Word Study for G1301 (διατηρέω)

diatēréō /dee-at-ay-reh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom διά and τηρέω

Meaningto watch thoroughly, i.e. (positively and transitively) to observe strictly, or (negatively and reflexively) to avoid wholly

KJV usagekeep.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of diatēréō — 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 diatēréō, represented by G1301, means to keep. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The word's definition, "to watch thoroughly," suggests a dual application: positively, to observe something strictly, and reflexively, to wholly avoid something.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of G1301 illustrate its distinct meanings. In a positive sense, after finding the young Jesus in the temple, his mother kept all these sayings in her heart Luke 2:51. This implies a careful, meditative treasuring of events and words. In a reflexive and negative sense, the Jerusalem Council advised Gentile believers to keep themselves from things like fornication and meat offered to idols, a command for strict avoidance and separation Acts 15:29.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which G1301 is used:

G4487 rhēma (an utterance... a matter or topic): This specifies what Mary kept in her heart—the sayings and events related to Jesus Luke 2:51. It is the object of strict observation.
G5293 hypotássō (to subordinate; reflexively, to obey): This describes the context in which Mary was keeping these sayings, as Jesus was subject unto his parents, highlighting a setting of divine order Luke 2:51.
G4202 porneía (harlotry... fornication): This is a primary example of what believers are to keep themselves from, representing the moral and spiritual impurities to be wholly avoided Acts 15:29.

Theological Significance

Despite its infrequent use, G1301 carries significant theological weight in its contexts.

Treasuring Divine Revelation: Mary's example of keeping these sayings demonstrates the value of pondering and preserving God's words and works. It portrays an active, internal faith that observes and remembers divine action Luke 2:51.
Practical Holiness: The command for believers to keep themselves from certain pagan practices establishes a principle of active separation for the sake of purity. It is a call to guard oneself from influences that are contrary to the will of God, such as fornication G4202, which the scriptures identify as a defiling work of the flesh Matthew 15:19.

Summary

In summary, G1301 is a precise term that encapsulates two crucial aspects of the Christian walk. It is not merely about passive possession but about active engagement. It defines the need to both "observe strictly" the truths of God, as Mary did with the sayings about Jesus Luke 2:51, and to "avoid wholly" the corrupting influences of the world, as instructed by the apostles Acts 15:29.

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 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
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".
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
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 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke and Acts (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

Luke

Acts

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.