διασώζω

I save, bring safely to

Definition

The verb διασώζω means to bring someone safely through a danger or difficulty to a place of safety or deliverance. It emphasizes the process of preservation or rescue through a perilous situation, not just the initial act of saving. In the Gospels, it describes healing from illness, as when people sought to touch Jesus's garment so they might 'be saved' or 'made well' (Matthew 14:36). In Acts, it primarily refers to physical deliverance from life-threatening situations, such as Paul being brought safely through a plot (Acts 23:24) or the shipwreck survivors making it to land (Acts 27:43-44, 28:1, 4). In 1 Peter 3:20, it takes on a profound spiritual dimension, describing how Noah and his family 'were brought safely through' the waters of the flood, a picture of salvation.

Biblical Usage

διασώζω is used eight times in the New Testament. Its usage shows a clear pattern: in the Gospels and Acts, it refers to physical preservation or healing. In Luke 7:3, a centurion's servant is 'healed' (saved through illness). The book of Acts uses it five times, all in narratives of peril and rescue, particularly in the dramatic shipwreck account of Acts 27-28. The single non-narrative use is in 1 Peter 3:20, where it is applied metaphorically to Noah's salvation through the flood, connecting physical deliverance to the greater theme of spiritual salvation.

Etymology

διασώζω is a compound verb formed from the preposition διά (dia), meaning 'through' or 'across,' and the common verb σώζω (sōzō, G4982), meaning 'to save,' 'rescue,' or 'heal.' The prefix διά intensifies the root meaning, specifying a saving or preserving that is accomplished by bringing someone *through* a threatening circumstance to safety on the other side. Its meaning developed from the general idea of 'save' to specifically denote 'bring safely through.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant because it connects physical deliverance with spiritual salvation. It shows that God's saving action is often a process of preservation through trial, not just an instantaneous removal from danger. The use in 1 Peter 3:20 is especially rich, presenting Noah's passage through the flood as a type (a foreshadowing) of Christian baptism and salvation through Christ. Understanding διασώζω enriches reading by highlighting that biblical salvation is not merely an escape, but a journey of being sustained and brought to safety by God's power.

In the ancient world, travel—especially by sea—was extremely hazardous. The concept of being 'brought safely through' a voyage or a military campaign would have resonated deeply as a miraculous or fortunate preservation from very real and common dangers. This cultural context of pervasive physical risk makes the New Testament's use of this word for both physical and spiritual deliverance powerfully concrete.

σώζω (sōzō, G4982) — The root verb; a broader term for saving, healing, or delivering, without the specific emphasis on preservation 'through' something. ῥύομαι (rhyomai, G4506) — To rescue or deliver, often with a sense of drawing someone out from immediate danger.

Word Details

Scripture References