verb
chōrizomō
Strong’sG5563
I separate, depart
stem chōriz-13 times in the New Testamentin 7 of 27 books11 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
χωρίζω means to separate or divide something, putting two things apart from each other 1234. This transitive sense is used of separating what has been joined together, such as a married couple, and of separating a person from something else, as in being kept apart from love or from sinners 1. LSJ's classical evidence shows the same basic sense of dividing, excluding, or setting apart, and, in a further extension, distinguishing one thing from another in thought 3.
The word also has a reflexive/intransitive sense, to separate oneself, or to depart, go away 1234. In this use it can describe a person leaving or going away from someone or some place 13. It is also used specifically of divorce, of a husband or wife separating from a spouse 13.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
χωρίζω
[in LXX: II Ch 12:8, al. (בּדל ni., etc.), Wi 1:3, II Mac 5:21, al.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G5563 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidkho-rid'-zo
to place room between, i.e. part; reflexively, to go away
Fromfrom G5561;
King Jamesdepart, put asunder, separate.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
perfect passive κεχώρισμαι, 3rd.pers. plural Ionic dialect κεχωρίδαται Refs 5th c.BC+: (χωρίς).
I in local sense, separate, divide, χ. ἀλλήλων λόχους Refs 5th c.BC+; exclude, τὴν πτέρνην Refs 5th c.BC+; with infinitive added, [τὴν τάξιν] ἐπὶ τῷ μέσῳ ἐχώρισεν ἕπεσθαι Refs; οἱ χωρίζοντες the Separators, a name given to those Grammarians (Xenon and Hellanicus accusative to Refs 5th c.AD+ who ascribed the Iliad and Odyssey to different authors, Refs 8th c.BC+:—passive, to be separated, severed, or divided, Refs 5th c.BC+; τινος Refs 5th c.BC+
II separate in thought, distinguish, ἡδύ τε καὶ δίκαιον Refs 5th c.BC+:— passive, to be different, κεχωρίδαται πολλὸν τῶν.. ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων Refs 5th c.BC+; νόμοι κεχωρισμένοι τῶν ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων laws apart from others, far different, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to συγκεχυμένος, Refs 5th c.BC+
III passive, κεχωρισμένη ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνδρός divorced, Refs 2nd c.BC+; θᾶσσον.. οἰστοῦ.. χωρίζεται, of a wife, Refs 5th c.BC+
IV later in passive, depart, go away, Refs 2nd c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| chōrizotōχωρίζεται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | leaves | 1× |
| chōrizatiχωρίσει | will happen · he/she/itfuture active indicative 3rd person singular | separate | 1× |
| chōrizitaἐχωρίσθη | happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular | separated | 1× |
| chōriziteiaχωρισθῇ | happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular | separate | 1× |
| chōrizatōrχωριζέτω | happening now · he/she/itpresent active imperative 3rd person singular | separate | 2× |
| chōrizotōrχωριζέσθω | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive imperative 3rd person singular | leave | 1× |
| chōrizorōχωρίζεσθαι | happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive | leave | 2× |
| chōrizaraχωρίσαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | separate | 1× |
| chōriziraχωρισθῆναι | happened · the “to …” formaorist passive infinitive | separate | 1× |
| chōrizirantosχωρισθεὶς | happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative singular masculine | left | 1× |
| chōrizorēntosκεχωρισμένος | has happened · subjectperfect middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine | separated | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 3 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | chōrizamō | chōrizame | chōrizami | chōrizama | chōrizamē | chōrizamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizasō | chōrizase | chōrizasi | chōrizasa | chōrizasē | chōrizaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōrizatō | chōrizate | chōrizati1×χωρίσει | chōrizata | chōrizatē | chōrizatelē |
| we 1st person plural | chōrizanō | chōrizane | chōrizani | chōrizana | chōrizanē | chōrizanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizavō | chōrizave | chōrizavi | chōrizava | chōrizavē | chōrizavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizalō | chōrizale | chōrizali | chōrizala | chōrizalē | chōrizalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | chōrizomō | chōrizome | chōrizomē | chōrizomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizosō | chōrizose | chōrizosē | chōrizoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōrizotō1×χωρίζεται | chōrizote | chōrizotē | chōrizotelē |
| we 1st person plural | chōrizonō | chōrizone | chōrizonē | chōrizonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizovō | chōrizove | chōrizovē | chōrizovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizolō | chōrizole | chōrizolē | chōrizolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | chōrizimi | chōrizima |
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizisi | chōrizisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōriziti | chōrizita1×ἐχωρίσθη |
| we 1st person plural | chōrizini | chōrizina |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizivi | chōriziva |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizili | chōrizila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | chōrizameiō | chōrizameia | chōrizameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizaseiō | chōrizaseia | chōrizaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōrizateiō | chōrizateia | chōrizateiē |
