G1329 — διερμηνεύω (diermēneúō)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G1329
Original: διερμηνεύω
Transliteration: diermēneúō
Pronunciation: dee-er-main-yoo
Part of Speech: Verb
Root: G2059 ἑρμηνεύω (hermēneúō) — to interpret; compound with prefix δια- (dia-, "through/thoroughly")
Occurrences: 6 unique verses (7 tokens) in NT
First Occurrence: Luke 24:27 — "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

From δια- (through) and ἑρμηνεύω (to interpret); to explain thoroughly, by implication to translate. The δια- prefix intensifies the root — not merely rendering words but interpreting comprehensively, working through a body of material.

Louw-Nida Semantic Domain¶

Domain: 33.010 — Interpret, Mean, Explain
Parent Domain: 33 — Communication
Other words in subdomain: ἀνατίθημι (G394, explain), δείκνυμι (G1166a, show), δηλόω (G1213, make known), διανοίγω (G1272, open up), διασαφέω (G1285, make clear), διερμηνευτής (G1328, interpreter), δυσερμήνευτος (G1421, hard to explain)

Domain Neighbors (33.010 — Interpret, Mean, Explain)¶

Strong's	Lemma	Total Verses	Primary KJV Translation(s)
G394	ἀνατίθημι	2	communicated, declared
G1213	δηλόω	3	declared, did signify
G1272	διανοίγω	4	were opened, be opened
G1285	διασαφέω	1	told
G1328	διερμηνευτής	1	interpreter
G1421	δυσερμήνευτος	1	hard to be uttered

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Verses	%
interpret	2	33.3%
by interpretation	1	16.7%
he expounded	1	16.7%
he interpret	1	16.7%
he may interpret	1	16.7%

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
1 Corinthians	4	0.92
Luke	1	0.09
Acts	1	0.10

Heavily concentrated in 1 Corinthians 12–14 (Paul's tongues/gifts discourse). The single Luke occurrence is narratively distinct — the Emmaus road pericope.

Semantic Categories¶

1. Expounding Scripture — Christological Interpretation¶

Luke 24:27 — "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded (διερμήνευσεν) unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

The aorist active indicative marks a completed, decisive act. Jesus works through (δια-) the entire scriptural corpus — Moses, prophets, "all the scriptures" — systematically interpreting their messianic content. This is not casual explanation but comprehensive, Scripture-by-Scripture exposition.

2. Translating a Name Between Languages¶

Acts 9:36 — "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation (διερμηνευομένη) is called Dorcas."

Present passive participle: the name is being interpreted/translated from Aramaic (Tabitha) to Greek (Dorcas, "gazelle"). Here the word functions as straightforward linguistic translation — rendering equivalent meaning across languages.

3. Interpreting Tongues in Corporate Worship¶

1 Cor 12:30 — "do all speak with tongues? do all interpret (διερμηνεύουσιν)?"
1 Cor 14:5 — "greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret (διερμηνεύῃ), that the church may receive edifying."
1 Cor 14:13 — "let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret (διερμηνεύῃ)."
1 Cor 14:27 — "let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret (διερμηνευέτω)."

Four of six occurrences regulate the charismatic gift of tongues-interpretation. The present tense forms (indicative, subjunctive, imperative) indicate an ongoing ministry role, not a one-time event. Paul consistently pairs tongue-speaking with diermēneuō as its necessary complement — without interpretation, tongues do not edify the assembly.

Morphological Distribution¶

Form	Parsing	Verse
διερμήνευσεν	Aorist Active Indicative 3S	Luke 24:27
διερμηνευομένη	Present Passive Participle Nom Sg F	Acts 9:36
διερμηνεύουσιν	Present Active Indicative 3P	1 Cor 12:30
διερμηνεύῃ	Present Active Subjunctive 3S	1 Cor 14:5, 14:13
διερμηνευέτω	Present Active Imperative 3S	1 Cor 14:27

The only aorist is the Emmaus road occurrence; all Corinthian uses are present tense, reflecting habitual/ongoing congregational practice.

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
πᾶς (pas)	G3956	3x (50%)	"all the prophets... all the scriptures" (Lk 24:27); "do all interpret?" (1Co 12:30); "ye all spake" (1Co 14:5)
γλῶσσα (glōssa)	G1100	4x (67%)	"speak in tongue... interpret" — paired in every Corinthian occurrence
ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia)	G1577	1x	"that the church may receive edifying" (1Co 14:5)
γραφή (graphē)	G1124	1x	"in all the scriptures" (Lk 24:27)
προφητεύω (prophēteuō)	G4395	1x	compared with prophecy (1Co 14:5)

Word Family / Cognates¶

G2059 ἑρμηνεύω (hermēneúō) — root verb: to interpret, translate (4 occurrences; used for translating names — John 1:38, 42, 9:7, Heb 7:2)
G1328 διερμηνευτής (diermēneutḗs) — interpreter (1 occurrence; 1 Cor 14:28 — "if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence")
G3177 μεθερμηνεύω (methermēneúō) — to translate (7 occurrences; "being interpreted" — Matt 1:23, Mark 5:41, 15:22, 15:34, John 1:38, Acts 4:36, 13:8)
G1421 δυσερμήνευτος (dysermḗneutos) — hard to explain/interpret (1 occurrence; Heb 5:11)

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
ἑρμηνεύω (hermēneúō)	G2059	"interpretation"	Simple rendering of a name or term; diermēneuō adds δια- for thoroughness — working through a text or utterance
μεθερμηνεύω (methermēneúō)	G3177	"being interpreted"	Exclusively translates foreign words/names into Greek; never used for Scripture exposition or tongues
ἐπιλύω (epilýō)	G1956	"expounded"	Solves or settles a difficulty (Mark 4:34 — Jesus explained parables privately); diermēneuō works through a body of material comprehensively
διανοίγω (dianoígō)	G1272	—	"Opens" understanding/Scriptures (Luke 24:32, 45); diermēneuō is the act of explaining what is opened

Hebrew Source (via LXX)¶

No Hebrew source words found. The word does not appear as a standard LXX translation of any Hebrew term, consistent with its exclusively NT usage profile.