Original Word: διδακτός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: didaktos
Pronunciation: dee-dak-tos'
Phonetic Spelling: (did-ak-tos')
KJV: taught, which teacheth
NASB: taught
Word Origin: [from G1321 (διδάσκω - teaching)]

1. (subjectively) instructed
2. (objectively) communicated by teaching

instructed, taught

From didasko; (subjectively) instructed, or (objectively) communicated by teaching -- taught, which... Teacheth.

see GREEK didasko

Cognate: 1318 didaktós (a verbal adjective) – taught (instructed). See 1321 /didaskō.

Word Origin
from didaskó
Definition
instructed, taught
NASB Translation
taught (3).

STRONGS NT 1318: διδακτός

διδακτός, διδακτη, διδακτον (διδάσκω);

1. that can be taught (Pindar, Xenophon, Plato, others).

2. taught, instructed, followed by a genitive by one (cf. Winers Grammar, 189 (178); 194 (182); Buttmann, 169 (147)): τοῦ θέο, by God, John 6:45 from Isaiah 54:13; πνεύματος ἁγίου (G L T Tr WH omit ἁγίου), by the (Holy) Spirit, 1 Corinthians 2:13. (νουθετηματα κεινα διδακτα, Sophocles El. 344.)

Concept of Divine Instruction

Strong’s 1318 centers on the reality that true understanding originates with God Himself. Scripture portrays divine teaching as an active, personal work of the Father and the Holy Spirit, elevating knowledge beyond human pedagogy to a transformative encounter with God’s own voice.

Occurrences in the New Testament

John 6:45 draws from Isaiah to declare, “They will all be taught by God”. Jesus applies the prophecy to those who hear the Father and consequently come to Him, linking divine instruction with genuine faith in Christ.

Paul echoes the same truth in 1 Corinthians 2:13, contrasting “words taught by human wisdom” with “words taught by the Spirit.” The apostle twice employs the term to stress that both the content and the mode of apostolic proclamation are Spirit-directed, ensuring that spiritual realities are conveyed accurately to spiritual people.

Old Testament Foundations and Prophetic Echoes

The background lies chiefly in Isaiah 54:13, where covenant restoration includes the promise, “All your children will be taught by the LORD.” The prophetic vision anticipates a people whose hearts are shaped directly by God, a promise carried forward into the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:33-34). These passages establish that divine teaching is integral to redemption, not an optional embellishment.

Theological Significance

1. Revelation over speculation: Divine instruction safeguards the Church from relying on autonomous human reasoning. Knowledge of God is disclosed, not discovered.
2. Christological focus: The Father’s teaching draws sinners to the Son (John 6:45), making Christ the ultimate curriculum and destination of divine pedagogy.
3. Pneumatological agency: The Spirit internalizes the message, granting believers the capacity to discern and articulate spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:13).
4. Covenant fulfillment: Being “taught by God” marks the realized blessings of the New Covenant, where law is written on hearts rather than stone tablets.

Implications for Ministry and Discipleship

• Preaching: Faithful proclamation depends on Spirit-taught words, urging preachers to seek illumination rather than rely on rhetorical flair.
• Education: Christian instruction, whether in the home, church, or academy, must aim beyond information transfer to spiritual formation under the Spirit’s guidance.
• Evangelism: Since God Himself draws and teaches, prayer and dependence on the Spirit are indispensable in witnessing.
• Spiritual discernment: Believers are called to evaluate teaching by its conformity to Spirit-given revelation preserved in Scripture.

Historical Reception in the Church

Early church fathers such as Augustine highlighted John 6:45 to affirm prevenient grace, while Reformers appealed to 1 Corinthians 2 to underscore the Spirit’s role in illuminating Scripture. Throughout history, revivals have been characterized by renewed awareness that God instructs His people directly through His Word by His Spirit.

Practical Application for Believers Today

1. Approach Scripture expecting the Author to teach.
2. Cultivate prayerful dependence, recognizing that insight is a gift, not merely an academic achievement.
3. Submit intellect and will to Christ, allowing divine instruction to shape thinking and living.
4. Encourage one another in the congregation to test every doctrine against the Spirit-inspired Word.

In a culture saturated with competing voices, Strong’s 1318 reminds the Church that lasting wisdom comes from being “taught by God,” anchoring faith, message, and mission in the unfailing instruction of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

διδακτοι διδακτοί διδακτοὶ διδακτοις διδακτοίς διδακτοῖς διδακτούς didaktoi didaktoì didaktois didaktoîsInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts