Disperse

Disperse - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

DISPERSE, v.t. dispers. [L., to scatter.]

1. To scatter; to drive asunder; to cause to separate into different parts; as, the Jews are dispersed among all nations.

2. To diffuse; to spread.

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge. Prov 15.

3. To dissipate; as, the fog or the cloud is dispersed.

4. To distribute.

DISPERSE, v.i. dispers.

1. To be scattered; to separate; to go or move into different parts; as, the company dispersed at ten oclock.

2. To be scattered; to vanish; as fog or vapors.

Dispersion - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

(Gr. diaspora, "scattered," James 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:1) of the Jews. At various times, and from the operation of divers causes, the Jews were separated and scattered into foreign countries "to the outmost parts of heaven" (Deut. 30:4).

(1.) Many were dispersed over Assyria, Media, Babylonia, and Persia, descendants of those who had been transported thither by the Exile. The ten tribes, after existing as a separate kingdom for two hundred and fifty-five years, were carried captive (B.C. 721) by Shalmaneser (or Sargon), king of Assyria. They never returned to their own land as a distinct people, although many individuals from among these tribes, there can be no doubt, joined with the bands that returned from Babylon on the proclamation of Cyrus.

(2.) Many Jews migrated to Egypt and took up their abode there. This migration began in the days of Solomon (2 Kings 18:21, 24; Isa. 30:7). Alexander the Great placed a large number of Jews in Alexandria, which he had founded, and conferred on them equal rights with the Egyptians. Ptolemy Philadelphus, it is said, caused the Jewish Scriptures to be translated into Greek (the work began B.C. 284), for the use of the Alexandrian Jews. The Jews in Egypt continued for many ages to exercise a powerful influence on the public interests of that country. From Egypt they spread along the coast of Africa to Cyrene (Acts 2:10) and to Ethiopia (8:27).

(3.) After the time of Seleucus Nicator (B.C. 280), one of the captains of Alexander the Great, large numbers of Jews migrated into Syria, where they enjoyed equal rights with the Macedonians. From Syria they found their way into Asia Minor. Antiochus the Great, king of Syria and Asia, removed 3,000 families of Jews from Mesopotamia and Babylonia, and planted them in Phrygia and Lydia.

(4.) From Asia Minor many Jews moved into Greece and Macedonia, chiefly for purposes of commerce. In the apostles' time they were found in considerable numbers in all the principal cities.

From the time of Pompey the Great (B.C. 63) numbers of Jews from Palestine and Greece went to Rome, where they had a separate quarter of the city assigned to them. Here they enjoyed considerable freedom.

Thus were the Jews everywhere scattered abroad. This, in the overruling providence of God, ultimately contributed in a great degree toward opening the way for the spread of the gospel into all lands.

Dispersion, from the plain of Shinar. This was occasioned by the confusion of tongues at Babel (Gen. 11:9). They were scattered abroad "every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations" (Gen. 10:5, 20, 31).

The tenth chapter of Genesis gives us an account of the principal nations of the earth in their migrations from the plain of Shinar, which was their common residence after the Flood. In general, it may be said that the descendants of Japheth were scattered over the north, those of Shem over the central regions, and those of Ham over the extreme south. The following table shows how the different families were dispersed:

| - Japheth | - Gomer | Cimmerians, Armenians | - Magog | Caucasians, Scythians | - Madal | Medes and Persian tribes | - Javan | - Elishah | Greeks | - Tarshish | Etruscans, Romans | - Chittim | Cyprians, Macedonians | - Dodanim | Rhodians | - Tubal | Tibareni, Tartars | - Mechech | Moschi, Muscovites | - Tiras | Thracians | | - Shem | - Elam | Persian tribes | - Asshur | Assyrian | - Arphaxad | - Abraham | - Isaac | - Jacob | Hebrews | - Esau | Edomites | - Ishmael | Mingled with Arab tribes | - Lud | Lydians | - Aram | Syrians | | - Ham | - Cush | Ethiopans | - Mizrain | Egyptians | - Phut | Lybians, Mauritanians | - Canaan | Canaanites, Phoenicians

Distributed - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

DISTRIBUTED, pp. Divided among a number; dealt out; assigned in portions; separated; bestowed.

Scatter - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

SCAT'TER, v.t. [L. scateo, discutio; Gr. to scatter, to discuss. This word may be formed on the root of discutio. The primary sense is to drive or throw.]

1. To disperse; to dissipate; to separate or remove things to a distance from each other.

From thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. Gen 11.

I will scatter you among the heathen. Lev 26.

2. To throw loosely about; to sprinkle; as, to scatter seed in sowing.

Teach the glad hours to scatter, as they fly, soft quiet, gentle love and endless joy.

3. To spread or set thinly.

Why should my muse enlarge on Libyan swains, their scatter'd cottages, and ample plains.

SCAT'TER, v.i.

1. To be dispersed or dissipated. The clouds scatter after a storm.

2. To be liberal to the poor; to be charitable. Prov 11.

Definition

The terms “disperse” and “dispersion” refer to the scattering of people or things into many different directions.

• In the Old Testament, God talks about “dispersing” people, causing them to have to separate and live in different places apart from each other. He did this to punish them for their sin. Perhaps being dispersed would help them repent and start worshiping God again.
• The term “dispersion” is used in the New Testament to refer to Christians who had to leave their homes and move to many different locations to escape persecution.
• The phrase “the dispersion” could be translated as “believers in many different places” or “the people who moved away to live in different nations.”
• The term “disperse” could be translated as “send away into many different places” or “scatter abroad” or “cause to move away to live in different countries.”

(See also: believe, persecute, captive, exile)

Bible References

• 1 Peter 1:1
• Ezekiel 12:15
• Ezekiel 30:23
• Psalms 18:14

Word Data

• Strong’s: H2219, H5310, H6327, H6340, H6504, H8600, G12870, G12900, G46500