ἀναβαθμός
a step, a flight of steps
Definition
The Greek word ἀναβαθμός refers to a 'step' or a 'flight of steps.' In the New Testament, it specifically denotes the stairs that connected the Temple complex in Jerusalem to the Fortress of Antonia, a Roman military barracks. This location is crucial in the narrative of Acts 21, where it serves as the setting for Paul's dramatic defense before the crowd. The term captures the physical structure that facilitated movement between these two significant spaces—the religious center of Judaism and the symbol of Roman imperial authority.
Biblical Usage
ἀναβαθμός is used only twice in the New Testament, both in Acts 21. In Acts 21:35, it describes the stairs where Paul was carried by soldiers due to the violent mob. In Acts 21:40, Paul stands on these same steps to gain a platform and address the people in Hebrew. Its usage is entirely geographical, pinpointing a specific, well-known architectural feature in Jerusalem that was central to the events of Paul's arrest.
Etymology
Derived from the preposition ἀνά (ana, meaning 'up') and the noun βαθμός (bathmos, meaning 'step' or 'degree'). Thus, it literally means 'a step up' or 'ascent,' directly describing a staircase. The etymology is straightforward and aligns perfectly with its concrete, physical meaning in the biblical text.
Semantic Range
The 'stairs' (ἀναβαθμός) mentioned in Acts were a significant architectural and cultural landmark. They physically connected the Jewish Temple courts, a place of worship and national identity, to the Roman Fortress of Antonia, which housed troops to monitor the temple during festivals. This connection symbolized the tense political and religious intersection of Jewish life under Roman occupation. For the original readers, this location would have been immediately recognizable, adding vivid historical realism to Luke's account of Paul's arrest.
βαθμός (bathmos, G898) — A single step or degree, whereas ἀναβαθμός typically implies a series or flight of steps. κλίμαξ (klimax, G3041) — A ladder or staircase, often with a more general or metaphorical sense of ascent.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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