Divers; Diverse; Diversities
Understanding the Terminology
Modern readers encountering the words "divers," "diverse," and "diversities" in older Bible translations like the King James Version may find them confusing. In early modern English, "divers" meant "various" or "several" — referring to multiple items or types. "Diverse" was more specific, meaning "different in kind." "Diversities" referred to the range or spectrum of differences within a group. Over time, these distinctions blurred, and modern translations generally replace them with clearer terms like "various," "different kinds," or "many forms."
The underlying biblical concepts, however, are anything but obscure. Scripture repeatedly addresses the reality of variety and difference, whether in the created order, in human experience, or in the gifts and callings of God's people.
Diverse Diseases and Diverse Sufferings
In the Gospels, Jesus encountered people afflicted with "divers diseases" (Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:34). The Greek word behind this phrase means "many-colored" or "varied" — indicating not that individuals had multiple diseases, but that the crowd brought a wide range of different ailments. Jesus healed them all, demonstrating his authority over every kind of physical affliction.
The letter of James uses the same Greek word to describe the "divers temptations" or "various trials" that believers face (James 1:2). The point is that the challenges of faith come in many different forms, and each one provides an opportunity for spiritual growth and the development of steadfastness.
Diverse Weights and Measures
The Old Testament strongly condemns the use of "diverse weights" and "diverse measures" in business transactions (Deuteronomy 25:13-14; Proverbs 20:10, 23). Having two sets of weights — one for buying and another for selling — was a common form of fraud in the ancient marketplace. God declares that "diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD" (Proverbs 20:23). This prohibition reflects the biblical insistence on justice, honesty, and fair dealing in all human relationships.
The prohibition against sowing a field with "two kinds of seed" (Deuteronomy 22:9) and the broader category of laws against mixing unlike things reflect an Israelite understanding that God's created order involves meaningful distinctions that should be respected.
Diversities of Spiritual Gifts
The most theologically significant use of "diversities" appears in Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6: "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all." The Greek word here means "distribution" or "apportionment" — God distributes different gifts to different members of the body of Christ.
Paul goes on to list specific gifts and to explain that this diversity is intentional and essential. The body of Christ needs many different kinds of members with many different functions (1 Corinthians 12:28). Diversity of gifts is not a problem to be solved but a design to be celebrated. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you" (1 Corinthians 12:21).
Diverse Teachings and the Call to Discernment
The letter to the Hebrews warns against being "carried about with divers and strange doctrines" (Hebrews 13:9). Here "diverse" has a negative connotation — the variety of teachings circulating in the early church included many that were foreign to the gospel. Believers are called to exercise discernment, holding fast to the established truth of Christ rather than being swayed by every new teaching that comes along.
Similarly, Hebrews 1:1 notes that God spoke to the fathers "by divers portions and in divers manners" through the prophets. This positive use of diversity highlights the progressive and multifaceted nature of divine revelation. God did not communicate everything at once but revealed his purposes through many different spokespeople over many centuries, culminating in his final word through the Son.
The God of Unity and Diversity
The biblical treatment of "divers" and "diversities" ultimately points to a God who creates, sustains, and redeems through rich variety while maintaining perfect unity of purpose. The diversity of creation reflects his creative abundance. The diversity of spiritual gifts reflects his generous provision for the church. And the diversity of peoples who come to faith reflects the universal scope of his saving work. As Hebrews 2:4 says, God confirms his salvation through "signs, wonders, and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will."
Biblical Context
These terms appear across the Bible: in the Gospels describing varied diseases Jesus healed (Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:34), in Old Testament laws against fraudulent weights and measures (Deuteronomy 25:13; Proverbs 20:10, 23), in Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 28), in descriptions of God's multifaceted revelation (Hebrews 1:1), in warnings about diverse false teachings (Hebrews 13:9), and in James's discussion of varied trials (James 1:2).
Theological Significance
The concept of diversity in Scripture reveals important truths about God's character and purposes. God is a God of both unity and variety — he creates a world of astonishing diversity yet holds it together in coherent purpose. In the church, diversity of gifts and callings serves the unity of the body of Christ. The warnings against diverse false teachings remind believers that not all variety is healthy — truth provides the standard by which diversity is evaluated. The condemnation of diverse weights illustrates that God demands integrity precisely because he is consistent and just.
Historical Background
The evolution of these English terms reflects broader changes in the English language. In the 16th and 17th centuries when the King James Version was produced, "divers" was a common word for "various" or "several." As English evolved, the word became archaic, leading to confusion among modern readers. The underlying Greek and Hebrew terms were not ambiguous in their original contexts. Ancient marketplace fraud through diverse weights and measures is well documented in archaeological finds from across the Near East, including standardized weight stones found at many excavated sites. Paul's discussion of diverse spiritual gifts reflects the social reality of the early church, which brought together people of many different backgrounds, skills, and social standings.