Lexical Summary diulizó: To strain out, to filter Original Word: διυλίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance strain at. From dia and hulizo hoo-lid'-zo (to filter); to strain out -- strain at (probably by misprint). see GREEK dia NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dia and hulizó (to strain) Definition to strain thoroughly, strain out NASB Translation strain (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1368: διϋλίζωδιϋλίζω (R G T Tr διϋλίζω (see Upsilon)); (ὑλίζω to defecate, cleanse from dregs or filth); to filter through, strain thoroughly, pour through a filter: τόν κώνωπα, to rid wine of a gnat by filtering, strain out, Matthew 23:24. (Amos 6:6 διυλισμενος οἶνος, Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 4, 48 ἔδοξαν διυλίζειν πρότερον τόν οἶνον, Diosor. 2, 86 διά ῤάκους λινου διυλισθεν (et passim; Plutarch, quaest. conviv. 6, 7, 1, 5); Archyt. quoted in Stab. floril. i., p. 13, 40 metaphorically, Θεός εἰλικρινῆ καί διυλισμεναν ἔχει τήν Ἀρέταν.) Topical Lexicon Scriptural Setting The verb appears once, in the climactic series of “woes” Jesus pronounces upon the scribes and Pharisees: “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:24). The line forms a sharp rebuke embedded between the denunciations of tithing minutiae while neglecting “justice, mercy, and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23) and the charge of external cleanliness coupled with inner corruption (Matthew 23:25-26). The participle “straining out” pictures meticulous effort on a trivial matter, exposing the spiritual blindness of leaders who misjudge what truly matters before God. Cultural and Historical Background Jewish scrupulosity regarding clean and unclean foods (Leviticus 11:4, 41-42) explains the imagery. A gnat—tiny, winged, ceremonially unclean—might inadvertently fall into wine. Some Pharisees filtered their beverages through fine cloth to avoid this defilement. A camel, the largest unclean land animal (Leviticus 11:4), serves as an intentionally exaggerated contrast. Rabbinic literature contains similar hyperbole, but Jesus intensifies it by combining two uncleanness symbols inside one impossible scenario. The satire unmasks a legalistic spirit that elevated fence-building traditions above divine priorities. Theological Emphases 1. Moral Proportion: Jesus exposes the inversion of moral scales—majors neglected, minors magnified. Comparable warnings appear in Isaiah 1:11-17; Micah 6:6-8; and Matthew 15:1-11. Ministerial Application • Preaching and Teaching: The text cautions expositors against disproportionate emphasis—majoring on trivia while ignoring weightier doctrines such as the gospel, holiness, and love. Related Biblical Motifs Justice, Mercy, Faithfulness—Matthew 23:23 Inner versus Outer Cleanliness—Psalm 24:3-4; Matthew 15:18-20 Blind Guides—John 9:39-41 Legalism Exposed—Colossians 2:20-23 Legacy in Early Church Thought Church Fathers such as Tertullian and Chrysostom cited the saying to challenge formalism and to commend simplicity rooted in love. Monastic rules later invoked the text to balance ascetic detail with charity and humility. Summary The solitary occurrence of Strong’s Greek 1368 supplies a vivid metaphor through which Jesus confronts misaligned piety. Its enduring force lies in calling every generation to discern true kingdom priorities, to see with clear eyes, and to keep heart, doctrine, and practice in proper proportion under the lordship of Christ. Forms and Transliterations δι=λίζοντες διυλιζοντες διυλίζοντες διϋλίζοντες διυλισμένον διυφασμένον διφθέρας δίφρον δίφρος δίφρου δίφρους diulizontes diulízontesLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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