Strong's g416

Pronunciation Guide: an-em-id’-zo (ἀν-εμ-ίδ-ζω)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G416: ἀνεμίζω (anemizō) describes the action of being driven, tossed, or agitated by the wind. In its New Testament usage, it paints a vivid picture of instability and uncertainty. The word effectively captures both the physical action of wind-driven motion and serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual wavering or doubt.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Word: ἄνεμος (anemos) meaning “wind”
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Found in narrative and teaching passages
• Voice/Mood: Passive voice, indicating receiving the action of being wind-driven
• Tense: Present tense, suggesting ongoing action

ἀνεμίζω Morphology:

• ἀνεμίζομαι (present passive indicative) – I am being driven by the wind
• ἀνεμιζόμενον (present passive participle, accusative) – being driven by the wind
• ἀνεμιζομένῳ (present passive participle, dative) – to the one being driven by the wind

Origin & History

The word ἀνεμίζω emerges from the classical Greek maritime context, where it was commonly used to describe ships or objects being driven by wind forces. In Aristotle’s “Meteorologica” (Book II.4), he uses the root word ἄνεμος when discussing wind patterns and their effects on natural phenomena. The compound formation with the -ίζω suffix transforms the noun “wind” into a passive verbal concept of “being wind-driven.”

The Septuagint (LXX) uses related terms from the ἄνεμος word family frequently, particularly in poetic books like Psalms and prophetic literature where wind imagery conveys divine power or human frailty. However, the specific verbal form ἀνεμίζω appears uniquely in the New Testament.

Early church fathers like John Chrysostom in his “Homilies on James” drew significant spiritual applications from this term, using it to illustrate the dangers of spiritual instability and double-mindedness.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Primary action of being physically moved or agitated by wind forces
• Metaphorical state of spiritual instability or wavering
• Condition of being driven about without fixed direction
• State of being subject to external forces beyond one’s control

ἀνεμίζω Translation Options:

• “Wind-driven” – Emphasizes the passive nature and the wind as the driving force
• “Tossed by the wind” – Captures both the motion and lack of control
• “Wind-agitated” – Highlights the turbulent nature of the movement
• “Storm-tossed” – Contextually appropriate when emphasizing severe conditions

Biblical Usage

The word ἀνεμίζω appears most notably in James 1:6, where James uses it to describe the spiritual state of a doubter who prays without faith. The metaphor draws from the common sight of waves on the Sea of Galilee being driven and tossed by the strong winds that would suddenly sweep down from the surrounding hills.

This maritime imagery would have resonated deeply with James’s audience, many of whom were familiar with the dangerous conditions of Mediterranean sea travel. The passive voice emphasizes human powerlessness against natural forces, serving as an apt metaphor for spiritual vulnerability when faith wavers.

• “For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed [ἀνεμιζομένῳ] by the wind.” James 1:6

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, the unpredictability of winds was a constant concern for sailors and merchants. The Etesian winds that blew across the Mediterranean during summer months could either aid or imperil ships depending on their direction and intensity. This cultural backdrop adds depth to James’s use of ἀνεμίζω, as his original readers would have immediately grasped both the physical danger and the spiritual application.

The imagery also connects to the Hebrew concept of ruach (רוּחַ), which can mean both “wind” and “spirit.” This dual meaning creates a rich theological tapestry where being driven by the wind could imply either submission to God’s Spirit or being swept away by every changing doctrine – context determines whether the influence is positive or negative.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀνεμίζω in James’s epistle serves as a powerful theological metaphor for the relationship between faith and doubt. Just as a wave has no inherent stability but is completely at the mercy of the wind, so a doubting person lacks spiritual anchor and becomes vulnerable to every shifting influence.

This imagery connects to broader biblical themes of stability versus instability in faith. The contrast between being wind-driven and being firmly rooted appears throughout Scripture, from the Psalms where the righteous are “like a tree planted by streams of water” (Psalm 1:3) to Paul’s admonition about being “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14).

The passive voice of ἀνεμίζω also carries theological significance, suggesting that spiritual instability isn’t merely a natural state but a condition that results from allowing oneself to be driven by forces other than faith in God.

Personal Application

When we encounter this word in James 1:6, we’re challenged to examine our own faith stability. Are we anchored firmly in trust in God, or do we allow circumstances to toss us about like waves on the sea? The image of being wind-driven serves as both a warning and an invitation – a warning against the instability of doubt and an invitation to find true stability in unwavering faith in God.

This understanding can transform our approach to prayer and decision-making. Rather than being driven by changing circumstances, emotions, or popular opinions, we’re called to develop a faith that remains steady regardless of external “winds.”

Related Words

• κλυδωνίζομαι (klydōnizomai) – to be tossed by waves, suggesting similar instability but specifically by water rather than wind. See G2831
• σαλεύω (saleuō) – to shake or agitate, often used of storms but broader in application. See G4531
• περιφέρω (peripherō) – to carry about, sometimes used of being carried about by winds. See G4064
• ἄνεμος (anemos) – wind, the root noun from which ἀνεμίζω is derived. See G417

Did you Know?

• The same root word ἄνεμος gives us the modern meteorological term “anemometer,” an instrument for measuring wind speed, showing how this ancient Greek concept continues to influence scientific terminology today.
• Ancient Mediterranean sailors had specific names for different winds based on their directions and characteristics, such as the Boreas (north wind) and Notus (south wind), demonstrating how central wind awareness was to ancient navigation and daily life.
• The imagery of being “wind-driven” appears in various ancient Greek philosophical writings as a metaphor for those who lack conviction or proper guidance, showing that James was drawing on a widely understood cultural metaphor when he used ἀνεμίζω.

Remember This

ἀνεμίζω stands as a powerful reminder that our spiritual stability depends not on the changing winds of circumstance but on the unchanging character of God and our unwavering faith in Him.