verb
diakrinamō
Strong’sG1252
I distinguish, discern, doubt, hesitate
stem diakrin-19 times in the New Testamentin 7 of 27 books15 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
διακρίνω primarily means to distinguish or discern — to separate one thing from another, tell things apart, or recognize a difference between them, including not making a distinction between people 124.
It can also mean to decide, judge, or settle a matter, acting as an arbiter between two sides; in this same range it covers contending or disputing with someone, bringing a disagreement to a decision 123.
It also has a quite different, distinctly New Testament sense: to be divided in one's mind, to doubt, hesitate, or waver, rather than being settled and certain 1234.
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
δια-κρίνω
[in LXX for שׁפט, דִּין, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1252 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saiddee-ak-ree'-no
to separate thoroughly, i.e. (literally and reflexively) to withdraw from, or (by implication) oppose; figuratively, to discriminate (by implication, decide), or (reflexively) hesitate
King Jamescontend, make (to) differ(-ence), discern, doubt, judge, be partial, stagger, waver.
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
future -κρῐνῶ, Epic dialect and Delph. -κρῐνέωRefs 8th c.BC+:—separate one from another, ὥς τ᾽ αἰπόλια.. αἰπόλοι ἄνδρες ῥεῖα διακρίνωσιν Refs 8th c.BC+; part combatants, εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων ἄμμε διακρίνη Refs 8th c.BC+:—passive, to be parted, of hair, Refs 8th c.BC+, etc.: also in future middle, διακρινέεσθαι Refs 8th c.BC+; διακρίνεσθαι πρός.. part and join different parties, Refs
b passive, to be divorced, Refs
2 in Philosophy, separate, decompose into elemental parts, opposed to συγκρίνω, chiefly in passive, Refs 5th c.BC+
3 ἄστρων διακρίνει φάη σελάνα probably sets apart, removes, i.e. outshines, Refs 5th c.BC+
II distinguish, καί κ᾽ ἀλαὸς διακρίνειε τὸ σῆμα Refs 8th c.BC+; οὐδένα δ. without distinction of persons, Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect passive in middle sense, διακεκρίμεθα τάς τε καθαρὰς ἡδονὰς καὶ.. Refs 5th c.BC+pluperfect in passive sense, διεκέκριτο οὐδέν no distinction was made, Refs 5th c.BC+distinct, varied, Refs 5th c.BC+
III decide, of judges, ὀρθᾷ δ. φρενί Refs 5th c.BC+; also, determine a fever, mark its crisis, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ νοῦσος μάλιστα διακρίνει ἐν οὐδενί has usually no crisis in any patient, Refs 5th c.BC+ —middle, νεῖκος δ. get it decided, Refs 8th c.BC+; decide among yourselves, ταῦτα.. ὅπως ποτ᾽ ἔχει δ. Refs 4th c.BC+:—passive, bring an issue to decision, ἐπέεσσί γε νηπυτίοισι ὧδε διακρινθέντε Refs 8th c.BC+; αἴ τινι τᾶν πολίων ᾖ ἀμφίλλογα, διακριθῆμεν Foed.Doric dialect cited in Refs 5th c.BC+; of combatants, μάχῃ διακριθῆναι πρός τινα LXX+5th c.BC+; ὅπλοις ἢ λόγοις διακρίνεσθαι Philipp. cited in Refs 4th c.BC+; τινί with one, Refs 3rd c.BC+; also πόλεμος διακριθήσεται Refs 5th c.BC+; of a person, to be judged, Refs 1st c.AD+
IV set [a place] apart for holy purposes, Refs 5th c.BC+
V interpret a dream, etc., Refs 1st c.AD+
VI question, τοὺς ἰατρούς Refs 2nd c.AD+
VII doubt, hesitate, waver, NTmiddle and passive, μηδὲν διακρινόμενοςRefs; μὴ διακριθῆτε NT
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.
