διϊκνέομαι G1338
To penetrate, pierce through, pass completely through something, especially in a physical or metaphorical sense
This verb describes the action of penetrating or passing through something completely. In Hebrews 4:12, it vividly portrays God's word as sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing so deeply it divides soul from spirit. The Greek carries a sense of thorough, complete penetration—not merely touching the surface but reaching the innermost parts. Classical uses include missiles reaching their target or time intervals passing through.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The single New Testament occurrence (Heb 4:12) uses this term metaphorically for the word of God 'piercing' to the division of soul and spirit. The multilingual glosses emphasize penetration and piercing, reflecting the word's fundamental sense of going completely through something. Classical Greek uses it for physical piercing with missiles or reaching a destination through obstacles. 1×
AR["نَافِذَةٌ"]·ben["ভেদ-করে"]·DE["durchdringen"]·EN["piercing"]·FR["durchdringen"]·heb["חוֹדֵר"]·HI["भेदनेवाला"]·ID["menembus"]·IT["diiknoumenos"]·jav["nembus"]·KO["꼪뚜어-들어가니"]·PT["penetrante"]·RU["проникающее"]·ES["penetrando"]·SW["hupenya"]·TR["nüfuz-eden"]·urd["پہنچنے-والا"]
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
διϊκνέομαι, future -ίξομαι: aorist -ικόμην:— go through, penetrate, ποτὶ τὰν ψυχάν δι᾽ ὤτων Refs 5th c.BC+; reach, with missiles, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 in speaking, go through, tell of, πάντα δ. Refs 8th c.BC+ __3 of Time, intervene, διετοῦς χρόνου διικνουμένου Refs 3rd c.AD+