σχίζω G4977
To split, tear, rend apart; figuratively, to divide a group into factions
A vivid verb of violent separation, used in the Gospels for some of the most dramatic moments in the narrative: the heavens being 'torn open' at Jesus' baptism (Mark 1:10), the temple veil ripping from top to bottom at the crucifixion (Matt 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45), and rocks splitting apart. Jesus teaches that no one tears a piece from a new garment to patch an old one (Luke 5:36). In Acts, the word extends metaphorically to social fracture—a city divided in opinion (Acts 14:4) or an assembly split into rival factions (Acts 23:7). Spanish distinguishes the two senses nicely: 'rasgar' for physical tearing versus 'dividir' for factional splitting.
Senses
1. tear, split, rend — Physical tearing, splitting, or rending of material objects. The temple curtain is torn in two at the crucifixion (Matt 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45), the heavens are split open at Jesus' baptism (Mark 1:10), rocks crack apart (Matt 27:51), and fishing nets tear under the weight of a miraculous catch (John 21:11). Jesus' parable warns against tearing new cloth to patch old (Luke 5:36). Spanish 'rasgar/rasguemos' and German 'zerreissen' convey the same forceful, irreversible rupture. 9×
AR["السَّمَاوَاتِ-مُنْشَقَّةً", "انْشَقَّ", "انْشَقَّتْ", "تَنْشَقَّ", "قَطَعَ", "نُمَزِّقْ", "يَشُقُّ"]·ben["খুলে-যাচ্ছে", "চিরে-গেল", "ছিঁড়বে", "ছিঁড়ল", "ছিঁড়ি", "ছিঁড়ে", "ফাটল", "ফাটা-হল", "ἐσχίσθη-ছিঁড়ে-গেল"]·DE["zerreissen", "σχίσας", "σχίσει", "ἐσχίσθη", "ἐσχίσθησαν"]·EN["being-torn", "having-torn", "let-us-tear", "was-split", "was-torn", "were-split", "will-tear"]·FR["déchirer"]·heb["יִקְרַע", "נִבְקְע-וּ", "נִקְרְעָה", "נִקְרַע", "נִקְרָע", "נִקְרָעִים", "קָרַע"]·HI["फट-गई", "फट-गईं", "फट-गया", "फटते-हुए", "फटा", "फाड़कर", "फाड़ेगा", "हम-फाड़ें"]·ID["akan-mengoyak", "kita-sobek", "mengoyak", "robek", "terbelah"]·IT["strappare"]·jav["badhe-nyuwèk", "kita-nyuwèk", "menga", "nyuwèk", "pecah,", "suwek", "suwèk"]·KO["갈라졌다", "갈라지는-것을", "찢어서", "찢어졌다", "찢어지지-않았다", "찢을-것이고", "찢자"]·PT["fenderam-se", "rasgando-se", "rasgou-se", "rasguemos"]·RU["оторвав,", "порвалась", "разверзающиеся", "раздерём", "разорвалась", "разорвёт,", "расселись"]·ES["habiendo-rasgado", "rasgará", "rasguemos", "rasgándose", "se-partieron", "se-rasgó"]·SW["akikata", "ikapasuka", "itaipasua", "likapasuka", "lilipasuka", "tuirarue", "ulipasuka", "yakipasuka"]·TR["yarılan", "yarıldılar", "yırtacak", "yırtalım", "yırtarak", "yırtıldı"]·urd["-سے", "پر", "پھاڑیں", "پھٹ-گئیں", "پھٹ-گیا", "پھٹا", "پھٹتے-ہوئے", "چاک-گیا", "چاک-ہوا"]
2. divide (a group) — Figurative division of a group into opposing factions or parties. In Acts 14:4 the populace of Iconium 'was divided'—some siding with the apostles, others with the Jewish leaders. Similarly, Paul deliberately splits the Sanhedrin by raising the resurrection issue (Acts 23:7). Spanish 'fue dividida' and French 'fendre' shift from physical cleavage to social fracture, mirroring the Greek metaphorical extension. 2×
AR["انْقَسَمَ", "اِنقَسَمَ"]·ben["বিভক্ত-হইল", "বিভক্ত-হল"]·DE["ἐσχίσθη"]·EN["was-divided"]·FR["fendre"]·heb["נִחְלַק", "נִפְלְגָה"]·HI["बँटगया", "बट-गई"]·ID["terbagi", "terpecah"]·IT["dividere"]·jav["Kabèlah", "pecah"]·KO["갈라졌다", "나뉘었다"]·PT["Dividiu-se"]·RU["Разделилось", "разделилось"]·ES["fue-dividida"]·SW["iligawanyika", "likagawanyika"]·TR["bölündü"]·urd["بٹ-گئی", "تقسیم-ہُوا"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)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×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)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×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σχίζω, Refs 5th c.BC+, etc.: poetry imperfect σχίζον Refs 5th c.BC+: future σχίσω LXX: aorist ἔσχισα Refs 8th c.BC+, Epic dialect σχίσσα Refs 8th c.BC+:—passive, future σχισθήσομαι LXXperfect ἔσχισμαι (see. below):—split, cleave, ῥινὸν ὀνύχεσσι Refs 8th c.BC+; ἔσχισε δώδεκα μοίρας, i.e. divided them into twelve parts, Refs[same place]; σ. νῶτον γᾶς, of the plough, Refs 5th c.BC+; especially of…