4 rarer renderings are not shown; every occurrence below carries the English it was given there.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| diakrinatōδιακρίνει | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | sees … different | 1× |
| diakrinaneδιεκρίνομεν | was happening · weimperfect active indicative 1st person plural | judged | 1× |
| diakrinoleδιεκρίνοντο | was happening · theyimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | criticized | 1× |
| diakrinataδιέκρινεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | made … distinction | 1× |
| diakrinitaδιεκρίθη | happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular | waver | 1× |
| diakrinivaδιεκρίθητε | happened · yeaorist passive indicative 2nd person plural | made distinctions | 1× |
| diakriniteiaδιακριθῇ | happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular | doubt | 1× |
| diakriniveiaδιακριθῆτε | happened · yeaorist passive subjunctive 2nd person plural | doubt | 1× |
| diakrinalōrδιακρινέτωσαν | happening now · theypresent active imperative 3rd person plural | evaluate | 1× |
| diakrinarōδιακρίνειν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | interpret | 1× |
| diakrinaraδιακρῖναι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | decide | 1× |
| diakrinarōntosδιακρίνων | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | discerning | 1× |
| diakrinorōntosδιακρινόμενος | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine | doubts | 5× |
| diakrinorōntoinδιακρινομένους | happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative plural masculine | doubt | 1× |
| diakrinarantonδιακρίναντα | happened · objectaorist active participle accusative singular masculine | make a distinction | 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, 6 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 | diakrinamō | diakriname | diakrinami | diakrinama | diakrinamē | diakrinamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinasō | diakrinase | diakrinasi | diakrinasa | diakrinasē | diakrinaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakrinatō1×διακρίνει | diakrinate | diakrinati | diakrinata1×διέκρινεν | diakrinatē | diakrinatelē |
| we 1st person plural | diakrinanō | diakrinane1×διεκρίνομεν | diakrinani | diakrinana | diakrinanē | diakrinanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinavō | diakrinave | diakrinavi | diakrinava | diakrinavē | diakrinavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinalō | diakrinale | diakrinali | diakrinala | diakrinalē | diakrinalelē |
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 | diakrinomō | diakrinome | diakrinomē | diakrinomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinosō | diakrinose | diakrinosē | diakrinoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakrinotō | diakrinote | diakrinotē | diakrinotelē |
| we 1st person plural | diakrinonō | diakrinone | diakrinonē | diakrinonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinovō | diakrinove | diakrinovē | diakrinovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinolō | diakrinole1×διεκρίνοντο | diakrinolē | diakrinolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | diakrinimi | diakrinima |
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinisi | diakrinisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakriniti | diakrinita1×διεκρίθη |
| we 1st person plural | diakrinini | diakrinina |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinivi | diakriniva1×διεκρίθητε |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinili | diakrinila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 2 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | diakrinameiō | diakrinameia | diakrinameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinaseiō | diakrinaseia | diakrinaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakrinateiō | diakrinateia | diakrinateiē |
| we 1st person plural | diakrinaneiō | diakrinaneia | diakrinaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinaveiō | diakrinaveia | diakrinaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinaleiō | diakrinaleia | diakrinaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | diakrinomeiō | diakrinomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinoseiō | diakrinoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakrinoteiō | diakrinoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | diakrinoneiō | diakrinoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinoveiō | diakrinoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinoleiō | diakrinoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | diakrinimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | diakriniseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakriniteia1×διακριθῇ |
| we 1st person plural | diakrinineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakriniveia1×διακριθῆτε |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinileia |
Commands — imperative mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinasōr | diakrinasar | diakrinasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakrinatōr | diakrinatar | diakrinatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinavōr | diakrinavar | diakrinavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinalōr1×διακρινέτωσαν | diakrinalar | diakrinalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinosōr | diakrinosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakrinotōr | diakrinotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinovōr | diakrinovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinolōr | diakrinolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakrinitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinivar |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | diakrinamoiō | diakrinamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinasoiō | diakrinasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakrinatoiō | diakrinatoia |
| we 1st person plural | diakrinanoiō | diakrinanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinavoiō | diakrinavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinaloiō | diakrinaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | diakrinomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakrinotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | diakrinonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | diakrinoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | diakrinimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | diakrinisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | diakrinitoia |
| we 1st person plural | diakrininoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | diakrinivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | diakriniloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 2 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | diakrinarō1×διακρίνειν | diakrinari | diakrinara1×διακρῖναι | diakrinarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | diakrinorō | diakrinorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | diakriniri | diakrinira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 8 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | diakrinarōntos1×διακρίνων | diakrinarintos | diakrinarantos1× | diakrinarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | diakrinorōntos6×διακρινόμενος | diakrinorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | diakrinirintos | diakrinirantos |
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
diakrin 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.
