ἀναπέμπω

I send up to a higher tribunal, I send back

Definition

The verb ἀναπέμπω primarily means 'to send up' or 'to send back.' In a legal context, it refers to sending a person up to a higher authority for judgment, as seen when Pilate sends Jesus to Herod (Luke 23:7). It can also mean to send something or someone back to a place of origin, such as Paul sending Onesimus back to Philemon (Philemon 1:12). In Luke 23:11 and 23:15, the term is used in the narrative of Jesus' trial, emphasizing the act of referral between governing authorities.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used four times in the New Testament, exclusively in Luke's writings (the Gospel of Luke and Philemon). In Luke 23, it describes the legal proceedings of Jesus' trial, where Pilate sends (ἀναπέμπω) Jesus to Herod and later Herod sends him back. This creates a pattern of judicial referral. In Philemon 1:12, Paul uses the word in a personal, non-legal sense to describe sending the runaway slave Onesimus back to his master.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀνά (ana, meaning 'up' or 'again') combined with the verb πέμπω (pempō, meaning 'to send'). Thus, the compound verb literally means 'to send up' or 'to send back.' It is not from ἀν- (a negative prefix) as sometimes mistakenly thought. The root πέμπω is common for sending, and the prefix ἀνά gives the direction or repetition.

Semantic Range

This word highlights the theme of divine sovereignty in human judicial processes. In the trial of Jesus, the seemingly political act of 'sending up' between Pilate and Herod ultimately fulfills God's plan for Jesus to be examined and found innocent by multiple authorities (Luke 23:14-15). In Philemon, Paul's act of 'sending back' Onesimus transforms a legal and social obligation into an appeal for Christian reconciliation and brotherly love, illustrating gospel-centered restoration.

In the Roman legal system, a provincial governor like Pilate could refer (ἀναπέμπω) a case involving a subject of another jurisdiction (like Herod, a tetrarch) to that local ruler. This was a procedural formality and a gesture of political courtesy. Understanding this clarifies the narrative in Luke 23, showing Jesus being shuttled between authorities as part of Roman administrative practice, not merely random events.

ἀποστέλλω (apostellō, G649) — emphasizes sending with a commission or authority, often used for divine sending. πέμπω (pempō, G3992) — the simpler root verb for sending, without the directional prefix 'up' or 'back.'

Word Details

Scripture References