Word Study for G1310 (διαφημίζω)

diaphēmízō /dee-af-ay-mid'-zo/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom διά and a derivative of φήμη

Meaningto report thoroughly, i.e. divulgate

KJV usageblaze abroad, commonly report, spread abroad, fame.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of diaphēmízō — 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 diaphēmízō, represented by G1310, means to report thoroughly or divulgate. Its definition includes the concepts to "blaze abroad," "commonly report," and "spread abroad." It appears 4 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, indicating a specific and focused application of the term.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G1310 is used to describe the act of widely circulating a story or report. After two blind men were healed, they "spread abroad his fame" in that country Matthew 9:31. In a similar instance, a man cleansed by Jesus began to "blaze abroad the matter," which caused Jesus to be unable to openly enter a city Mark 1:45. The word is also used to describe the spread of a false narrative, noting that the story of the disciples stealing Christ's body was "commonly reported among the Jews" Matthew 28:15.

Related Words & Concepts

One related word helps to clarify the meaning of G1310 by providing a different shade of meaning for public declaration:

G2784 kērýssō: This word means to herald as a public crier, especially concerning divine truth. It is often translated as "preach" or "proclaim." For example, Jesus was sent "to preach deliverance to the captives" Luke 4:18, and Paul urges Timothy to "Preach the word" 2 Timothy 4:2. In Mark 1:45, G2784 is translated as "publish" alongside G1310 as "blaze abroad," highlighting a potential distinction between formal proclamation and widespread reporting.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1310 relates to the power and consequences of public testimony, whether true or false.

Spreading Fame: The term is used to show the organic and sometimes disobedient spread of Jesus' fame through word-of-mouth reports of his miracles, as seen in Matthew 9:31.
Hindrance to Ministry: The consequence of "blazing abroad" the news of a healing is shown to directly impact Jesus' work, forcing him into "desert places" and away from cities Mark 1:45.
Propagation of Falsehood: The use of G1310 in Matthew 28:15 demonstrates that the mechanism of spreading a report is neutral. It can be used to circulate a lie just as effectively as the truth, highlighting the vulnerability of public discourse to manipulation.

Summary

In summary, G1310 is not simply about speaking, but about the thorough and widespread dissemination of a report or story. It is used in scripture to describe the circulation of news about Jesus' miracles and, significantly, to describe the propagation of a false report concerning his resurrection. The word powerfully illustrates how the spreading of a "saying" can shape public perception and have tangible consequences, whether for good or for ill.

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 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Aorist Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Infinitive 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".

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 3 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (2 verses); never once in the other 25.

Matthew

Mark

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.