Understanding ἀνασπάω (anaspaō) Strong’s G385: The Powerful Greek Word for Drawing Up and Rescuing from the Depths

Pronunciation Guide: ah-nah-SPAH-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G385: ἀνασπάω (anaspaō) conveys the action of drawing up, pulling up, or lifting something from a lower to a higher position. This compound verb combines the preposition ἀνά (up, upward) with σπάω (to draw), creating a vivid picture of upward movement or rescue. In its biblical usage, it often carries connotations of deliverance or rescue from dangerous situations.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (Present Active Indicative)
• Compound word: ἀνά (up) + σπάω (to draw)
• Primary usage in narrative passages
• Common in rescue contexts
• Used in both literal and metaphorical senses

ἀνασπάω Morphology:

• ἀνασπάω (present active indicative) – I draw up
• ἀνασπάσει (future active indicative) – he/she/it will draw up
• ἀνέσπασεν (aorist active indicative) – he/she/it drew up
• ἀνασπασθήσεται (future passive indicative) – he/she/it will be drawn up

Origin & History

The verb ἀνασπάω has a rich history in classical Greek literature, where it was commonly used in maritime contexts for drawing up anchors (Herodotus, Histories 7.194) and in military settings for drawing up siege engines or weapons (Thucydides, Peloponnesian War 4.112). The term maintained similar connotations of upward movement and rescue in Hellenistic Greek.

In the Septuagint, ἀνασπάω appears in contexts of physical rescue and deliverance, particularly in the Psalms and historical narratives. The translators chose this word to convey the Hebrew concept of being lifted out of dangerous situations, both literally and metaphorically.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To draw up physically from a lower to higher position
• To rescue or deliver from danger
• To pull up forcefully or with purpose
• To lift up suddenly or with urgency

ἀνασπάω Translation Options:

• Draw up – Best captures the basic physical action
• Pull up – Emphasizes the forceful nature of the action
• Rescue – Appropriate in contexts of deliverance
• Lift out – Helpful when describing removal from danger
• Raise up – Useful for metaphorical usage

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀνασπάω appears most notably in Luke 14:5, where Yeshua uses it to describe rescuing an animal from a well on the Sabbath. This usage brilliantly combines both the literal sense of pulling something up and the metaphorical implications of rescue from danger. The word choice is particularly poignant as it emphasizes the urgency and necessity of the action, even on the Sabbath.

The term’s limited but strategic usage in the New Testament makes each occurrence significant. It often appears in contexts where divine rescue or human compassion is being illustrated through physical actions.

• “And He said to them, ‘Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him up [ἀνασπάσει] on a Sabbath day?'” Luke 14:5
• “When they had let down the net, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their net began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.” Luke 5:6-7 (contextual usage with nets)

Cultural Insights

In the agricultural society of first-century Judaism, wells were essential but dangerous features of daily life. Animals and occasionally people falling into wells was a real concern, and the community had developed both practical and legal frameworks for handling such emergencies, even on the Sabbath. The rabbis had extensive discussions about what constituted permissible rescue operations on the Sabbath, making Yeshua’s use of ἀνασπάω in Luke 14:5 particularly relevant to His Jewish audience.

The concept of drawing up from a well also carried deep cultural resonance with the story of Joseph being drawn up from the pit (Genesis 37:28), where the Septuagint uses a related term. This connection would have been readily apparent to Jewish listeners familiar with the Torah.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀνασπάω in Luke’s Gospel reveals important theological truths about God’s character and His perspective on religious law versus human need. By using this word in the context of Sabbath observance, Yeshua demonstrates that God’s heart is always inclined toward rescue and restoration, even when it seems to conflict with religious regulations.

The word’s emphasis on upward movement and rescue parallels the broader biblical theme of God’s deliverance of His people from various depths – whether physical, spiritual, or emotional. This connects to the messianic role of Yeshua as the ultimate deliverer who “draws up” His people from the pit of sin and death.

The urgency implied in ἀνασπάω also reflects God’s immediate response to human need, challenging any theology that would delay helping others due to religious technicalities.

Personal Application

When we understand the rich meaning of ἀνασπάω, we’re challenged to examine our own response to human need. Just as the action of drawing up from a well would require immediate attention and significant effort, we’re called to respond to others’ difficulties with similar urgency and commitment.

This word also reminds us that God is actively involved in “drawing us up” from whatever depths we face – whether circumstances, sin, or sorrow. When we feel in over our heads, we can trust in His divine ἀνασπάω – His powerful upward draw that rescues and restores.

Related Words

• ἕλκω (helkō) – to draw, drag, pull; used for drawing nets or people – emphasizes continuous action rather than sudden upward movement. See G1670
• σύρω (syrō) – to drag, draw, pull; often implies forceful or violent drawing – lacks the upward movement component of ἀνασπάω. See G4951
• ἀνάγω (anagō) – to lead up, bring up; broader term for upward movement – less specific than ἀνασπάω’s focused pulling action. See G321
• ἐξέλκω (exelkō) – to draw out; emphasizes removal from something – focuses on the extraction rather than upward movement. See G1828

Did you Know?

• The same word ἀνασπάω was used in ancient Greek medical texts to describe the process of setting broken bones, emphasizing its connection to restoration and healing.
• In ancient maritime terminology, ἀνασπάω was the technical term for raising a ship’s anchor – a usage that early Christians sometimes used metaphorically to describe hope in God’s salvation.
• The compound structure of ἀνασπάω (ἀνά + σπάω) follows a common pattern in Koine Greek where the addition of the preposition ἀνά intensifies and specifies the direction of the base verb’s action.

Remember This

ἀνασπάω embodies the powerful truth that in God’s kingdom, no pit is too deep for His rescuing hand, and no religious regulation should prevent us from extending that same rescue to others.