Understanding ἐγείρω (egeirō) Strong’s G1453: The Powerful Verb of Resurrection, Awakening, and Divine Action
Pronunciation Guide: eh-GAY-roh (with the ‘g’ pronounced as in “go”)
Basic Definition
Strong’s G1453: Ἐγείρω (egeirō) fundamentally means “to awaken, to raise up, to arouse from sleep, inactivity, or death.” It carries the powerful connotation of bringing something from a lower state to a higher one, often implying a dramatic transition from inactivity to action. In its most profound biblical usage, it refers to resurrection—the act of raising the dead to life.
Etymology and Morphology
- Verb (primary)
- From a root meaning “to collect one’s faculties” or “to waken”
- Indo-European origin related to concepts of “waking” and “watching”
- Frequently appears in narrative sections describing Yeshua’s miracles
- Common in resurrection accounts and Pauline epistles
- Appears in both literal (physical awakening) and metaphorical (spiritual awakening) contexts
Ἐγείρω Morphology:
- ἐγείρω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I raise up/awaken
- ἐγείρεις (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you raise up/awaken
- ἐγείρει (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it raises up/awakens
- ἐγείρομεν (present active indicative, 1st person plural) – we raise up/awaken
- ἐγείρετε (present active indicative, 2nd person plural) – you (plural) raise up/awaken
- ἐγείρουσιν (present active indicative, 3rd person plural) – they raise up/awaken
- ἐγέρθητι (aorist passive imperative, 2nd person singular) – be raised!/arise!
- ἐγερθῆναι (aorist passive infinitive) – to be raised up
- ἐγερθείς (aorist passive participle, nominative masculine singular) – having been raised up
- ἠγέρθη (aorist passive indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it was raised up
Origin & History
The verb ἐγείρω has roots in ancient Greek literature, where it was used to describe the act of waking someone from sleep or rousing them to action. In Homer’s “Iliad,” the term appears when describing warriors being roused for battle, indicating its association with transitioning from inactivity to purposeful action. By the time of classical Greek, it had developed a broader semantic range that included concepts of constructing or erecting structures.
In the Septuagint (LXX), ἐγείρω took on additional theological significance, being used to translate Hebrew terms like קוּם (qum) and עוּר (ur), which carry connotations of rising up, standing, and awakening. In Psalm 44:23 (LXX 43:23), the psalmist cries out to God, “Awake! Why do you sleep, O Lord?” using a form of ἐγείρω to express the urgent plea for divine intervention. This usage established a precedent for the term’s association with divine action and deliverance that would later be fully realized in the New Testament’s resurrection narratives.
Expanded Definitions & Translation Options
- To awaken from sleep or inactivity – literal physical awakening
- To raise up someone from illness or death – restoration to life and health
- To cause to rise or stand up – change of posture or position
- To arouse to action or alertness – stimulation to purposeful activity
- To erect or build up – construction or establishment (less common in NT)
Ἐγείρω Translation Options:
- “Awaken” – Best when referring to rousing from sleep; captures the transition from unconsciousness to consciousness
- “Raise up” – Ideal for resurrection contexts; emphasizes the agent’s action in elevating someone or something from a lower state
- “Arise” – Appropriate for commands or instances where the subject is taking action themselves; conveys upward movement
- “Rouse” – Useful for contexts involving stimulation to action; implies an energetic response
- “Restore” – Fitting when health or wholeness is being returned; emphasizes the return to a previous positive state
Biblical Usage
The verb ἐγείρω appears approximately 144 times in the New Testament, with its most theologically significant occurrences relating to Yeshua’s resurrection. The term forms the backbone of resurrection theology, as it is the primary verb used to describe God’s action in raising the Messiah from the dead. This usage establishes a theological pattern that extends to believers, as Paul frequently employs ἐγείρω to describe both the resurrection of Yeshua and the future resurrection of believers.
In the Gospels, ἐγείρω appears in diverse contexts, from Jesus’ healing miracles (where He commands the paralyzed to “arise”) to His calming of the storm (where disciples “awaken” Him) to His resurrection. This semantic range demonstrates how the concept of “raising up” permeates Yeshua’s ministry on multiple levels, from physical healing to ultimate victory over death.
- “And when he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt” (Matthew 2:13) – Here, ἐγερθεὶς appears in its first New Testament usage, showing Joseph arising in response to divine instruction.
- “But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour” (Matthew 9:22) – The term appears in a healing context, connected to restoration.
- “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39) – Jesus awakens from sleep to calm the storm, demonstrating authority over nature.
- “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you” (Mark 16:7) – The angel announces that Jesus has been raised up, the central proclamation of the Gospel.
- “And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother” (Luke 7:15) – Jesus raises up the widow’s son, foreshadowing His own resurrection.
- “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19) – Jesus uses ἐγερῶ to prophesy His own resurrection.
- “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will” (John 5:21) – Jesus establishes the Father’s role in raising the dead.
