Stir, Stir Up
The Range of Biblical Meaning
The English phrase "stir up" appears frequently in Bible translations but represents a wide variety of original Hebrew and Greek words. Each carries its own shade of meaning — from awakening and exciting to shaking and confusing. This rich vocabulary reflects the many ways that people, emotions, and spiritual realities can be roused to action, whether for good or for ill.
Stirring Up in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, several Hebrew words are translated as "stir" or "stir up." The word "ur" means to awaken or disturb, as in Song of Solomon 2:7, where the beloved warns against stirring up love before its time. The word "akhar" in Psalm 39:2 conveys being troubled or agitated internally. God Himself is described as stirring up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a decree for the rebuilding of the temple (2 Chronicles 36:22; Ezra 1:1), demonstrating that God can move the hearts of rulers to accomplish His purposes.
Stirring Up in the New Testament
The New Testament employs equally varied Greek terms. Paul uses "anazopureo" in 2 Timothy 1:6, urging Timothy to "stir up" or "fan into flame" the gift of God that was in him. This vivid metaphor pictures a fire being revived from its embers — the spiritual gift had not been lost but needed active rekindling. Peter uses "diegeiro" (to awaken from sleep) in 2 Peter 1:13 and 3:1, saying he wants to stir up his readers by way of reminder, rousing them from spiritual complacency.
Negative Stirring in Acts
The book of Acts records several instances of hostile stirring. In Acts 13:50, the Greek word "parotruno" (to urge on or incite) describes how opponents stirred up prominent women and leading men against Paul and Barnabas. In Acts 17:13, "saleuo" (to shake or agitate) portrays the Jews from Thessalonica who came to Berea to stir up and disturb the crowds. Acts 21:27 uses "sugcheo" (to pour together or confuse), vividly describing the tumult created when Jews from Asia stirred up the crowd against Paul in the temple.
God as the One Who Stirs
Scripture presents God as actively stirring people and nations according to His sovereign purposes. He stirred up adversaries against Solomon as discipline for his unfaithfulness (1 Kings 11:14, 23). He stirred up the spirit of the Philistines and Arabians against Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:16). He also stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel and Joshua to resume building the temple (Haggai 1:14). These examples reveal that both judgment and restoration can come through God's stirring work.
The Call to Stir Ourselves
Beyond divine and hostile stirring, Scripture also calls believers to stir themselves. Isaiah laments that "no one stirs himself to take hold of God" (Isaiah 64:7). The writer of Hebrews encourages believers to "consider how to stir up one another to love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24). This mutual encouragement within the community of faith is presented as essential for perseverance and spiritual vitality.
Biblical Context
The concept of stirring up appears throughout Scripture: in the Psalms and Song of Solomon for emotional awakening, in the historical books for God moving kings and nations, in the Pauline epistles for rekindling spiritual gifts, in Peter's letters for rousing believers from complacency, and in Acts for hostile incitement against the early church. The breadth of usage reflects its importance as a metaphor for spiritual and moral action.
Theological Significance
The concept of stirring up teaches that spiritual life requires active engagement. Gifts can grow dormant, faith can become complacent, and zeal can cool. Paul's command to Timothy to fan his gift into flame implies that spiritual vitality is not automatic but requires intentional cultivation. At the same time, the negative examples warn that the same energy that can build up the kingdom can also be channeled toward destruction and opposition to God's work.
Historical Background
The military imagery behind the Greek word 'ataktos' and related terms reflects the organized nature of Roman society, where disorder was considered a serious offense. The metaphor of fanning embers into flame in 2 Timothy 1:6 would have been immediately understood in the ancient world, where maintaining fires was a daily domestic task. The crowd disturbances in Acts reflect the volatile social dynamics of Roman-era cities, where public gatherings could quickly escalate.