ἐγείρω
I wake, arouse, raise up
Definition
ἐγείρω primarily means 'to raise up' or 'to awaken,' used in both literal and figurative senses. Literally, it describes waking someone from sleep (Mark 4:38) or raising a sick person to health (Matthew 8:15). Most significantly, it is the standard verb for resurrection, especially Christ's resurrection from the dead (Matthew 16:21, 1 Corinthians 15:4). Figuratively, it can mean to arouse or stir up emotions or actions, as in raising children for Abraham from stones (Matthew 3:9).
Biblical Usage
ἐγείρω appears 135 times across the New Testament, with heavy usage in the Gospels and Acts. It is frequently used for Jesus raising individuals (e.g., Jairus's daughter in Matthew 9:25) and for His own resurrection (e.g., Matthew 28:6). Paul employs it extensively for the resurrection of believers (1 Corinthians 15:15-16). A pattern emerges: in the passive voice, it often denotes divine action, especially resurrection.
Etymology
Derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁ger-, meaning 'to wake, rouse.' It is a primary verb in Greek with cognates in other languages. The meaning developed from the basic sense of physical awakening to encompass the theological concept of resurrection, a key development in the New Testament.
Semantic Range
This word is central to Christian theology, directly tied to the doctrine of resurrection. It underscores the belief in Jesus' bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20) and the future resurrection of believers (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Understanding ἐγείρω enriches reading by highlighting that resurrection is an active, powerful act of God, not a passive event, emphasizing hope and victory over death.
In the Greco-Roman world, resurrection was generally considered impossible or undesirable; the soul's liberation from the body was often the ideal. The New Testament's use of ἐγείρω for bodily resurrection presented a radical, counter-cultural claim about God's power and the value of the physical creation.
ἀνίστημι (anistēmi, G450) — Often interchangeable for 'raise,' but can emphasize 'standing up' or 'arising.' ἀνάστασις (anastasis, G386) — The noun 'resurrection,' the state or event of being raised. ζῳοποιέω (zōopoieō, G2227) — Means 'to make alive,' focusing on imparting life rather than the act of raising.
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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