ἀνάγω
I lead up, put to sea, set sail
Definition
The verb ἀνάγω carries two primary meanings in the New Testament. First, it literally means 'to lead up' or 'to bring up,' as seen when Jesus is led up into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1) or when Paul is brought up before the Sanhedrin (Acts 22:30). Second, in a nautical context, it means 'to put out to sea' or 'to set sail,' describing the launching of a boat, as in Luke 8:22 when Jesus and his disciples set sail across the lake. This dual sense of upward movement and maritime departure is central to its usage.
Biblical Usage
ἀνάγω is used 24 times, primarily in Luke and Acts, reflecting those books' narrative and travel-focused content. It describes physical movement: leading someone to a higher place (Luke 2:22, 4:5) or a judicial setting (Luke 22:66), and frequently denotes the act of sailing (Acts 13:13, 16:11, 18:21, 20:3, 13). The usage is almost evenly split between these two contextual domains.
Etymology
Derived from the preposition ἀνά (ana, meaning 'up') and the common verb ἄγω (agō, meaning 'I lead' or 'I bring'). It literally means 'to lead up.' This compound form clearly conveys the sense of upward or outward motion from a starting point.
Semantic Range
While primarily a verb of physical action, ἀνάγω can carry theological resonance in certain contexts. In Luke 2:22, it is used for Mary and Joseph 'bringing up' Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, connecting to themes of consecration and fulfillment of the Law. In Acts 7:41, it describes the Israelites 'offering up' a sacrifice to the idolatrous calf, highlighting a perversion of true worship. Understanding the word's core idea of 'leading up' can enrich readings of passages involving presentation, sacrifice, or transition.
The nautical usage reflects the Mediterranean cultural setting where sea travel was common. 'Setting sail' (ἀνάγω) was a specific technical phrase for loosening moorings and departing from shore, a routine but significant action for travel, trade, and the spread of the gospel in Acts.
ἀναφέρω (anapherō, G399) — emphasizes 'carrying up,' often used for offering sacrifices. ἄγω (agō, G71) — the simpler root meaning 'I lead,' without the 'upward' directional component. ἀνάβασις (anabasis, G305) — a noun meaning 'ascent' or 'a going up.'
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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