl be given something to eat Luke 8:55. The Apostle Paul employs it to establish church practice, stating, "so ordain I in all churches" 1 Corinthians 7:17 and giving order concerning the collection for the saints 1 Corinthians 16:1. The term also applies to secular decrees, such as when Claudius commanded all Jews to depart from Rome Acts 18:2, and to divine instruction, as when God appointed Moses to make the tabernacle according to a specific pattern Acts 7:44.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the scope of G1299:

G1930 epidiorthóō (set in order): Used in conjunction with G1299, this word refers to arranging things additionally or straightening what is lacking. Paul left Titus in Crete to set in order the things that were wanting, as he had appointed Titus 1:5.
G2525 kathístēmi (appoint, ordain): This word often refers to designating someone for a specific role or office. It appears alongside G1299 in Titus 1:5, where Titus is told to ordain elders in every city, according to Paul's prior appointment.
G2605 katangéllō (preach, declare): This term for proclamation is linked to a divine ordinance. The Lord ordained G1299 that those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel 1 Corinthians 9:14.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G1299 lies in its connection to divine and delegated authority.

Divine Ordinance: The word establishes that certain principles and structures originate with God himself. The law was ordained by angels Galatians 3:19, and God appointed the specific fashion of the tabernacle Acts 7:44, showing His direct involvement in setting order.
Apostolic Authority: Paul uses G1299 to establish binding practices for the church, demonstrating the authority given to the apostles to set things in order. He gives an order for collections 1 Corinthians 16:1 and establishes rules for personal conduct within the churches 1 Corinthians 7:17.
Christ's Authority: Jesus' use of the word demonstrates His power over both the natural and spiritual realms. He commanded food to be given to a girl He had just raised from the dead Luke 8:55 and gave commanding instructions to His disciples before His departure Matthew 11:1.

Summary

In summary, G1299 is a powerful word that conveys more than a simple suggestion; it signifies a command that establishes order and arrangement. Whether used by God to institute His law, by Christ to direct His followers, by an apostle to regulate church life, or by a secular ruler to issue a decree, diatássō consistently points to the establishment of a system or the execution of an authoritative instruction.

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 16 occurrences, inflected in 13 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Aorist Passive Participle Accusative Plural Neuter 2×
Perfect Passive Participle Accusative Singular Neuter 2×
2nd Aorist Passive Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Active Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Aorist Middle Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Aorist Middle Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Middle Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Future Middle Deponent Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Perfect Active Infinitive 1×
Perfect Middle Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×

+ 1 rarer form

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Neuter: Neuter grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
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.
Future: Action yet to take place.
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.
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Middle Deponent: Middle in form but active in meaning.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
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 16 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (5 verses); never once in the other 21.

Matthew

Luke

Acts

1 Corinthians

Galatians

Titus

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.