Understanding ἀνασείω (anaseiō) Strong’s G383: The Inflammatory Act of Stirring Up Opposition and Inciting Crowds

Pronunciation Guide: ah-nah-SAY-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G383: ἀνασείω is a compound verb meaning to shake up, stir up, excite, or incite, particularly in the context of stirring up a crowd to opposition or violence. It carries the connotation of agitation with hostile intent, often used to describe the manipulation of people’s emotions to achieve political or social objectives.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Components: ἀνά (up, again) + σείω (to shake, to agitate)
• Language Origin: Compound Greek word
• Primary Usage: Found in narrative passages describing political and social unrest
• Voice: Active
• Tense: Present

ἀνασείω Morphology:

• ἀνασείω (present active indicative) – I stir up/incite
• ἀνέσεισα (aorist active indicative) – I stirred up/incited
• ἀνασείσας (aorist active participle) – having stirred up/incited
• ἀνασείειν (present active infinitive) – to stir up/incite

Origin & History

The word ἀνασείω emerges from classical Greek literature where it was used to describe physical shaking or agitation. In the works of Thucydides (History of the Peloponnesian War), it appears in descriptions of political upheaval and social unrest. The compound structure combines the intensifying prefix ἀνά with the root σείω, which literally means “to shake.”

The Septuagint translators employed this term sparingly, but it gained particular significance in Hellenistic Greek when describing political agitation and mob incitement. The Jewish historian Josephus uses similar terminology when describing various rebellions and political disturbances in his works “Antiquities of the Jews” and “The Jewish War.”

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Primary stirring up or inciting of a crowd to hostile action
• Deliberate agitation leading to social or political unrest
• Manipulation of public sentiment through provocative rhetoric
• Instigation of opposition through emotional appeal

ἀνασείω Translation Options:

• “To stir up” – Emphasizes the active nature of provoking a response
• “To incite” – Highlights the deliberate nature of causing unrest
• “To agitate” – Focuses on the emotional manipulation aspect
• “To instigate” – Stresses the initiating role in causing trouble

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀνασείω appears most notably in Mark 15:11, where it describes the chief priests’ manipulation of the crowd to demand Barabbas’s release instead of Jesus. The word choice here is particularly significant as it reveals the calculated nature of the opposition to Jesus, showing how religious leaders deliberately worked to inflame public sentiment against Him.

The term also appears in Luke 23:5, where Jesus’ accusers claim He has been “stirring up” the people through His teaching. The irony is profound – while Jesus taught truth that naturally challenged the status quo, His opponents were the ones actively inciting opposition against Him.

• “But the chief priests stirred up [ἀνέσεισαν] the crowd to have him release Barabbas instead.” Mark 15:11
• “But they were the more urgent, saying, ‘He stirs up [ἀνασείει] the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.'” Luke 23:5

Cultural Insights

In the first-century Mediterranean world, the ability to influence crowds was a crucial political skill. Professional agitators known as “demagogues” would often be employed to sway public opinion through emotional manipulation. The use of ἀνασείω in describing the chief priests’ actions suggests they were employing these common political tactics against Jesus.

The practice of stirring up crowds was well-known in both Jewish and Roman contexts. During festivals in Jerusalem, the Roman garrison would be on high alert for such activities, as the dense crowds were particularly susceptible to agitation. The Zealot movement often used similar tactics to incite resistance against Roman rule.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀνασείω in the passion narrative reveals the depths of human opposition to God’s truth. When religious leaders resorted to manipulating crowds against Jesus, they demonstrated how religious authority can be corrupted to oppose God’s purposes. This serves as a warning about the dangerous combination of religious power and political manipulation.

The contrast between Jesus’ teaching, which naturally stirred people to faith and repentance, and the artificial agitation of the crowds against Him, highlights the difference between genuine spiritual awakening and manufactured opposition. This word helps us understand how human schemes, even when successful in the short term, ultimately serve to fulfill God’s sovereign plans.

Personal Application

Understanding ἀνασείω challenges us to examine our own motives in influencing others. Are we stirring people up toward truth and righteousness, or are we manipulating emotions for our own agenda? This word reminds us to be discerning about those who would incite us to opposition, especially when they appeal to our emotions rather than our understanding of God’s truth.

As believers, we must be aware of how easily crowds can be manipulated and stand firm in our convictions based on God’s Word rather than popular opinion. This requires spiritual maturity and a deep grounding in Scripture to discern truth from manipulation.

Related Words

• ταράσσω (tarassō) – to trouble, disturb, agitate – Similar in describing disturbance but more general in application. See G5015
• στασιάζω (stasiazō) – to rebel, cause insurrection – Related to political uprising but more specific to rebellion. See G4714
• θορυβέω (thorubeō) – to make an uproar – Focuses on the noise and confusion aspect of crowd disturbance. See G2350
• διεγείρω (diegeirō) – to stir up, arouse – Can be used positively or negatively for arousing action. See G1326

Did you Know?

• The term ἀνασείω was used in ancient Greek medical texts to describe the physical act of shaking medicines to mix them, showing how the word evolved from physical to social agitation.
• In ancient political discourse, professional “crowd-stirrers” were actually a recognized occupation in both Greek and Roman society, hired to sway public opinion through emotional manipulation.
• The same root word σείω is the basis for our modern word “seismic,” relating to earthquakes, demonstrating the powerful shaking imagery behind this term.

Remember This

ἀνασείω represents the powerful yet dangerous ability to incite crowds through emotional manipulation, reminding us that true spiritual influence comes not through agitation but through the genuine working of God’s Spirit.