Word Study for G1339 (διΐστημι)

diḯstēmi /dee-is'-tay-mee/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom διά and ἵστημι

Meaningto stand apart, i.e. (reflexively) to remove, intervene

KJV usagego further, be parted, after the space of.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of diḯstēmi — 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 diḯstēmi, represented by G1339, is defined as to stand apart, i.e. (reflexively) to remove, intervene. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. While its usage is infrequent, it precisely captures concepts of physical separation, the passage of time, or moving a certain distance.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its scriptural occurrences, G1339 is used to describe a clear separation or interval. In the account of the Ascension, it marks the moment Jesus was parted from his disciples to be carried into heaven Luke 24:51. The word is also used to denote a specific interval of time, describing "the space of one hour" that passed before Peter's final denial of Christ Luke 22:59. Lastly, it signifies movement over a physical distance, as when sailors had gone a little further before checking the water's depth again during a storm Acts 27:28.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words appear in the same verses as G1339, providing additional context to the events:

G2127 eulogéō (to speak well of, i.e. (religiously) to bless): This act is directly linked to the separation in Luke 24:51, as Jesus blessed his disciples at the very moment he "was parted" from them.
G399 anaphérō (to take up): This describes the action that immediately follows the separation in Luke 24:51, clarifying that after Jesus was parted from them, he was carried up into heaven.
G1340 diïschyrízomai (to stout it through, i.e. asservate): In Luke 22:59, after "the space of one hour" had passed, an accuser confidently affirmed Peter's association with Jesus, prompting the final denial.
G1001 bolízō (to heave the lead): This action of sailors who sounded for depth in Acts 27:28 occurs after they had "gone a little further," showing the practical application of measuring a traversed distance.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1339 is seen in the crucial moments it defines.

The Physical Ascension: The word's use in Luke 24:51 is profoundly significant, as "was parted" provides a definitive term for the physical separation of Christ from the disciples, concluding his earthly ministry.
A Marker of Human Frailty: In Luke 22:59, the "space of one hour" is not merely a measure of time but a dramatic pause that emphasizes the weight of Peter's subsequent denial, highlighting the fulfillment of Jesus's warning.
A Detail in Divine Providence: The phrase "gone a little further" in Acts 27:28 is a detail within a larger narrative of God's sovereign protection over Paul and his companions during a dangerous voyage.

Summary

In summary, G1339 is a precise term used to define separation in both time and space. Though rare, its applications are pivotal. It describes the physical departure of Christ at the Ascension Luke 24:51, frames the timeline of Peter's denial Luke 22:59, and measures distance in a narrative of survival at sea Acts 27:28. Each use of the word marks a significant transition, whether from an earthly to a heavenly presence or from one point in a perilous journey to the next.

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.

2nd Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Genitive Singular Feminine 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
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 3 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (2 verses); 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.