The Greek word diēgéomai, represented by G1334, means to relate fully and is often translated as declare, shew, or tell. It is derived from two words meaning "through" and "to lead," suggesting the act of leading someone through a complete narrative. It appears 8 times across 8 unique verses, consistently referring to a detailed and thorough recounting of events.
In its biblical usage, G1334 captures the act of giving a full report or testimony. After being miraculously freed from prison, Peter declared to the believers how the Lord had brought him out Acts 12:17. Similarly, Barnabas declared to the apostles the full story of Saul's conversion, including how he had seen the Lord and preached boldly Acts 9:27. Jesus instructs a man he healed to go home and shew the great things God had done for him Luke 8:39. The word also describes the apostles' report to Jesus, where they told him all that they had done Luke 9:10. In one instance, it is used in a command for silence, where Jesus charged the disciples that they should tell no man what they had seen at the transfiguration until the appropriate time Mark 9:9.
Several related words help clarify the meaning of giving a full account:
- G518 apangéllō (to announce, report, shew): This word is used for reporting news. In Acts 12:17, after Peter declared G1334 his story, he commanded them to shew G518 these things to James and the brethren, indicating a continuation of the report.
- G2784 kērýssō (to herald, proclaim, publish): While G1334 is a detailed narrative, this word refers to a public proclamation. After being told to shew G1334 what God had done, the man from Luke 8:39 went and published G2784 it throughout the city, moving from personal testimony to public heralding.
- G1291 diastéllomai (to enjoin, charge, command): This word is used to issue a direct order, often in relation to speech. It is used to command the disciples not to tell G1334 what they had seen on the mountain, highlighting that the timing of a full declaration is sometimes controlled by a divine command Mark 9:9.
- G4160 poiéō (to make or do): This word is frequently linked to G1334 as the action that precedes the telling. The apostles told G1334 what they had done G4160, and the healed man was to shew G1334 what God had done G4160, establishing a clear pattern of action followed by narration (Luke 9:10, Luke 8:39).
The theological weight of G1334 is found in its emphasis on bearing witness through detailed narrative.
- Personal Testimony: The word is a cornerstone for the practice of sharing personal testimony. It is used to describe the relating of God's direct intervention in a person's life, whether in salvation, deliverance, or ministry (Acts 9:27, Acts 12:17).
- Accountability in Ministry: The apostles' act of telling Jesus all they had done demonstrates a principle of accountability, where those sent out to minister return to give a full report to their sending authority Luke 9:10.
- The Unspeakable Narrative: In the prophecy concerning Christ's humiliation, the question "who shall declare his generation?" Acts 8:33 uses G1334 to convey the profound and almost inexpressible nature of His story and lineage.
- Divine Timing: The command for the disciples to refrain from telling the story of the transfiguration shows that the full declaration of God's most profound works is subject to His timing and purpose Mark 9:9.
In summary, G1334 is not merely about speaking; it is about providing a full and ordered account. It signifies the vital role of narrative in the life of faith, whether through giving a personal testimony of God's work, reporting on ministerial activities, or contemplating the grand, unfolding story of redemption. The word captures the essential Christian act of turning divine action into a declared witness for others to hear.
TRV