σχίζω
I rend, divide asunder
Definition
The Greek verb σχίζω (schizō) fundamentally means 'to split,' 'to tear,' or 'to divide.' In the New Testament, it describes the physical act of tearing or rending objects, such as cloth (Mark 1:10, Luke 5:36) or fishing nets (John 21:11). Most significantly, it is used for the supernatural tearing of the temple veil at the moment of Jesus's death (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45), symbolizing a profound theological shift. It can also describe a metaphorical division among people, as seen in Acts 14:4 where a crowd is 'divided' in opinion.
Biblical Usage
σχίζω appears 9 times across the Gospels and Acts. Its usage falls into two primary contexts: physical rending and social division. The physical rending includes the heavens (Mark 1:10), garments (Luke 5:36), the temple veil (Matt. 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45), and a seamless tunic (John 19:24). The single instance of social division is in Acts 14:4. John 21:11 uniquely uses it for a net that was torn yet did not break, highlighting a miraculous preservation.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek root σχιδ- (schid-), meaning 'to split' or 'to cleave.' It is related to the noun σχίσμα (schisma, G4978), meaning 'a division' or 'a tear,' from which the English word 'schism' originates. The root conveys the core idea of a forceful separation or splitting apart.
Semantic Range
σχίζω is theologically significant, especially in the passion narratives. The tearing of the temple veil (Matt. 27:51) is a powerful symbol of the new and living way opened into God's presence through Christ's sacrificial death (Hebrews 10:19-20), signifying the end of the old covenant's separation. The rending of the heavens at Jesus's baptism (Mark 1:10) marks a dramatic divine intervention and the opening of communication between God and humanity.
In the 1st-century Jewish context, the temple veil was a massive, thick curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where God's presence dwelt. Its tearing 'from top to bottom' would be understood as a divine, irreversible act, not a human one. Tearing one's garments was a common cultural expression of profound grief, outrage, or repentance (e.g., Mark 14:63).
διαιρέω (diaireō, G1244) — to distribute or apportion, focusing on division into parts. ῥήγνυμι (rhēgnymi, G4486) — to burst or break violently, often with a sense of shattering. σχίσμα (schisma, G4978) — the noun form meaning 'a division' or 'a tear.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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