Bible Dictionaries
Cut

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

denotes "to cut by a blow," e.g., branches, Matthew 21:8; Mark 11:8 . See BEWAIL , LAMENT , MOURN , WAIL.

"to cut off, or cut away" (apo, "from," and No. 1), is used (a) literally, of members of the body, Mark 9:43,45; John 18:10,26; of ropes, Acts 27:32; (b) metaphorically, in the Middle Voice, of "cutting off oneself," to excommunicate, Galatians 5:12 , of the Judaizing teachers, with a reference, no doubt, to circumcision.

lit., "to cut or strike out" (ek, "out or off," and No. 1), "to cut or down," is used (a) literally, Matthew 5:30 (in Matthew 3:10; 7:19; Luke 3:9 , "hewn down"); Matthew 18:8; Luke 13:7,9; (b) metaphorically, of "cutting off" from spiritual blessing, Romans 11:22,24; of depriving persons of an occasion for something, 2 Corinthians 11:12 . See HEW.

Note: In 1 Peter 3:7 the best mss. have enkopto, "to hinder;" some have ekkopto.

lit., "to cut down, cut in pieces" (kata, "down," intensive), Mark 5:5 , of the demoniac.

signifies "to saw asunder" (dia, "asunder," prio, "to saw"), "to divide by a saw" (as in 1 Chronicles 20:3 , Sept.), hence, metaphorically, "to be sawn through mentally, to be rent with vexation, to be cut to the heart," is used in Acts 5:33; 7:54 .

lit., "to cut into two parts" (dicha, "apart," temno, "to cut," tome, "a cutting"), Matthew 24:51 , "to cut asunder," is used in Luke 12:46 . Some take the reference to be to the mode of punishment by which criminals and captives were "cut" in two; others, on account of the fact that in these passages the delinquent is still surviving after the treatment, take the verb to denote "to cut up" by scourging, to scourge severely, the word being used figuratively.

As to Matthew 24:51 , it has been remarked that the "cutting asunder" was an appropriate punishment for one who had lived a double life. In both passages the latter part of the sentence applies to retribution beyond this life. In the Sept. the verb is used in Exodus 29:17 of the dividing of the ram as a whole burnt offering at the consecration of the priests. The corresponding noun is found in Genesis 15:11,17; Exodus 29:17; Leviticus 1:8 , Ezekiel 24:4 .

lit., "to cut together" (sun, "with," temno, "to cut;" the simple verb temno is not found in the NT), signifies "to contract by cutting, to cut short;" thus, to bring to an end or accomplish speedily; it is said of a prophecy or decree, Romans 9:28 (twice), from the Sept. of Isaiah 10:23 . See SHORT.

"to take away, remove," is translated "cut off" in Mark 14:47 , AV, and Luke 22:50 , and "smote off" in Matthew 26:51; RV, "struck off" in each place. See SMITE , TAKE.