Lexical Summary diorussó: To dig through, to break through Original Word: διόρυσσω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance break through. From dia and orusso; to penetrate burglariously -- break through (up). see GREEK dia see GREEK orusso NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dia and orussó Definition to dig through (as of breaking into a house) NASB Translation break (2), broken (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1358: διορύσσωδιορύσσω; passive, 1 aorist infinitive διορυχθῆναι (Matthew 24:43 T Tr WH; Luke 12:39 T WH Trmarginal reading); 2 aorist infinitive διορυγῆναι (cf. WHs Appendix, p. 170; from Homer down); to dig through: a house (Xenophon, symp. 4, 30; Job 24:16 the Sept.), Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:39; absolutely, Matthew 6:19f (Winers Grammar, 594 (552); Buttmann, 146 (127)). Topical Lexicon Greek Word Overview Strong’s Greek 1358 (διορύσσω, diorussō) pictures the action of digging or tunneling through a wall or earthen structure. In the New Testament it always describes the clandestine entry of a thief who quietly opens a breach in order to plunder what lies within. Physical and Cultural Backdrop Domestic architecture in first-century Judea and Galilee typically relied on sun-dried mud bricks or packed clay. Instead of forcing a locked door, a determined robber could silently excavate an opening through a side wall, bypassing normal defenses. The verb therefore evokes stealth, patience, deliberate intent, and the vulnerability of treasure secured only by earthly means. Listeners in Jesus’ day immediately grasped the image because they had either experienced such break-ins or heard countless reports of them. Occurrences in the Gospels Matthew 6:19 – 20 and Matthew 24:43 / Luke 12:39 fold this vivid cultural reality into two distinct teachings of Christ: Theological Significance 1. Impermanence of Earthly Security Diorussō underlines the fragility of all material safeguards. Walls, locks, and even entire houses may be compromised when the heart of man is bent on sin. The word strengthens Christ’s argument that only treasure transferred to God’s realm is immune to decay or theft. 2. Call to Vigilance The verb shifts from the realm of property crime to spiritual preparedness. Just as a homeowner’s inattention invites a break-in, spiritual lethargy exposes the unwatchful soul to sudden, irrevocable loss when the Son of Man appears (compare 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10). 3. Contrast of Realms Earthly treasure can be “dug through”; heavenly treasure cannot. The unbreachable security of the age to come stands in deliberate antithesis to the penetrable structures of the present age, reinforcing the already/not-yet tension in New Testament eschatology. Historical Development in Interpretation Early Christian commentators—from Chrysostom to Augustine—recognized diorussō as an earthy, home-spun detail that furnished Christ’s teachings with immediacy. Medieval homilists expanded the metaphor to speak of the devil “boring holes” into the conscience when watchfulness wanes. Reformers applied the image to the dangers of complacency within the visible church. Modern scholarship, while noting the sociological setting, continues to affirm the moral force of the term. Practical Implications for Ministry • Stewardship: Diorussō challenges believers to evaluate the location and security of their investments, urging generosity toward eternal causes. Related Biblical Imagery Though diorussō appears only four times, its thematic links reach into passages that liken the Lord’s return to “a thief in the night” (Revelation 16:15). The overlap underscores Scripture’s unified testimony: worldly defenses are porous, but God Himself is a “rock of refuge” (Psalm 31:2). Summary Strong’s Greek 1358 captures the furtive enterprise of a thief breaching a wall. Jesus leverages that familiar scene to expose the insecurity of earthly treasure and to summon His followers to unwavering vigilance until His return. Grounded in historical reality yet reaching into eternal truth, diorussō reminds every generation that only what is entrusted to heaven is truly safe. Forms and Transliterations διορυγήναι διορύξει διόρυξον διορύσσουσι διορυσσουσιν διορύσσουσιν διορυχθηναι διορυχθῆναι διώρυξα διώρυξεν dioruchthenai dioruchthēnai diorussousin diorychthenai diorychthênai diorychthēnai diorychthē̂nai dioryssousin diorýssousinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 6:19 V-PIA-3PGRK: ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσιν καὶ κλέπτουσιν NAS: and where thieves break in and steal. KJV: where thieves break through and steal: INT: where thieves break in and steal Matthew 6:20 V-PIA-3P Matthew 24:43 V-ANP Luke 12:39 V-ANP Strong's Greek 1358 |
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