The Greek verb ἀνετάζω (anetazō) generally means “to examine” or “to scrutinize.” It is derived from the prefix ἀν- (an-), meaning “up” or “through,” and the verb ἐτάζω (etazō), meaning “to test” or “to examine.” The term implies a thorough and careful inspection or investigation.

Detailed Overview

According to Strong’s Concordance, ἀνετάζω (G426) is used to denote the act of examining or scrutinizing something closely. It appears in the New Testament in passages such as 1 Corinthians 2:15, where it describes the action of evaluating or judging a person or situation. This usage reflects its meaning of conducting a detailed and critical examination.

The Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon expands on this by defining ἀνετάζω as “to examine” or “to investigate thoroughly.” BDAG highlights that the term is used in both literal contexts, such as examining physical objects or situations, and metaphorical contexts, such as evaluating spiritual matters or moral character. The lexicon notes its application in the process of careful scrutiny and judgment.

The Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon supports this definition, describing ἀνετάζω as “to examine” or “to scrutinize.” LSJ provides examples from classical Greek where the term is used in various contexts of detailed inspection and assessment, aligning with its biblical use for thorough examination.

In summary, ἀνετάζω primarily means “to examine” or “to scrutinize,” indicating a detailed and careful investigation. This meaning is consistently supported by Strong’s Concordance, BDAG, and LSJ, each providing context for its use in describing both literal and metaphorical examination in biblical and classical Greek literature.