| we 1st person plural | chōrizaneiō | chōrizaneia | chōrizaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizaveiō | chōrizaveia | chōrizaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizaleiō | chōrizaleia | chōrizaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | chōrizomeiō | chōrizomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizoseiō | chōrizoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōrizoteiō | chōrizoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | chōrizoneiō | chōrizoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizoveiō | chōrizoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizoleiō | chōrizoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | chōrizimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | chōriziseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōriziteia1×χωρισθῇ |
| we 1st person plural | chōrizineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōriziveia |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizileia |
Commands — imperative mood, 3 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizasōr | chōrizasar | chōrizasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōrizatōr2×χωριζέτω | chōrizatar | chōrizatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizavōr | chōrizavar | chōrizavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizalōr | chōrizalar | chōrizalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizosōr | chōrizosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōrizotōr1×χωριζέσθω | chōrizotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizovōr | chōrizovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizolōr | chōrizolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōrizitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizivar |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | chōrizamoiō | chōrizamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizasoiō | chōrizasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōrizatoiō | chōrizatoia |
| we 1st person plural | chōrizanoiō | chōrizanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizavoiō | chōrizavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizaloiō | chōrizaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | chōrizomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōrizotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | chōrizonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | chōrizoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | chōrizimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | chōrizisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chōrizitoia |
| we 1st person plural | chōrizinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | chōrizivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | chōriziloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 4 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | chōrizarō | chōrizari | chōrizara1×χωρίσαι | chōrizarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | chōrizorō2×χωρίζεσθαι | chōrizorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | chōriziri | chōrizira1×χωρισθῆναι |
Used as an adjective — participle, 2 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | chōrizarōntos | chōrizarintos | chōrizarantos | chōrizarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | chōrizorōntos | chōrizorēntos1×κεχωρισμένος | ||
| acted on passive voice | chōrizirintos | chōrizirantos1×χωρισθεὶς |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
chōriz is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
13 occurrences, every one of them listed
chōrizotō“leaves”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
1 Corinthians 7:15ei de tos apistos chōrizotō, chōrizotōr; ouk doulotē tos adelfos ē …But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother …
chōrizati“separate”will happen · he/she/itfuture active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Romans 8:35tinos nin chōrizati apo tau agapau tou Christou? thlipsias …Who shall separate us from the love of Christ …
chōrizita“separated”happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Philemon 1:15tacha gar dia houtem chōrizita pros hōran hina aiōnion auton apechaseia,… perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so …
chōriziteia“separate”happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular1×
1 Corinthians 7:11“separate”ean de kai chōriziteia, menatōr agamas ē to andro katallaxitar …But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a …
chōrizatōr“separate”happening now · he/she/itpresent active imperative 3rd person singular2×
Matthew 19:6… oun tos theos suzeugata anthrōpos mē chōrizatōr.… has joined together, let man not separate.”
Mark 10:9… oun tos theos suzeugata anthrōpos mē chōrizatōr.… has joined together, let man not separate.”
chōrizotōr“leave”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive imperative 3rd person singular1×
1 Corinthians 7:15“leave”ei de tos apistos chōrizotō, chōrizotōr; ouk doulotē tos adelfos ē tas …But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such …
chōrizorō“leave”happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive2×
Acts 1:4“depart”… sunalizorōntos parangelata autoi apo Hierosolumeiu mē chōrizorō, alla perimenarō tan epangelian tou patrou …… together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which …
Acts 18:2… gunaikan autou dia tem diatassarē Klaudion chōrizorō pantoin toin Ioudaioin apo tau Rōmau, …… had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,
chōrizara“separate”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive1×
Romans 8:39… oute tinas ktisias heteras duneti nin chōrizara apo tau agapau tou theou tau …… all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God …
chōrizira“separate”happened · the “to …” formaorist passive infinitive1×
1 Corinthians 7:10… tos kurios, gunaikan apo androu mē chōrizira… the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
chōrizirantos“left”happened · subjectaorist passive participle nominative singular masculine1×
Acts 18:1Meta houteim chōrizirantos ek taiu Athēnaiu erchata eis Korinthan.After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
chōrizorēntos“separated”has happened · subjectperfect middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine1×
Hebrews 7:26“separated”… kai prepate archierevos, hosios, akakos, amiantos, chōrizorēntos apo toiu hamartōloiu, kai hupsēloteros toiu …Such a high priest truly befits us — One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.