ἀνασείω

I shake up, stir up, excite

Definition

ἀνασείω means to shake up, stir up, or incite, particularly in a social or political context. In the New Testament, it specifically refers to the act of agitating or exciting a crowd, often to provoke public disturbance or manipulate opinion. This is vividly seen in Mark 15:11, where the chief priests 'stirred up' the crowd to demand Barabbas instead of Jesus. Similarly, in Luke 23:5, the religious leaders insist that Jesus 'stirs up the people' throughout Judea with his teaching, portraying him as a political agitator. The word carries a sense of deliberate, forceful provocation leading to unrest.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only twice in the New Testament, both in the Passion narratives of the Gospels. It describes the actions of the Jewish religious authorities (chief priests and elders) as they manipulate the populace against Jesus. In Mark 15:11, they stir up the crowd to choose Barabbas for release. In Luke 23:5, they accuse Jesus himself of 'stirring up' the people, a charge meant to convince Pilate of his seditious threat. The usage is consistently in contexts of false accusation and mob incitement.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀνά (ana, often meaning 'up') and the verb σείω (seiō, 'to shake,' 'to agitate'). The compound thus literally means 'to shake up.' The root σείω is used elsewhere in the New Testament for physical shaking (e.g., an earthquake in Matthew 27:51) or metaphorical agitation (e.g., being 'shaken' in mind in 2 Thessalonians 2:2). ἀνασείω intensifies this to mean a vigorous stirring up, especially of people.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the nature of the false charges against Jesus. The authorities' act of 'stirring up' the crowd contrasts with Jesus's actual ministry of peace and truth. It underscores the theme of injustice in the trial narratives, showing how human manipulation and mob mentality were used to fulfill God's redemptive plan. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by clarifying the deliberate, political nature of the accusations meant to paint Jesus as a revolutionary threat to Roman order.

In the Roman imperial context, 'stirring up' the people was a serious political charge, akin to sedition. Roman governors like Pilate were primarily concerned with maintaining public order (the Pax Romana). Accusing someone of ἀνασείω was an effective way to frame them as a dangerous insurgent, warranting execution. The Jewish leaders leveraged this cultural and political reality to pressure Pilate, portraying Jesus not merely as a religious nuisance but as a direct threat to Roman control.

παραζηλόω (parazēloō, G3863) — to provoke to jealousy or rivalry; often used in a spiritual sense. ταράσσω (tarassō, G5015) — to disturb, trouble, or stir up; can refer to inner emotional agitation or external disturbance. ἐπισύστασις (episystasis, G1999) — a gathering or hostile crowd; denotes the resulting commotion rather than the act of incitement.

Word Details

Scripture References