δια-σπάω G1288
to tear apart, tear asunder; to be pulled to pieces or torn away forcibly
This violent verb means to tear something apart with force or to be torn asunder. Mark uses it for the demoniac who had broken chains and been 'torn apart' by restraints (5:4), while Acts employs it for the danger that Paul might be 'pulled to pieces' by conflicting crowds (23:10). The imagery is physical and violent—things or persons being ripped apart by opposing forces. The prefix 'dia-' intensifies the basic 'tear' to suggest complete sundering or pulling in different directions. Spanish 'fuera despedazado' (be torn to pieces) and French 'déchirer' (tear) preserve this violent imagery of forcible separation or destruction.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Appears in violent contexts of being torn apart: the demoniac who had frequently 'been torn apart' by restraints he broke (Mark 5:4: Spanish 'fuera despedazado'), and the Roman tribune's fear Paul would be 'pulled to pieces' by the mob (Acts 23:10: English 'torn apart,' French 'déchirer'). Both emphasize forcible, violent tearing or pulling apart by opposing forces. 2×
AR["قَطِعَ", "يُمَزَّقَ"]·ben["ছিন্নভিন্ন-হন", "টেনে-ছেঁড়া-হত"]·DE["zerreissen", "διασπασθῇ"]·EN["be-torn-apart", "to-have-been-torn-apart"]·FR["déchirer"]·heb["יִקָּרֵע", "נִתְּקוּ"]·HI["उससे", "फाड़दियाजाए"]·ID["diputuskan", "dirobek"]·IT["diespasthai", "fare-a-pezzi"]·jav["dipedhot", "dipun-suwek"]·KO["끊어져왔다", "찢기지"]·PT["terem-sido-despedaçadas"]·RU["разорвали", "разрывались"]·ES["fuera-despedazado", "haber-sido-rotas"]·SW["alivunja-vipande", "araruliwe"]·TR["kırılmıştı", "parçalansın"]·urd["توڑ-دیا-گیا-تھا", "نہ-پھاڑ-ڈالا-جائے"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
δια-σπάω, future -σπάσομαι [ᾰ] Refs 5th c.BC+ also -σπάσωRefs 5th c.BC+aorist -έσπᾰσα, middle -εσπασάμηνRefs 5th c.BC+: perfect -έσπᾰκα Refs 5th c.BC+ —passive, aorist -εσπάσθην: perfect -έσπασμαι (see. below):—tear asunder, τοὺς ἄνδρας κρεοργηδὸν δ. Refs 5th c.BC+; δ. τὸ σταύρωμα to break through or tear down the palisade, Refs; δ. τὴν γέφυραν, τὸ ἔδαφος, Refs 2nd c.BC+; break up, Refs 3rd…