Diatheke
/di.aˈθiː.kɛː/noun
A Greek term meaning a covenant, testament, or legally arranged disposition, especially in biblical and theological contexts.
Did you know?In the Greek Septuagint, diatheke became the key word for Israel’s covenant with God, while in later Christian usage it also came to mean a testament or will.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰeh₁-
“To put, place, or set”
Ancient Greek
Greek
τίθημι (tithēmi)
“I put, place, or establish”
Classical Greek
Greek
διατίθημι (diatithēmi)
“I arrange, dispose, or make an agreement”
Classical Greek
Greek
διαθήκη (diathēkē)
“An arrangement, disposition, covenant, or testament”
3rd–2nd Century BCE
Koine Greek
διαθήκη (diathēkē)
“The established Greek term for a covenant, especially in the Septuagint”
Late Antiquity
Latin
diathēca
“A testament or covenant, borrowed from Greek”
Modern English
English
diatheke
“A technical transliteration referring to a Greek covenant or testament”