"to convey through, across, Mk. 11:16; to carry different ways or into different parts, separate; pass. to be borne, driven, or tossed hither and thither, Acts 27:27; to be proclaimed, published, Acts 13:49; intrans. met. to differ, 1 Cor. 15:41; to excel, be better or of greater ..."
Definition and meaning
to convey through, across, Mk. 11:16; to carry different ways or into different parts, separate; pass. to be borne, driven, or tossed hither and thither, Acts 27:27; to be proclaimed, published, Acts 13:49; intrans. met. to differ, 1 Cor. 15:41; to excel, be better or of greater value, be superior, Mt. 6:26; 10:31; impers. διαφέρει, it makes a difference, it is of consequence; with οὐδέν, it makes no difference, it is nothing, Gal. 2:6
In the original Greek the word is written: διαφέρω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of diaphero (G1308) across the King James Bible.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
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Common questions
Strong's G1308 (diaphero) is a Greek word that means: to convey through, across, Mk. 11:16; to carry different ways or into different parts, separate; pass. to be borne, driven, or tossed hither and thither, Acts 27:27; to be proclaimed, published, Acts ... It appears 13 times in the King James Bible.
The word diaphero (G1308) appears 13 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1308 is diaphero, a Greek word defined as: to convey through, across, Mk. 11:16; to carry different ways or into different parts, separate; pass. to be borne, driven, or tossed hither and thith. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
diaphero is a Greek word found in the New Testament.