Cultural Insights
In the first-century Jewish context, ἐγείρω took on special significance in relation to the widespread belief in bodily resurrection. Unlike some Greek philosophical traditions that viewed the body as a prison for the soul, Jewish theology generally emphasized the goodness of creation and anticipated a bodily resurrection. The Pharisees, in particular, held strong beliefs about resurrection, which created common ground for early Messianic proclamation despite other theological differences.
When the apostles proclaimed that God had “raised up” (ἤγειρεν) Yeshua from the dead, they were making a claim that fit within existing Jewish theological frameworks but with a revolutionary twist—resurrection was no longer just an end-time hope but a present reality in the person of the Messiah. This immediate realization of what had been seen as a future hope created a powerful theological dynamic that transformed the early Messianic community’s understanding of God’s kingdom. The use of ἐγείρω in this context bridges the gap between Jewish apocalyptic expectation and the inaugurated eschatology of the early believers.
Theological Significance
The theological weight of ἐγείρω is immense, serving as the verbal foundation for the central Christian doctrine of resurrection. When Scripture declares that God “raised up” Yeshua, it reveals a fundamental truth about divine power and purpose. The resurrection isn’t merely a demonstration of God’s ability to restore life; it’s the definitive act that validates Yeshua’s identity as the Messiah and inaugurates the new creation. Paul explicitly connects this concept to our justification in Romans 4:25, stating that Yeshua “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised (ἠγέρθη) for our justification.”
Furthermore, ἐγείρω establishes a pattern that believers are invited to follow. The same divine power that raised Yeshua is at work in believers, first spiritually and ultimately physically. As Paul writes in Romans 8:11, “If the Spirit of him who raised (ἐγείραντος) Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised (ἐγείρας) Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” This creates a theological continuity between Messiah’s resurrection and the believer’s spiritual awakening now and bodily resurrection in the future.
The semantic range of ἐγείρω also highlights the holistic nature of God’s salvation. When Yeshua commands the paralyzed man to “arise” (ἐγείρου) and walk, He demonstrates that divine restoration includes both spiritual and physical dimensions. This anticipates the ultimate redemption of all creation, where all things will be “raised up” to their intended glory.
Personal Application
Understanding ἐγείρω should awaken us to the resurrection power available in our daily lives. Just as God raised up Yeshua from the dead, He desires to raise us from spiritual deadness to vibrant life in the Messiah. This isn’t just a future hope but a present reality. Each morning when we physically “arise” from sleep, we can be reminded of our spiritual awakening and the new life we have in Yeshua.
In moments of discouragement, failure, or spiritual lethargy, the concept of ἐγείρω calls us to remember that the same power that conquered death is at work within us. We are not defined by our falls but by the divine hand that raises us up. As believers, we are called to live as “resurrection people”—those who have been raised with the Messiah and who set their minds on things above. This perspective transforms how we approach challenges, suffering, and even physical death, knowing that our God specializes in raising what seems defeated or dead to new heights of life and purpose.
Related Words
- ἀνίστημι (anistēmi) – to rise, stand up, resurrect; often used interchangeably with ἐγείρω in resurrection contexts but emphasizes the standing position that results from being raised. See G450
- ζωοποιέω (zōopoieō) – to make alive, give life; focuses on the impartation of life rather than the raising up motion but works in theological tandem with ἐγείρω in resurrection contexts. See G2227
- ἐξυπνίζω (exypnizō) – to awaken from sleep; more specifically focused on waking from literal sleep without the broader theological implications of ἐγείρω. See G1852
- ἀνάστασις (anastasis) – resurrection, rising up; the noun form related to ἀνίστημι that describes the state or event of resurrection that ἐγείρω accomplishes. See G386
- ἐγρήγορα (egrēgora) – to be awake, watchful; perfect form that emphasizes the resulting state of wakefulness after being awakened by ἐγείρω. See G1127
Did you Know?
- Did you know that in Matthew’s Gospel, the angel’s command to Joseph to “arise” (ἐγερθεὶς) and flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13) uses the same verb root as the announcement of Yeshua’s resurrection? This linguistic connection suggests that even in the Messiah’s infancy narrative, the theme of resurrection and divine deliverance is subtly present, creating a theological bookend with the Gospel’s conclusion.
- Did you know that modern Greek still uses forms of ἐγείρω in everyday speech? The modern Greek greeting “Egerthito” (a form of ἐγείρω) is sometimes used as a morning greeting, similar to “Rise and shine!” This linguistic continuity demonstrates how this powerful theological concept has remained embedded in Greek language and culture for thousands of years.
- Did you know that the early Church Fathers frequently expounded on the theological implications of ἐγείρω? John Chrysostom, in his homilies on the Pauline epistles, emphasizes that the verb not only refers to Christ’s resurrection but also to our spiritual awakening. He writes, “For as Christ was raised up (ἠγέρθη) from the dead, so we also should walk in newness of life,” highlighting the transformative power implied in this verb.
Remember This
Ἐγείρω reminds us that our God is not just a God of creation but of re-creation—the One who specializes in raising what seems defeated, dormant, or dead to new heights of life, purpose, and glory.
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.