Lexical Definition

‎ῥήγνυμι‎ rhḗgnymi (hrayg'-noo-mee) to throw violently ^G:V
both prolonged forms of (which appears only in certain forms, and is itself probably a strengthened form of (see in ‎κατάγνυμι‎)) to "break," "wreck" or "crack", i.e. (especially) to sunder (by separation of the parts

break (forth), burst, rend, tear.

• ‎κατάγνυμι‎ being its intensive (with the preposition in composition), and ‎θραύω‎ a shattering to minute fragments
• but not a reduction to the constituent particles, like ‎λύω‎) or disrupt, lacerate
• by implication, to convulse (with spasms)
• figuratively, to give vent to joyful emotions

Abbott-Smith

ῥήγνυμι and (Mk 9:18) ῥήσσω, [in LXX chiefly for בּקע, also for קרע, etc. ;]
1. to rend, break asunder: Mt 7:6, Mk 2:22, Lk 5:37; pass., Mt 9:17.
2. Of the voice, c. acc., φωνήν, etc. (Hdt., al.), to break forth into speech: absol., Ga 4:27 (LXX).
3. = ῥάσσω (Dem., al.), to throw or dash down: Mk 9:18, Lk 9:42
(cf. δια-, περι-, προσ-ρήγνυμι).†
SYN.: θραύω, κατάγνυμι

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ῥήγνυμι

or ῥηγνύω

__A (ἀναρ- [Refs 5th c.BC+]: imperfect κατ-ερρήγνυε [Refs 4th c.BC+]; later ῥήσσω, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἀπο-, δια-ρρήσσεσθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ῥήττω, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: Epic dialect imperfect ῥήγνυσκε [Refs 8th c.BC+]: future ῥήξω [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἔρρηξα [Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect ἔρρηχα (δι-) [LXX]middle ῥήγνῠμαι, future ῥήξομαι, aorist ἐρρηξάμην, all in [Refs 8th c.BC+], present also in [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐρρηξάμην [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Epic dialect 3rd.pers. plural ῥήξαντο [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, subjunctive ῥήγνῡται [Refs 6th c.BC+]: Epic dialect 3rd.pers. singular imperfect ῥηγνύατο [Refs 4th c.BC+]: future ῥᾰγήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist ἐρράγην [ᾰ] [Refs 5th c.BC+]; later ἐρρήχθην, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; δια-ρρηχθῇ (variant{-ρραγῇ}) [Refs 5th c.BC+]perfect ἔρρηγμαι (συν-) [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but intransitive perfect ἔρρωγα is more frequently, see below with [Refs]; perfect participle feminine ἐρρηγεῖα, see below with [Refs]; masculine plural κατ-ερρηγότας [Refs 5th c.AD+] The word is hardly used by correct Attic dialect Prose-writers, except in passive:—break asunder, rend, shatter, τεῖχος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; only once in [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—later, especially rend garments, in sign of grief, ῥ. πέπλους [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ῥ. ἕλκεα make grievous wounds, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ῥ. ὀστᾶ, σάρκας, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: in Ionic dialect and later Prose, ῥήγνυσι.. τὸν ἀμφὶ τὴν ὄψιν χιτῶνα [NT+5th c.BC+]:—middle, break for oneself, get broken, ὄρνυσθ᾽.. ῥήγνυσθε δὲ τεῖχος [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, see below [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.2 break a line of battle or body of men, ῥ. φάλαγγα, ὅμιλον, στίχας ἀνδρῶν, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὸ μέσον ῥῆξαι break through the centre, [Refs 5th c.BC+] broke through, [Refs 5th c.BC+] — middle, ῥήξασθαι φάλαγγας, στίχας, break oneself a way through the lines, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__A.3 let break loose, ἔριδα ῥ. [Refs]
__A.4 after [Refs 8th c.BC+] let loose the voice, of children and persons who have been dumb or silent, break into speech, speak out, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; later ῥήξασθαι φωνήν, θρόον αὐδῆς, φθόγγον, utter, [Refs 4th c.AD+] cry aloud, [LXX]; see belowwith
__A.5 also δακρύων ῥήξασα.. νάματα having let loose, having burst into floods of tears, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κλαυθμὸν ῥ. [LXX+1st c.AD+]; see below [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B passive, break, break asunder, burst, κῦμα ῥήγνυτο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of clouds, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ῥαγῆναί τι τῆς γῆς, as in an earthquake, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ῥήττονται ὑδρίαι (by the cold) [Refs 1st c.BC+]; τοῖς βασκάνοις εἶναι ῥήγνυσθαι may the envious burst, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__B.2 burst forth, like lightning, βροντὴ δ᾽ ἐρράγη δι᾽ ἀστραπῆς [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.3 of ships, to be wrecked, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B.4 of a stone, γράμματι ῥηγνύμενον scored with lettering, i.e. inscribed, Puchstein [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__C intransitive, like passive, break or burst forth, ἔρρηξεν ἔμετος [Refs 5th c.BC+]perfect ἔρρωγα, to have broken out, ἔρρωγε παγὰ δακρύων [Refs 5th c.BC+]broken, disjointed, [Refs]
__C.2 in literal sense, γῆ ἐρρηγεῖα (-υῖα) broken, arable, opposed to ἄρρηκτος, [Refs], cognate with Lithuanian rēžti 'cut, notch, furrow', rúožas 'stripe, streak, strip'.)

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.2Kgs.14.30 ☩ Matt.7.6 ☩ LXX.Isa.54.1 ☩ LXX.Isa.49.13}