διανέμω

I divide into portions, distribute

Definition

διανέμω means to divide something into portions and distribute it among people. In its active voice, it carries the sense of apportioning or allotting, as seen in Acts 4:17 where the authorities want to stop the apostles from 'spreading' (διανεμηθῇ) the teaching about Jesus. The passive voice can mean to be spread abroad or circulated, emphasizing the result of the distribution. While its single New Testament use is in the passive, the word inherently involves the action of dividing and handing out, whether physical goods or, as in this case, a message.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 4:17. It appears in the passive voice (διανεμηθῇ) within the Sanhedrin's discussion on how to stop the apostles' influence. The context is the attempted containment of the gospel message, where the word describes the teaching being 'spread' or 'circulated' among the people. This singular usage highlights the word's application to the dissemination of information, not just material goods.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition διά (dia), meaning 'through' or 'throughout,' combined with the root verb νέμω (nemō), meaning 'to deal out,' 'distribute,' or 'manage.' The compound emphasizes distribution through an area or among a group. Cognates include νομή (nomē, 'pasture' or 'feeding place'), showing the root's connection to the idea of apportioning resources.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, διανέμω is theologically significant in Acts 4:17 as it describes the very phenomenon the religious authorities sought to suppress: the unstoppable spread of the gospel. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading by highlighting the active, distributive nature of the early church's witness. It frames the gospel not as a static doctrine but as something being actively portioned out and circulated among the people, embodying the Great Commission in action and demonstrating human opposition to divine proclamation.

In the Greco-Roman world, distribution (νέμω) was a concept tied to governance, economics, and social order—from distributing land and rations to allocating civic duties. Using this term for spreading a teaching subtly frames the apostolic mission as a powerful, organizing force. The authorities' concern in Acts 4:17 reflects a cultural understanding that controlling the distribution of ideas was key to maintaining social and religious control, making their failure to do so all the more dramatic.

μερίζω (merizō, G3307) — to divide into parts or distribute, often with a focus on the act of separating; διαδίδωμι (diadidōmi, G1239) — to give out, distribute, hand over, often implying a personal handing around.

Word Details

Scripture References