ἀναβιβάζω

I draw up

Definition

The verb ἀναβιβάζω means 'to draw up' or 'to bring up from a lower place to a higher one.' In its sole New Testament occurrence, it specifically describes the action of drawing a fishing net up onto the shore (Matthew 13:48). This concrete, physical sense aligns with general Koine Greek usage, where the verb could be applied to pulling up objects like buckets from a well or hauling cargo aboard a ship. The prefix ἀνα- consistently indicates upward motion, giving the action a directional focus.

Biblical Usage

Ἀναβιβάζω is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 13:48, within Jesus's Parable of the Net. The context is the final sorting of fish after the net is 'drawn up' to the beach. This singular usage is purely descriptive of a physical action within a metaphorical story and does not appear in other books or contexts.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀνά (ana, meaning 'up') combined with the verb βιβάζω (bibazō, 'to cause to go' or 'to bring'). The compound thus literally means 'to bring up.' The root βιβάζω is related to βαίνω (bainō, 'to go'), emphasizing motion. The etymology is straightforward, with no significant shift from its classical to its Koine meaning.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a common action verb, its sole use in Matthew 13:48 gives it theological significance within Jesus's teaching on the kingdom of heaven. The act of 'drawing up' the net initiates the final judgment scene in the parable, separating the good from the bad. Understanding this concrete Greek term enriches the parable's imagery, grounding the abstract concept of eschatological judgment in the vivid, everyday reality of a fisherman's work.

In the 1st-century fishing culture of the Sea of Galilee, drawing a large, weighted net to shore was a communal and labor-intensive task. The specific use of ἀναβιβάζω in Matthew 13:48 would immediately evoke this familiar scene for Jesus's audience. The action signifies the completion of the fishing process, the gathering of the entire catch, and the transition to the next critical step: sorting. This cultural resonance makes the parable's analogy to the final judgment powerfully tangible.

ἀνάγω (anagō, G321) — a more general term meaning 'to lead up' or 'to bring up,' often used for leading persons or putting out to sea. Ἑλκύω (helkyō, G1670) — means 'to draw' or 'drag,' but without the specific upward directional component (e.g., John 21:6, 11).

Word Details

Scripture References