"to split, Mt. 27:51; Mk. 15:38; to rend, tear asunder, Mt. 27:51; Lk. 5:36; 23:45; Jn. 19:24; 21:11); mid. to open or unfold with a chasm, Mk. 1:10; pass. met. to be divided into parties or factions, Acts 14:4; 23:7*"
Definition and meaning
to split, Mt. 27:51; Mk. 15:38; to rend, tear asunder, Mt. 27:51; Lk. 5:36; 23:45; Jn. 19:24; 21:11); mid. to open or unfold with a chasm, Mk. 1:10; pass. met. to be divided into parties or factions, Acts 14:4; 23:7*
In the original Greek the word is written: σχίζω
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 schizo (G4977) across the King James Bible.
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
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Common questions
Strong's G4977 (schizo) is a Greek word that means: to split, Mt. 27:51; Mk. 15:38; to rend, tear asunder, Mt. 27:51; Lk. 5:36; 23:45; Jn. 19:24; 21:11); mid. to open or unfold with a chasm, Mk. 1:10; pass. met. to be divided into parties or factions, ... It appears 9 times in the King James Bible.
The word schizo (G4977) appears 9 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4977 is schizo, a Greek word defined as: to split, Mt. 27:51; Mk. 15:38; to rend, tear asunder, Mt. 27:51; Lk. 5:36; 23:45; Jn. 19:24; 21:11); mid. to open or unfold with a chasm, Mk. 1:10; p. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
schizo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.