19 occurrences, every one of them listed
diakrinatō“sees … different”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular1×
1 Corinthians 4:7“sees … different”tinos gar sin diakrinatō? tinem de echasō hem ouk labasa? …For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if …
diakrinane“judged”was happening · weimperfect active indicative 1st person plural1×
1 Corinthians 11:31ei de heautoin diakrinane, ouk an krinone;Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come …
diakrinole“criticized”was happening · theyimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Acts 11:2“criticized”hote de anabainata Petros eis Ierousalēm, diakrinole pros auton tois ek peritomauSo when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him
diakrinata“made … distinction”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Acts 15:9kai oudenem diakrinata metaxu nu tē kai auteiu, ta …He made no distinction between us and them, for He …
diakrinita“waver”happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Romans 4:20… de tan epangelian tou theou ouk diakrinita ta apistia alla endunamita ta pistia, …Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of …
diakriniva“made distinctions”happened · yeaorist passive indicative 2nd person plural1×
James 2:4“made distinctions”ouk diakriniva en heautoi kai geneva kritois dialogismoiu …have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
diakriniteia“doubt”happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular1×
Mark 11:23… balisar eis tan thalassan, kai mē diakriniteia en ta kardia autou alla pisteuateiō …… into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that …
diakriniveia“doubt”happened · yeaorist passive subjunctive 2nd person plural1×
Matthew 21:21… vi, ean echaveiō pistian kai mē diakriniveia, ouk monem tem tau sukau poiavi, …… you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what …
diakrinalōr“evaluate”happening now · theypresent active imperative 3rd person plural1×
1 Corinthians 14:29“evaluate”… ē treis lalalōr, kai tois allosois diakrinalōr;Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh …
diakrinarō“interpret”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive1×
Matthew 16:3… tem men prosōpem tou ouranou gnōskavō diakrinarō, teim de sēmeim toiu kairoiu ouk …… and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but …
diakrinara“decide”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive1×
1 Corinthians 6:5“decide”… en vi oudenos sofos hos duneti diakrinara ana mesem tou adelfou autou,… really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?
diakrinarōntos“discerning”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine1×
1 Corinthians 11:29“discerning”… krimem heauto esthiatō kai pinatō mē diakrinarōntos tem sōmem.… and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
diakrinorōntos“doubts”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine5×
Acts 10:20… katabainasar kai poreuosōr sun autoi mēdenem diakrinorōntos, hoti mis apostelamē autoin.… Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”
Romans 14:23tos de diakrinorōntos ean esthiateia katakrinotē, hoti ouk ek …But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because …
James 1:6aitatōr de en pistia, mēdenem diakrinorōntos, tos gar diakrinorōntos eoikatē kludōno thalassau …… he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like …
James 1:6… en pistia, mēdenem diakrinorōntos, tos gar diakrinorōntos eoikatē kludōno thalassau anemizorōnto kai ripizorōnto;… faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the …
Jude 1:9… Michaēl tos archangelos, hote to diabolo diakrinorōntos dialegote peri teu Mōusou sōmeu, ouk …… even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body …
diakrinorōntoin“doubt”happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative plural masculine1×
Jude 1:22kai hoin men elēavōr diakrinorōntoin,… indeed, have mercy on those who doubt;
diakrinaranton“make a distinction”happened · objectaorist active participle accusative singular masculine1×
Acts 11:12“make a distinction”… tem pneumem mi sunerchara autoi mēdenem diakrinaranton. erchala de sun mi kai tois …The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we …