Original Word: διαγίνομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: diaginomai
Pronunciation: dee-ag-IN-oh-my
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ag-in'-om-ahee)
KJV: X after, be past, be spent
NASB: elapsed, over, passed
Word Origin: [from G1223 (διά - through) and G1096 (γίνομαι - become)]

1. to elapse meanwhile

be past, be spent.

From dia and ginomai; to elapse meanwhile -- X after, be past, be spent.

see GREEK dia

see GREEK ginomai

Word Origin
from dia and ginomai
Definition
to go through, to elapse
NASB Translation
elapsed (1), over (1), passed (1).

STRONGS NT 1230: διαγίνομαι

διαγίνομαι 2 aorist διεγενομην;

1. to be through, continue.

2. to be between, intervene; hence, in Greek writings from Isaeus (p. 84, 14, 9 (or. de Hagn. hered.) χρόνων διαγενομένων) down, the aorist is used of time, to have intervened, elapsed, passed meanwhile, (cf. χρόνου μεταξύ διαγενομένου Lysias 93, 6): ἡμερῶν διαγενομένων τινων, Acts 25:13; ἱκανοῦ χρόνου διαγενομένου Acts 27:9; διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου, Mark 16:1.

Overview

Strong’s Greek 1230 depicts the orderly passage of time—days, seasons, or intervals—within which God unfolds His purposes. While the verb simply narrates that a span has “gone by,” Scripture employs it to mark decisive transitions that frame divine initiative, underscore providence, and invite believers to discern the Lord’s timing.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Mark 16:1
• Acts 25:13
• Acts 27:9

Though only three in number, these references appear at pivotal junctures in the New Testament story: the dawning of resurrection hope, the political hearings that advance Paul’s witness to Rome, and a hazardous voyage that sets the stage for gospel proclamation on Malta and beyond.

Narrative Function in Acts

Luke is careful to situate events within recognizable temporal markers. “After several days had passed” (Acts 25:13) bridges a change of governors yet confirms the continuity of God’s plan for Paul’s appeal to Caesar. “By now much time had passed” (Acts 27:9) heightens the peril of late-season sailing, preparing readers to marvel at divine preservation. In each case the elapsed time is neither arbitrary nor wasted; it is the canvas upon which God paints the next act of redemption history.

Role in the Resurrection Narrative

Mark 16:1 opens with, “When the Sabbath was over…,” signaling that the prescribed rest has ended and a new era is about to dawn. The women find the tomb empty, affirming that the Messiah’s victory is not confined to a moment but inaugurates a continuous age of life. The elapsed Sabbath therefore functions as a hinge between old-covenant expectation and new-covenant fulfillment.

Theological Implications

1. Divine Sovereignty over Time

Scripture portrays God as both inside history and sovereign over it. The passing of days in Acts and the close of the Sabbath in Mark highlight a chronology controlled by Providence. Human rulers, weather patterns, and calendar observances may mark time, but the Lord determines its significance.

2. The Patience of Faith

Seasons that “go by” test faith and cultivate dependence. Paul waits “several days” before Agrippa arrives. Sailors linger until “much time” pushes them into danger. The disciples wait through a long Sabbath of sorrow. Each delay accentuates subsequent deliverance.

3. Urgency and Stewardship

Because God invests meaning in every interval, believers are called to “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16). The verb’s understated record of time’s flow warns against complacency. Moments that slip unnoticed may frame a resurrection, a courtroom testimony, or a life-saving intervention.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Pastoral Scheduling

Ministry often involves waiting—hospital visits delayed, evangelistic conversations postponed. Recognizing that elapsed time can serve divine purposes guards against frustration.

• Preaching and Teaching

Expositors can highlight how small chronological notes in biblical narratives reinforce major doctrinal themes, encouraging congregations to trust God during apparent lulls.

• Counseling

Those struggling with unanswered prayer gain comfort in knowing that scriptural delays precede breakthroughs; the same God ordains their timelines.

Historical Insights

First-century Mediterranean culture was acutely aware of agricultural seasons and religious festivals. Sailing after the Day of Atonement (Acts 27:9) was widely recognized as dangerous; Luke’s mention of elapsed time grounds the narrative in real historical risk. Likewise, Jewish observance demanded cessation of travel on Sabbaths; Mark’s note about the Sabbath’s end situates the resurrection account within covenant fidelity while announcing its dramatic fulfillment.

Related Scriptural Themes

• “The fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4)
• “My times are in Your hands” (Psalm 31:15)
• “For still the vision awaits its appointed time” (Habakkuk 2:3)

Each passage affirms that measured intervals are woven into God’s redemptive tapestry.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1230 may seem a humble chronological marker, yet it quietly punctuates some of the New Testament’s most momentous scenes. Whether indicating the close of the Sabbath, the arrival of dignitaries, or the onset of nautical peril, the verb reminds readers that every tick of the clock unfolds under the sovereignty of God, invites patient trust, and sets the stage for His saving acts.

διαγενομενου διαγενομένου διαγενομενων διαγενομένων diagenomenon diagenomenōn diagenoménon diagenoménōn diagenomenou diagenoménouInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts