1290. diaspora

Lexicon

diaspora: Dispersion, Scattering

Original Word: διασπορά
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: diaspora
Pronunciation: dee-as-por-ah'
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-as-por-ah')
Definition: Dispersion, Scattering
Meaning: lit: scattering abroad of seed by the sower, hence: dispersion, used especially of the Jews who had migrated and were scattered over the ancient world.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

diaspora, a dispersion

From diaspeiro; dispersion, i.e. (specially and concretely) the (converted) Israelite resident in Gentile countries -- (which are) scattered (abroad).

see GREEK diaspeiro

HELPS Word-studies

1290 diasporá (from 1223 /diá, "through," intensifying 4687 /speírō, "sow or scatter seed," which is the root of sperma, "seed") – properly, thoroughly scatter, distribute seed widely.

1290 (diaspora) is used figuratively of the Jews in NT times. They were literally scattered throughout the Roman empire (i.e. dispersed) and therefore called "the Diaspora."

[1290 (diasporá) properly refers to Israelites exiled to foreign lands, i.e. Jews residing outside of Palestine (see Jn 7:35).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from diaspeiró
Definition
a dispersion (Isr. in Gentile countries)
NASB Translation
dispersed (1), Dispersion (1), scattered throughout (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1290: διασπορά

διασπορά, διασπορᾶς, ἡ (διασπείρω, cf. such words as ἀγορά, διαφθορά) (Vulg.dispersio), a scattering, dispersion: ἀτομων, opposed to σύμμιξις καί παραζευξις, Plutarch, mor., p. 1105 a.; in the Sept. used of the Israelites dispersed among foreign nations, Deuteronomy 28:25; Deuteronomy 30:4; especially of their Babylonian exile, Jeremiah 41:17 (); Isaiah 49:6; Judith 5:19; abstract for concrete of the exiles themselves, Psalm 146:2 () (equivalent to (נִדְחִים, expelled, outcasts); 2 Macc. 1:27; εἰς τήν διασποράν τῶν Ἑλλήνων, unto those dispersed among the Greeks (Winer's Grammar, § 30, 2 a.), John 7:35. Transferred to Christians (i. e. Jewish Christians (?)) scattered abroad among the Gentiles: James 1:1 (ἐν τῇ διασπορά, namely, οὖσι); παρεπίδημοί διασπορᾶς Πόντου, sojourners far away from home, in Pontus, 1 Peter 1:1 (see παρεπίδημος). (BB. DD. under the word ; especially Schürer, N. T. Zeitgeseh. § 31.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From διασπείρω (diaspeirō), meaning "to scatter" or "to spread abroad."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H1473 גָּלוּת (galut) • Captivity, exile
- H6340 פְּזָר (pazar) • To scatter, disperse
- H2710 חָקַק (chaqaq) • To inscribe, decree (related to the idea of being marked or set apart, often used in contexts of judgment leading to dispersion)

These Hebrew terms reflect the Old Testament background of the concept of diaspora, emphasizing the themes of exile, scattering, and the hope of eventual regathering.

Usage: The term is used in the New Testament to describe the Jewish communities living outside of Israel. It highlights the condition of being dispersed and the cultural and religious implications of living away from the central place of worship in Jerusalem.

Context: The concept of διασπορά (diaspora) is deeply rooted in the history of Israel and is a significant theme in both the Old and New Testaments. The term itself appears in the New Testament in contexts that reflect the historical reality of Jewish communities living outside the land of Israel. This dispersion began with the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles and continued through various periods of foreign domination and conquest.

In the New Testament, the diaspora is mentioned explicitly in James 1:1, "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings." Here, James addresses Jewish Christians living outside of Palestine, acknowledging their scattered state and the challenges they face in maintaining their faith and identity in foreign lands.

The diaspora played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity. Jewish communities in the diaspora provided a network through which the message of the Gospel could travel. The synagogues in these communities often served as initial points of contact for the apostles and early Christian missionaries, as seen in the missionary journeys of Paul.

Theologically, the diaspora represents both a judgment and a promise. It is a judgment in that it reflects the consequences of Israel's disobedience and idolatry, leading to their scattering among the nations. However, it also carries a promise of restoration and hope, as the prophets foretold a time when God would gather His people back to their land and renew His covenant with them.

Forms and Transliterations

διασπορα διασπορά διασπορᾷ διασποραν διασποράν διασπορὰν διασπορας διασποράς διασπορᾶς diaspora diasporā̂i diasporan diasporàn diasporas diasporâs

Englishman's Concordance

John 7:35 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν διασπορὰν τῶν Ἑλλήνων
NAS: to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks,
KJV: unto the dispersed among the Gentiles,
INT: to the dispersion among the Greeks

James 1:1 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ χαίρειν
NAS: who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
KJV: which are scattered abroad, greeting.
INT: in the dispersion greeting

1 Peter 1:1 N-GFS
GRK: ἐκλεκτοῖς παρεπιδήμοις διασπορᾶς Πόντου Γαλατίας
NAS: To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus,
KJV: to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus,
INT: to [the] elect exiles of [the] dispersion of Pontus of Galatia

Strong's Greek 1290
3 Occurrences

διασπορᾷ — 1 Occ.
διασπορὰν — 1 Occ.
διασπορᾶς — 1 Occ.