Brief Overview of ἄνεσις (Strong’s G425:)

The Greek noun ἄνεσις (anesis) means “relief,” “rest,” or “ease.” It is derived from the verb ἀνέω (aneō), meaning “to release” or “to relax.” This term conveys the concept of alleviating discomfort or burdens, providing a state of rest or relaxation, and easing a person’s difficulties or troubles.

Detailed Overview

According to Strong’s Concordance, ἄνεσις (G425) is used to denote relief or ease from difficulties or burdens. It appears in the New Testament in passages like 2 Corinthians 2:13, where Paul expresses his lack of rest due to concern for the Corinthians, and in 2 Corinthians 7:5, where he mentions the relief he felt after hearing good news from them. These instances reflect the term’s use to describe both physical and emotional relief.

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The Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon provides a more detailed understanding of ἄνεσις, defining it as “relief” or “ease” and noting its application in various contexts. BDAG explains that ἄνεσις can refer to both the literal relief from physical burdens and the more abstract concept of relief from emotional or psychological stress. The lexicon highlights its use in both classical and biblical texts to describe a state of ease or comfort.

The Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon also describes ἄνεσις as “relief” or “ease.” LSJ notes that the term is used in classical literature to refer to physical relaxation and relief from difficulties. This aligns with its biblical use to denote both tangible relief from hardship and a more general sense of comfort and rest.

In summary, ἄνεσις primarily means “relief,” “rest,” or “ease,” indicating the alleviation of discomfort or burdens. This meaning is consistently supported by Strong’s Concordance, BDAG, and LSJ, each providing context for its use in describing relief from various forms of difficulty in biblical and classical Greek literature.