### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb schízō (`{{G4977}}`) is a primary verb carrying the core meaning of "to split," "to cleave," or "to tear apart." This action implies a forceful and often violent separation, rather than a gentle parting. Its semantic range extends from literal physical rending, such as tearing cloth or splitting the earth, to figurative divisions, like a schism in opinion or a rupture within a community. The underlying concept is the creation of a rent, fissure, or deep division that breaks something into separate parts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of schízō in the New Testament are relatively few but profoundly significant:
* **Literal Rending of Fabric/Material:**
* In the Synoptic Gospels, schízō describes the tearing of the temple veil from top to bottom at the moment of Jesus' death ([[Matthew 27:51]], [[Mark 15:38]], [[Luke 23:45]]). This is a deliberate and divinely orchestrated act, not an accidental tearing.
* It is also used in the parable of the new patch on an old garment, where the new cloth schízō (tears) the old garment, making the tear worse ([[Matthew 9:16]], [[Mark 2:21]], [[Luke 5:36]]). This illustrates the incompatibility of old and new covenants.
* **Literal Rending of the Heavens:**
* Mark's Gospel uniquely employs schízō to describe the heavens being "torn open" at Jesus' baptism ([[Mark 1:10]]). This vivid imagery emphasizes a dramatic, forceful divine intervention, a direct opening of the celestial realm to reveal God's presence and voice.
* **Figurative Division/Schism:**
* In the Gospel of John, schízō denotes the deep divisions and disagreements that arose among the people concerning Jesus' identity and claims ([[John 7:43]], [[John 9:16]], [[John 10:19]]). These were not minor disagreements but fundamental rifts in understanding and belief, leading to factions.
* The Apostle Paul uses schízō to describe the "divisions" or "schisms" within the Corinthian church ([[1 Corinthians 1:10]], [[1 Corinthians 11:18]], [[1 Corinthians 12:25]]). Here, the word takes on its well-known ecclesiastical meaning, referring to factions and disunity that tear apart the body of Christ, undermining its unity and purpose.
### Related Words & Concepts
Schízō is distinct from, yet related to, other Greek words denoting separation or division. While diamerizō (`{{G1266}}`) often implies a division into parts or distribution, and chōrizō (`{{G5563}}`) suggests a spatial separation or departure, schízō uniquely conveys the sense of a forceful, often violent, tearing or splitting. Its antonyms would include words related to unity, such as henotēs (`{{G1773}}`, unity) or concepts of peace and cohesion. Thematically, schízō connects to concepts of divine revelation (heavens torn open), covenant change (veil torn), and the critical theological tension between unity and disunity within the community of faith.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of schízō is profound, particularly in two key contexts:
* **The Tearing of the Temple Veil:** This event, occurring at the moment of Christ's death, is arguably the most significant theological use of schízō. The veil, which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Temple, symbolized the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity under the Old Covenant. Its violent tearing, "from top to bottom" (indicating divine agency), signifies the abolition of this barrier. Through Christ's atoning sacrifice, direct access to God is now granted to all believers, fulfilling the promise of the New Covenant and rendering the old sacrificial system obsolete. It is a powerful declaration of God's immediate accessibility through the broken body of Christ.
* **Divisions in the Church:** Paul's use of schízō to describe the factions in Corinth underscores the gravity of disunity within the Christian community. These "schisms" are not mere differences of opinion but deep, tearing ruptures that threaten the very fabric and witness of the church, which is meant to be a unified body of Christ ([[1 Corinthians 12:27]]). Paul condemns such divisions as contrary to the Gospel, which calls believers to unity "in the same mind and in the same judgment" ([[1 Corinthians 1:10]]). This highlights the importance of spiritual maturity and love in maintaining the peace and cohesion of the church.
### Summary
The Greek verb schízō (`{{G4977}}`) fundamentally means "to split" or "to tear apart," whether literally or figuratively. Its occurrences in the New Testament carry immense theological weight. It describes the dramatic, divinely orchestrated tearing of the heavens at Jesus' baptism, signaling a unique divine revelation, and most significantly, the rending of the Temple veil at Christ's crucifixion, symbolizing the new and direct access to God granted through His finished work. Furthermore, schízō powerfully depicts the destructive "schisms" and divisions that plagued early Christian communities, serving as a stark warning against anything that would tear apart the unity of the body of Christ. Thus, schízō speaks to moments of profound divine intervention and the critical importance of unity within the community of faith.
TRV