Dictionaries :: Division

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Division:

di-vizh'-un: Used in English Versions of the Bible in the following senses:

(1) A separate body of people

(a) of the tribal divisions of Israel (Jos 11:23; 12:7; 18:10);

(b) of sections of a tribe, "the divisions of Reuben" (Jud 5:15,16 the King James Version; but the Revised Version (British and American) rightly substitutes "the watercourses of Reuben"; in Job 20:17 the same word is rendered "rivers");

(c) of the (late) organization of priests and Levites into classes or families who ministered in the temple in rotation; translated "courses" generally in the King James Version, and always in the Revised Version (British and American) (1Ch 24:1; 26:1,12,19; Ne 11:36; compare 2Ch 35:5). Much prominence is given by the Chronicler to the 24 classes of priests, singers, and doorkeepers, who served in turns in the temple (compare Lu 1:5,8).

(3) In the New Testament, dissension, disunion, schism (Lu 12:51; Ro 16:17; 1Co 3:3 the King James Version, omitted the Revised Version (British and American); 1Co 1:10; 11:18; Ga 5:20).

Written by D. Miall Edwards

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Division:

primarily, "a parting, distribution," denotes "a discussion, dissension, division or discord, breaking up as of family ties" (dia, "asunder," meros, "a part"), it is found in Luk 12:51, where it is contrasted with eirene, "peace." Cp. DIVIDE, A, No. 7.

Division:

lit., "a standing apart" (diche, "asunder, apart," stasis, "a standing;" the root di-- indicating "division," is found in many words in various languages), is used in Rom 16:17, where believers are enjoined to mark those who cause "division" and to turn away from them; and in Gal 5:20, RV (AV, "seditions"), where "divisions" are spoken of as "works of the flesh." Some mss. have this noun in 1Cr 3:3.

Division:

(Eng., "schism"), denotes "a cleft, a rent," Mat 9:16; Mar 2:21; then, metaphorically, "a division, dissension," Jhn 7:43; 9:16; 10:19; 1Cr 1:10; 11:18; in 1Cr 12:25 it is translated "schism" (marg., "division"). The root is skid--, seen in the corresponding verb schizo, "to cleave" (Lat. scindo).
See SCHISM. Cp. hairesis, a sect.