διαστέλλω G1291
To command strictly, give a stern charge; to order emphatically, especially enjoining silence or obedience.
Though its classical Greek roots mean 'to separate' or 'distinguish,' in the New Testament this verb has narrowed to a forceful speech act: giving a strict command. It appears almost exclusively on the lips of Jesus, who sternly charges people to keep silent about his miracles and messianic identity — the so-called 'Messianic Secret' of Mark's Gospel (Mark 5:43; 7:36; 8:15; 9:9). The irony is palpable in Mark 7:36: 'the more he commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.' Spanish 'ordenar' and German 'bestimmen' both capture the authoritative tone. In Acts 15:24, the apostles use the same verb to clarify what they did not command, showing it carries weight even in official ecclesiastical speech.
Senses
1. command, order strictly — To give a strict charge or emphatic command, ordering someone to do or refrain from something. In the NT this middle-voice usage carries strong authoritative force, most characteristically when Jesus commands silence about his miracles and identity (Matt 16:20; Mark 5:43; 7:36; 8:15; 9:9) — the pattern scholars call the 'Messianic Secret.' The verb also appears in apostolic instruction (Acts 15:24; Heb 12:20). Spanish 'ordenar/ordenó,' French 'ordonner,' and German 'bestimmen' all emphasize the commanding authority behind the speech act, confirming the consistent sense of strict directive rather than mere suggestion. 8×
AR["أَمَرناهُم", "أَمَرَ", "أَمَرَهُمْ", "أَوْصَاهُمْ", "أَوْصَى", "مَأْمُور"]·ben["আজ্ঞাটি", "আদেশ-দিয়েছিলাম", "আদেশ-দিলেন", "নিষেধ-করতেন", "নিষেধ-করলেন"]·DE["bestimmen", "διεστείλατο", "διεστειλάμεθα"]·EN["being-commanded", "he-commanded", "he-ordered", "he-was-commanding", "we-gave-orders"]·FR["ordonner"]·heb["מְצֻוֶּה", "צִוִּינוּ", "צִוָּה"]·HI["अअदेश-दिय", "आज्ञा-को", "आज्ञा-दी", "आज्ञा-देकर", "उनको", "चेतावनी-दे-रहा-था"]·ID["Dia-memerintahkan", "Ia-memerintahkan", "diperintahkan:", "kami-perintahkan", "memperingatkan"]·IT["diastellomenon", "ordinare"]·jav["dhawuh", "dipun-dhawuhi", "dipundhawuhaken", "kita-mréntahaken", "mesengi", "panjenenganipun-dhawuh", "paring-dhawuh"]·KO["명령-받은-것을", "명령하면", "명령했다", "명하셨다", "명하지"]·PT["ordenamos;", "ordenava", "ordenou", "ordenou-estritamente", "que-era-ordenado"]·RU["запретил", "повелеваемое", "повелел", "поручали", "приказал", "приказывал"]·ES["ordenaba", "ordenamos", "ordenó", "siendo-mandado"]·SW["aliwaagiza", "aliwaagiza-vikali", "tuliwaagiza", "yaliyoamriwa"]·TR["buyurdu", "buyuruyordu", "emredilene", "emretti", "emrettik"]·urd["تاکید-کرتا-تھا", "تاکید-کی", "حکم-دیا-تھا", "حکم-دیا-جاتا"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
διαστέλλω, put asunder, expand, separate, συνεσταλμένα δ. Refs 5th c.BC+; δ. τι ταῖς ὄνυξι to tear it open, Refs 1st c.AD+:—passive, to be dilated, of the lungs or heart, Refs 4th c.BC+being dispersed, Refs 4th c.BC+; διασταλήτω πᾶσα σκοτία let all darkness be dispelled, Refs __2 divide, δίχα Refs 5th c.BC+; distinguish, τοὺς Τρῶας τῶν Δαρδάνων Refs 8th c.BC+ __2.b define precisely, τὰ λεγόμενα…