Understanding ἀναφέρω (anaphero) Strong’s G399: The Divine Act of Bringing Up, Lifting, and Offering that Points to Messiah’s Ultimate Sacrifice

Pronunciation Guide: an-af-er’-o

Basic Definition

Strong’s G399: ἀναφέρω (anaphero) is a compound verb combining ἀνά (up, upward) and φέρω (to bear, carry). It primarily means to carry or bring up, to lead up, or to offer up especially in sacrificial contexts. In its richest theological sense, it carries the profound imagery of lifting something up to a higher place, particularly in reference to sacrificial offerings to God.

Etymology and Morphology

• Compound verb formed from ἀνά (up) + φέρω (to carry/bear)
• Primary usage in narrative and ceremonial contexts
• Frequently employed in sacrificial and temple worship passages
• Common in both literal physical and metaphorical spiritual contexts
• Appears in both Septuagint and New Testament literature

ἀναφέρω Morphology:

• ἀναφέρω (present active indicative) – I bring up/offer up
• ἀνήνεγκεν (aorist active indicative) – he/she/it brought up/offered up
• ἀναφέρειν (present active infinitive) – to bring up/offer up
• ἀνενεγκεῖν (aorist active infinitive) – to have brought up/offered up
• ἀναφέρων (present active participle) – bringing up/offering up

Origin & History

The word ἀναφέρω has deep roots in classical Greek literature, where it was commonly used to describe the physical action of carrying something to a higher place. In works like Homer’s Odyssey, it appears in contexts of bringing items up from ships to cities or carrying offerings up to temples.

In the Septuagint, ἀναφέρω took on profound theological significance as it became the standard translation for the Hebrew עָלָה (alah) when describing the offering of sacrifices. This usage appears prominently in Levitical texts, where it describes the priests’ actions of offering sacrifices upon the altar.

The early church fathers, particularly Clement of Rome in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, employed ἀναφέρω when discussing both Christ’s sacrificial work and the Christian’s spiritual offerings of praise and thanksgiving.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To carry or bring up physically to a higher place
• To offer up sacrificially in worship
• To bear or carry up spiritually
• To lift up in prayer or praise
• To take upon oneself (especially referring to sin)

ἀναφέρω Translation Options:

• “To bring up” – Best for contexts involving physical movement upward
• “To offer up” – Optimal for sacrificial and worship contexts
• “To bear up” – Appropriate for contexts of spiritual or metaphorical bearing
• “To lift up” – Suitable for prayer and praise contexts
• “To take up” – Fitting for contexts of bearing responsibility or burden

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀναφέρω appears in several crucial theological contexts. Its first appearance in Matthew 17:1 describes Jesus leading His disciples up a high mountain, foreshadowing the transfiguration. However, its most theologically significant uses appear in contexts relating to Christ’s sacrificial work.

The word carries special weight in passages discussing the atonement, where it draws clear parallels between the Old Testament sacrificial system and Christ’s perfect sacrifice. This connection is particularly evident in Hebrews 7:27 and Hebrews 9:28, where the author employs ἀναφέρω to describe both the Levitical priests’ daily sacrifices and Christ’s once-for-all offering of Himself.

Key Biblical References:

• “Jesus took [ἀναφέρει] Peter, James, and John… up on a high mountain” Matthew 17:1
• “who Himself bore [ἀνήνεγκεν] our sins in His own body on the tree” 1 Peter 2:24
• “to offer up [ἀναφέρειν] sacrifices, first for His own sins” Hebrews 7:27
• “Christ was offered [ἀνενεχθεὶς] once to bear the sins of many” Hebrews 9:28
• “to offer up [ἀναφέρειν] spiritual sacrifices” 1 Peter 2:5

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish temple worship, the concept of bringing sacrifices up to the altar was deeply significant. The temple mount itself was considered the highest point in Jerusalem spiritually, if not physically. The act of ἀναφέρω thus carried both literal and spiritual dimensions – the physical lifting of the sacrifice and the spiritual elevation of the worshipper’s heart toward יהוה (Yahweh).

The sacrificial system required priests to literally “bring up” offerings onto the altar, which stood raised above the temple courtyard. This physical action of lifting the sacrifice upward symbolized the worshipper’s desire to elevate their offering and their hearts toward heaven. Understanding this cultural context adds profound depth to the New Testament’s use of ἀναφέρω in describing Christ’s sacrifice.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀναφέρω in both testaments creates a beautiful theological bridge between the Levitical sacrificial system and the perfect sacrifice of the Messiah. In the Old Testament, priests repeatedly brought up sacrifices onto the altar, pointing forward to the ultimate sacrifice that would be lifted up on the cross.

When the New Testament applies ἀναφέρω to Jesus’ sacrifice, it demonstrates how He fulfilled and transcended the entire sacrificial system. Unlike the Levitical priests who had to repeatedly offer sacrifices, Jesus offered Himself once for all time. The vertical movement implicit in ἀναφέρω – the lifting up – finds its ultimate expression in Christ being lifted up on the cross, drawing all people to Himself.

This word also carries profound implications for believers’ spiritual worship, as seen in 1 Peter 2:5, where Christians are called to offer up spiritual sacrifices. This suggests that our worship, like Christ’s sacrifice, involves a spiritual lifting up of our hearts and lives to God.

Personal Application

When we grasp the rich meaning of ἀναφέρω, it transforms our understanding of both Christ’s sacrifice and our own worship. Just as Jesus was lifted up for our salvation, we too are called to lift up our hearts, our praises, and our very lives as offerings to God. This isn’t meant to be a burden but a privilege – we can bring up our concerns, our thanksgiving, and our worship to our loving Father.

In our daily walk with God, we can remember that every time we lift our hearts in prayer or raise our voices in worship, we’re participating in a sacred action that echoes both the ancient temple worship and points to Christ’s perfect sacrifice. This understanding should inspire us to approach worship with greater reverence and joy.

Related Words

• αἴρω (airo) – to lift up, take up, bear – Similar in the concept of lifting but without the specific directional or sacrificial connotations of ἀναφέρω See G142
• προσφέρω (prosphero) – to bring to, offer – Related through the root φέρω but emphasizes bringing toward rather than up See G4374
• ὑψόω (hupsoo) – to lift up, exalt – Shares the concept of upward movement but focuses more on exaltation than offering See G5312
• βαστάζω (bastazo) – to bear, carry – Similar in carrying aspect but lacks the directional and sacrificial elements See G941

Did you Know?

• The ancient Greek word ἀναφέρω is still used in modern Greek in contexts of referencing or reporting, showing how language evolves while maintaining connections to its roots.
• In the Septuagint, ἀναφέρω appears over 300 times, primarily in contexts related to sacrifice and worship, making it one of the most theologically significant verbs in biblical Greek.
• The compound nature of ἀναφέρω (ἀνά + φέρω) reflects a common pattern in Greek where prepositions combine with verbs to create new meanings, similar to how English uses phrasal verbs like “lift up” or “bring up.”

Remember This

ἀναφέρω embodies the sacred act of lifting up – whether in sacrifice, worship, or service – pointing ultimately to the Messiah who was lifted up for our salvation and calls us to lift our lives as living sacrifices to God.