Lexical Summary dialeipó: To cease, to leave off, to pause Original Word: διαλείπω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cease. From dia and leipo; to leave off in the middle, i.e. Intermit -- cease. see GREEK dia see GREEK leipo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dia and leipó Definition to leave off NASB Translation ceased (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1257: διαλείπωδιαλείπω: (2 aorist διέλιπον); to interpose a delay, to intermit, leave off for a time something already begun: οὐ διέλιπε (T WH mrg, διελειπεν) καταφιλοῦσά (on the participle cf. Winers Grammar, § 45, 4 a.; (Buttmann, 300 (257))), she has not ceased kissing, has continually kissed, Luke 7:45. (Isaiah 5:14; Jeremiah 17:8; often in Greek writings from Herodotus down.) Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Narrative Setting The verb διέλιπεν appears a single time in the New Testament, at Luke 7:45, where Jesus contrasts Simon the Pharisee’s minimal hospitality with the lavish devotion of the repentant woman: “You did not greet Me with a kiss, but from the time I entered, she has not stopped kissing My feet” (Luke 7:45). The word highlights an action that fails to lapse, underscoring the woman’s uninterrupted expression of love. Hospitality and Honor Codes in the First Century In the social world of Luke’s Gospel, three gestures normally welcomed a guest: a kiss of greeting, foot-washing, and anointing with oil. Omission of any of these implied disregard or contempt. Simon withholds all three; the woman, by contrast, supplies the missing courtesies in superabundance. The Spirit-led narrator employs διέλιπεν to stress that her service is not a token gesture but a sustained act of contrition and honor. The vocabulary choice therefore exposes the host’s negligence while elevating the outsider’s faith. Theological Emphasis: Continuous Devotion By using a term that conveys “no break” or “no lapse,” Luke places unremitting devotion at the center of authentic discipleship. The woman’s ceaseless kisses prefigure later calls to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to “continue steadfastly in prayer” (Romans 12:12). The episode teaches that perseverance, not mere formality, marks genuine faith. Jesus publicly affirms her uninterrupted ministry, linking it to forgiveness: “Her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much” (Luke 7:47). Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Worship: Leaders may encourage congregations to move beyond perfunctory liturgy toward sustained, heartfelt worship. Literary and Canonical Significance As a hapax legomenon, διέλιπεν carries special rhetorical weight. Luke crafts the sentence so that the verb occupies a prominent position, amplifying contrast within the chiasm of verses 44–46. The single use serves as a spotlight, directing the reader to the moral climax of the dinner scene: where formal religion pauses, grace-driven love does not. Related Biblical Themes • Unceasing prayer – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Conclusion Though occurring only once, Strong’s Greek 1257 powerfully conveys the unbroken nature of true devotion. Luke 7:45 transforms a dinner conversation into a timeless call: let no moment pass without honoring the Savior whose mercy never ceases. Forms and Transliterations διαλειπέτω διαλείψει διαλείψεις διαλιπείν διαλιπέτωσαν διαλίπητε δίελιπε διελιπεν διέλιπεν διελίπομεν dielipen diélipenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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