Brief Overview of ἐγείρω (G1453: egeírō)

Introduction:

The Greek verb ἐγείρω (G1453: egeírō) is a significant term in the New Testament, often carrying profound theological implications. Understanding this word is essential for interpreting key Biblical passages, especially those related to resurrection, spiritual awakening, and divine action. ἐγείρω primarily means “to raise” or “to awaken,” and it is frequently used in contexts where Jesus raises individuals from the dead or where spiritual awakening is discussed. This term encapsulates the transformative power of God, making it crucial for both New Testament interpretation and the broader understanding of ancient Greek culture’s views on life, death, and the divine.

Key Information:

• Greek Word: ἐγείρω (egeírō) [eg-i’-ro]
• Etymology: Derived from the Greek root ἀγείρω (ageírō), meaning “to collect” or “to gather,” ἐγείρω evolved to mean “to awaken” or “to raise up,” signifying a transition from rest, sleep, or death to activity or life.
• Part of Speech: Verb (Present Active)
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings:

• To Raise Up: The primary meaning, especially in the context of resurrection, where ἐγείρω refers to raising someone from the dead.
• To Awaken: Used metaphorically or literally to describe waking up from sleep.
• To Cause to Rise: It can indicate causing someone to stand or rise from a sitting or reclining position.
• To Rouse or Stir Up: This usage applies in both physical and metaphorical senses, such as stirring up emotions, people, or even a situation.

Similar Words:

• ἀνίστημι (anístēmi) [an-is’-tay-mee]: Meaning “to stand up” or “to rise again,” this verb is often used interchangeably with ἐγείρω in resurrection contexts but focuses more on the act of standing or arising rather than the broader sense of awakening or causing to rise.
• ἔγερσις (égersis) [eg’-er-sis]: A noun derived from ἐγείρω, meaning “a rising” or “resurrection,” it specifically refers to the event or process of being raised, often used in a theological context to describe resurrection.

Further Insights:

• Morphological Insights:
• ἐγείρω is a regular Greek verb with typical conjugation patterns in the present, imperfect, and aorist tenses. It appears frequently in the New Testament in various forms, depending on the context of resurrection, awakening, or raising.
• The verb is used in both active and passive voices, with the active voice typically describing the action of raising or awakening, and the passive voice often used in the context of being raised, particularly in resurrection passages.

Lexicon Insights:

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BDAG: ἐγείρω is defined as “to raise” or “to awaken,” with the lexicon emphasizing its use in resurrection contexts, particularly in the New Testament where it describes Jesus raising individuals from the dead or the general resurrection of the dead. The word is also noted for its metaphorical usage in describing spiritual awakening.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s lexicon describes ἐγείρω as “to arouse” or “to cause to rise,” highlighting its application in both physical resurrection and spiritual awakening. The lexicon notes its frequent use in the New Testament to describe the miraculous power of Christ in bringing the dead back to life.

Vine’s: ἐγείρω is noted as a verb that means “to raise” or “to awaken,” with a focus on its theological significance in the New Testament, particularly in passages related to resurrection and divine intervention. Vine’s discusses the broader implications of this verb in Christian doctrine, especially concerning the resurrection of Jesus and believers.

LSJ: In classical Greek, ἐγείρω is recognized as a verb meaning “to awaken” or “to rouse,” used in various contexts including waking from sleep, stirring emotions, and raising someone from a prone position. The lexicon notes its broad application in both secular and religious texts.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: ἐγείρω is listed as “to awaken” or “to raise,” with emphasis on its Biblical usage in resurrection narratives and its broader application to any act of causing someone or something to rise or come to life.

Scripture References:

• Matthew 28:6: “He is not here, for he has risen (ἐγήγερται), as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”
• John 11:43: “When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.'”
• Romans 4:24: “It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised (ἐγείραντα) from the dead Jesus our Lord.”

Classical Usage:

Summary of ἐγείρω (G1453: egeírō):

The verb ἐγείρω (G1453: egeírō) is a central term in the New Testament, carrying significant weight in discussions of resurrection, awakening, and divine action. It is used to describe both the physical act of raising someone from the dead and the metaphorical act of awakening someone spiritually. Understanding ἐγείρω provides key insights into the New Testament’s teachings on resurrection, the transformative power of God, and the call to spiritual awakening. Its usage in classical Greek literature further emphasizes its versatility and importance in conveying actions of rising, awakening, and stirring up, whether in a physical or metaphorical sense.

Did You Know?

Did You Know? The verb ἐγείρω is not only used to describe the resurrection of Jesus but also appears in various contexts throughout the New Testament to describe the raising of individuals from the dead, such as Lazarus. This word is central to the Christian doctrine of resurrection, symbolizing the victory over death and the promise of new life for believers.