διϋλίζω

I strain, put through a sieve

Definition

The verb διϋλίζω means to strain or filter a liquid, specifically to pass it through a sieve or strainer to remove impurities. In its sole biblical occurrence in Matthew 23:24, it is used metaphorically. Jesus employs it to criticize the scribes and Pharisees for being scrupulous about minor ritual details, like straining out a tiny gnat from their drink to avoid ceremonial defilement, while simultaneously 'swallowing a camel'—a hyperbolic contrast for completely overlooking major matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. The word thus captures an image of extreme, meticulous care in a trivial area that highlights a profound neglect of what is truly important.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 23:24. It appears within a series of 'woes' pronounced by Jesus against the religious leaders. The usage is entirely metaphorical and hyperbolic, creating a vivid, memorable picture to expose hypocrisy. There is no literal usage of straining a liquid in the biblical text.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek prefix διά (dia), meaning 'through,' and the verb ὑλίζω (hylizō), meaning 'to strain or filter.' The compound verb literally means 'to strain through.' It is a relatively rare word in ancient Greek literature, emphasizing the specific action of filtering to remove solid particles from a liquid.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it illustrates a core theme of Jesus's teaching: the danger of external religiosity that neglects the heart of God's law. Understanding the precise meaning—meticulous straining—sharpens the contrast in Matthew 23:24 between obsessive focus on minor purity laws (Leviticus 11:23) and the blatant disregard for 'the weightier matters of the law' (Matthew 23:23). It enriches the reading by highlighting the absurdity of a piety that is technically correct in minutiae but morally blind to fundamental justice and love.

In the Jewish cultural context of the 1st century, ritual purity was paramount. Gnats were considered unclean insects (Leviticus 11:23, 41). Diligent Jews would strain their wine or water to avoid accidentally consuming one and becoming ceremonially defiled. Jesus's audience would have immediately recognized this practice. His metaphor brilliantly subverts this act of piety, turning it into a symbol of misguided priorities, where the method of maintaining external purity becomes the very evidence of internal corruption.

καθαρίζω (katharizō, G2511) — A broader term meaning 'to cleanse, purify,' often used for ritual or moral cleansing, not specifically the mechanical act of straining. κρίνω (krinō, G2919) — Means 'to judge, separate, decide'; shares the conceptual idea of separation but is not a physical action.

Word Details

Scripture References