διερμην-εύω G1329
To interpret or explain the meaning of speech, prophecy, or Scripture; also to translate a word or name from one language to another.
A verb of making meaning accessible across barriers — whether the barrier is obscurity or language itself. Most often it appears in the context of interpreting tongues in the Corinthian assembly (1 Cor 12:30; 14:5, 13, 27), where unintelligible speech requires someone to unlock its meaning for the congregation. On the Emmaus road, Jesus 'interpreted' the Scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:27), explaining what was hidden in plain sight. In Acts 9:36, however, the verb takes a strictly linguistic turn: Tabitha's Aramaic name is 'translated' (διερμηνευομένη) as Dorcas in Greek. The Spanish distinguishes neatly between 'interpreta' (interprets meaning) and 'traducida' (translated), revealing the two faces of this single Greek verb.
Senses
1. interpret, explain — To interpret or explain the meaning of something — whether tongues-speech, prophecy, or Scripture. This is the dominant use (5 of 6 occurrences). Paul insists that tongues in the assembly must be interpreted (1 Cor 14:5, 13, 27), and on the Emmaus road Jesus 'interpreted' (διερμήνευσεν) the whole of Scripture as pointing to himself (Luke 24:27). The Spanish 'interpreta/interprete' and German 'auslegen' capture this sense of unpacking hidden or obscure meaning for an audience. 5×
AR["فَسَّرَ", "لِيُتَرجِم", "يُتَرجِمونَ", "يُتَرجِمَ", "يُتَرجِمُ"]·ben["অনুবাদ-করুক।", "অনুবাদ-করে,", "অনুবাদ-করে?", "অনুবাদ-করে।", "তিনি-ব্যাখ্যা-করলেন"]·DE["auslegen", "διερμήνευσεν"]·EN["he-interpreted", "he-interprets", "he-may-interpret", "interpret", "let-interpret"]·FR["interpréter"]·heb["יְתַרְגֵּם", "מְתַרְגְּמִים", "מְתַרְגֵּם", "פֵּרֵשׁ"]·HI["अनुवाद-करते-हैं", "अनुवाद-करे", "समझाया"]·ID["Dia-menjelaskan", "hendaklah-menafsirkan.", "ia-menafsirkan,", "ia-menafsirkan.", "menafsirkan?"]·IT["diermeneusen", "interpretare"]·jav["nerangaken", "nerangna", "nerjemahaken?", "piyambakipun-nerangaken"]·KO["통역하기", "통역하느냐", "통역한다면", "통역할지니", "해석해-주셨다"]·PT["interpretam?", "interprete,", "interprete."]·RU["истолковал", "истолковывает", "истолковывал", "истолковывают?", "пусть-истолковывает"]·ES["interpreta", "interpretan", "interprete", "interpretó"]·SW["aliwafafanulia", "anatafsiri", "atafsiri", "wanatafsiri?"]·TR["o-", "yorumladı", "yorumlasın", "yorumluyor"]·urd["ترجمہ-کرتے-ہیں", "ترجمہ-کرے", "سمجھایا"]
2. translate (a name) — To translate a word or name from one language into another. In Acts 9:36, the name Tabitha is said to be 'translated' (διερμηνευομένη) as Dorcas — a straightforward linguistic rendering rather than an explanation of deeper meaning. The Spanish 'traducida' distinguishes this cleanly from interpretation, though in Greek the same verb covers both acts of bridging comprehension gaps. 1×
AR["مُتَرْجَمَةٌ"]·ben["অনুবাদ-করলে"]·DE["διερμηνευομένη"]·EN["being-translated"]·FR["interpréter"]·heb["מְתֻרְגֶּמֶת"]·HI["अनुवादित-होकर"]·ID["diterjemahkan"]·IT["interpretare"]·jav["dipuntegesi"]·KO["해석한-대로"]·PT["traduzida"]·RU["переводимая"]·ES["traducida"]·SW["ikitafsiriwa"]·TR["tercüme-edilen"]·urd["ترجمہ-کیا-جاتا-ہے"]
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
διερμην-εύω, interpret, expound, NT+4th c.BC+; translate, Refs:—passive, LXX+1st c.AD+