μερίζω G3307
To divide into parts or factions, or to apportion and distribute shares; splitting either destructively or generously.
Covers both the divisive splitting of communities and the constructive distributing of resources. When Jesus warns that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Matt 12:25), the word carries overtones of fracture and ruin. But when he divides the loaves among the crowd at the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:41), the same verb describes generous distribution. Paul uses it for God apportioning gifts to each believer (1 Cor 7:17, Rom 12:3). Spanish mirrors this range with 'dividido' for schism and 'repartir' for distribution, while German consistently uses 'teilen,' which like the Greek holds both halves of meaning together.
Senses
1. to divide, be divided — To split into opposing parts or be in a state of internal division, used for kingdoms, households, and loyalties torn by conflict. Jesus' warning in Matt 12:25-26 that a kingdom divided against itself is laid waste provides the paradigmatic usage. Mark 3:24-26 repeats the pattern: if Satan is divided against himself, he cannot stand. The multilingual evidence consistently uses vocabulary of fracture: spa 'dividida/dividido,' fra 'diviser.' Paul applies the passive in 1 Cor 7:34 to the 'divided' attention of a married person — an extension from political schism to inner conflict. 8×
AR["انقَسَمَ", "انْقَسَمَ", "انْقَسَمَتْ", "مُنقَسِمٍ", "مُنقَسِمَةٍ", "مُنْقَسِمٌ", "هَلْ-انْقَسَمَ"]·ben["বিভক্ত", "বিভক্ত-হয়,", "বিভক্ত-হয়েছে", "বিভক্ত-হয়েছে,", "বিভক্ত-হয়েছে।"]·DE["teilen", "μερισθεῖσα", "ἐμερίσθη"]·EN["divided", "has-been-divided", "he-is-divided", "is-divided"]·FR["diviser", "partager"]·heb["הַאִם-נֶחֱלַק", "מְחֻלֶּקֶת", "מְחֻלָּק", "נֶחְלַק", "נֶחֱלַק", "תִּחָלֵק"]·HI["नहीं", "बन्त-गयअ", "बन्तअ-हुअ", "बांटा-गया-है", "सकता"]·ID["terbagi", "terbagi.", "terpecah", "terpecah,"]·IT["dividere"]·jav["ingkang-pecah-belah", "kapérang", "kapérang.", "pecah,", "pecah."]·KO["나뉘면", "나뉘었느냐", "나뉘었다", "분열되었으니", "분열된"]·PT["está-dividido", "está-dividido.", "foi-dividido,", "for-dividida,", "for-dividido,"]·RU["разделившееся", "разделившийся", "разделился", "разделится", "разделён."]·ES["dividida", "dividido", "está-dividido", "se-divide", "se-dividió", "¿Ha-sido-dividido"]·SW["Je,-amegawanyika", "amegawanyika,", "amegawanyika.", "imegawanyika,", "uliogawanyika", "umegawanyika,"]·TR["bölündü", "bölündü mü", "bölündü,", "bölünmüş", "bölünmüştür", "bölünürse,"]·urd["بٹ-جائے", "بٹ-گیا-ہو", "تقسیم-ہوئی", "تقسیم-ہوا", "تقسیم-ہوا-ہے"]
2. to apportion, distribute — To apportion, distribute, or allot shares of something, emphasizing the active parceling out of resources, gifts, or responsibilities by someone in authority. In Mark 6:41 Jesus divided the loaves among his disciples for distribution to the crowd (spa 'repartió,' arb 'qassama'). Paul uses the active sense in Rom 12:3 and 1 Cor 7:17 for God measuring out faith and calling to each person. In Luke 12:13 a man asks Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance — a legal sense of apportioning property. The shift from destructive division (sense 1) to generous distribution marks a significant semantic range. 6×
AR["أَنْ-يُقَاسِمَنِي", "قَسَمَ", "قَسَمَهُ", "قَسَّمَ"]·ben["বন্টন-করেছেন", "ভাগ-করতে", "ভাগ-করলেন", "ভাগ-করেছেন"]·DE["teilen", "μερίσασθαι"]·EN["apportioned", "divided", "he-divided", "to-divide"]·FR["diviser", "partager"]·heb["חִלֵּק", "לְחַלֵּק"]·HI["बाँटने-को", "बांटा", "बांटा-है"]·ID["Dia-membagikan", "membagikan", "menetapkan", "telah-membagikan", "untuk-membagi"]·IT["dividere", "emerisen"]·jav["dipundum", "maringi", "mbagi", "paring", "sampun-mbagi"]·KO["나누도록", "나누셨다", "나누어-주셨다", "나누었다", "나누었으니"]·PT["repartiu"]·RU["разделил", "разделить", "уделил"]·ES["asignó", "que-reparta", "repartió"]·SW["alimgawia", "alitugawia", "alivyomgawia", "aliwagawia", "kugawana"]·TR["ayırdı", "o-", "paylaşsın", "paylaştırdı"]·urd["بانٹ-دیں", "بانٹا-ہے", "بانٹنے-کو", "تقسیم-کیا"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G3956 1. all (collective plural) (616×)H3967 1. cardinal numeral hundred (550×)H1419a 1. great, large (general quality) (486×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)G1520 1. cardinal number one (339×)H6240 1. ten (cardinal number) (334×)H6242 1. twenty (cardinal number) (315×)H2568 1. cardinal number five (309×)H0702 1. four (cardinal number) (277×)G3956 2. every, each (distributive) (227×)H8337 1. six (cardinal number) (215×)G3956 3. all things, everything (substantive) (211×)G3956 4. (187×)H6235 1. ten (177×)G3173 1. great in size or extent (176×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μερίζω, Doric dialect μερ-ίσδω, Refs 2nd c.BC+: Attic dialect future -ιῶ Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἐμέρισα Refs 3rd c.BC+; Doric dialect participle μερίξας Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect μεμέρικα Refs 1st c.BC+:—middle, future -ίσομαι LXX+4th c.BC+: aorist ἐμερισάμην Refs 4th c.BC+: perfect μεμέρισμαι Refs 4th c.BC+:—passive, future μεριοῦμαι Refs 4th c.BC+: aorist ἐμερίσθην Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect…