310. anaboaó
Lexical Summary
anaboaó: To cry out, to shout

Original Word: ἀναβοάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: anaboaó
Pronunciation: an-ab-o-ah'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ab-o-ah'-o)
KJV: cry (aloud, out)
NASB: cried
Word Origin: [from G303 (ἀνά - each) and G994 (βοάω - crying)]

1. to raise a cry

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cry out.

From ana and boao; to halloo -- cry (aloud, out).

see GREEK ana

see GREEK boao

HELPS Word-studies

310 anaboáō (from 303 /aná, "up to the high-point," intensifying 994 /boáō "cry out") – properly, intensely cry out; loudly (urgently) summoning for help, i.e. with a vehement cry that is emotionally charged (deeply heartfelt).

[310 (anaboáō) is an intensified form of boaō/"to cry out." The prefix (ana) adds the idea, "up to the maximum (limit)."]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ana and boaó
Definition
to cry out
NASB Translation
cried (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 310: ἀναβοάω

ἀναβοάω, (ῶ: 1 aorist ἀνεβόησα; (from Aeschylus and Herodotus down); to raise a cry, to cry out anything, say it shouting: Luke 9:38 (L T Tr WH ἐβόησε); Mark 15:8 (where read ἀναβάς, see ἀναβαίνω, a. under the end); with the addition of φωνή μεγάλη, Matthew 27:46 (Tr WH L marginal reading ἐβόησε) (as Genesis 27:38; Isaiah 36:13, etc.). Cf. Winers De verb. comp. Part iii., p. 6f; (and see βοάω, at the end).

Topical Lexicon
Word Usage and Narrative Setting

Strong’s Greek 310 occurs once in the New Testament, in the climactic scene of the crucifixion: “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ ” (Matthew 27:46). The verb is intensive, portraying a sudden, forceful outburst that breaks the oppressive silence of Golgotha. The single use concentrates all meaning into this moment, making the word inseparable from Christ’s atoning passion.

Connection to Psalm 22

Matthew preserves the original Aramaic cry and then translates it for his readers, linking the scene directly to Psalm 22:1. The evangelist’s deliberate echo demonstrates continuity between David’s lament and its ultimate fulfillment in Messiah. The Psalm moves from desolation to triumphant praise (Psalm 22:22-31), foreshadowing resurrection and global proclamation; Matthew’s use of Strong’s 310 therefore serves as the hinge between apparent defeat and impending victory.

Theological Significance of the Cry

1. Substitutionary Suffering: The loud cry underscores that Jesus bears the full weight of divine judgment. As Paul later writes, “For our sake He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
2. Prophetic Validation: By articulating Psalm 22 on the cross, Jesus affirms scriptural reliability. What David experienced in part, Christ embodies in totality, verifying the prophetic harmony of Old and New Testaments.
3. Revelation of the Son’s Relationship with the Father: The verb’s intensity emphasizes real human anguish without compromising divine unity. The cry is relational, not a breach in the Trinity; it reveals the cost of redemption rather than a change in divine nature.
4. Model for Lament: Believers are given warrant to bring raw pain before God. Hebrews 5:7 notes that Jesus “offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears,” legitimizing honest lament within faithful trust.

Historical Background: Public Outcry in Roman Executions

Roman crucifixions were designed for public spectacle and terror. Victims often expired in exhaustion, unable to project their voices. The fact that Jesus utters a piercing cry near the moment of death indicates both His physical vigor and voluntary surrender (John 10:18). Ancient audiences would have recognized the unusual strength required, heightening the sense of divine purpose rather than mere victimhood.

Related Biblical Themes

• Fulfillment Motif – Matthew frequently cites fulfilled prophecy (Matthew 1:22; 2:15), and Strong’s 310 encapsulates the ultimate fulfillment at the cross.
• Loud Voice Motif – Similar verbs appear when Jesus raises the widow’s son (Luke 7:14) and calls Lazarus from the tomb (John 11:43), associating authoritative cries with life-giving power. The cross-cry, though sounded in death, becomes the prelude to resurrection.
• Divine Hearing – Psalm 22 shifts at verse 24: “He has not hidden His face from him, but has heard when he cried to him.” The singular New Testament use of Strong’s 310 invites readers to anticipate God’s answer in the empty tomb.

Applications for Ministry

• Preaching: Emphasize the unity of Scripture—Old Testament lament and New Testament fulfillment converge in Matthew 27:46.
• Pastoral Care: Encourage believers that Christ’s loud cry sanctifies human anguish; no depth of sorrow is beyond His identification.
• Worship: Incorporate Psalm 22 into Good Friday liturgies, moving from lament to praise in sync with the psalm’s structure and the Gospel narrative.

Cross-References with Similar Expressions

Although Strong’s 310 is unique to Matthew 27:46, related verbs amplify its meaning:
• kraugazō (Matthew 12:19) – public shouting, often of crowds; contrasts with the solitary, redemptive cry.
• boáō (Mark 15:34) – Mark’s parallel account uses a cognate verb, reinforcing the historical event and theological weight.
• anaphōnēō in the Septuagint (Psalm 77:1) – “I cried out to God with my voice”; demonstrates a pattern of faithful lament found throughout redemptive history.

Implications for Christology and Soteriology

Strong’s 310 encapsulates the paradox of the cross: the Messiah’s seeming abandonment is the very means of reconciliation. The loud cry is simultaneously a declaration of forsakenness and a proclamation of faith in the Father’s redemptive plan, anchoring doctrines of atonement, propitiation, and covenant fulfillment.

Conclusion

The solitary occurrence of Strong’s Greek 310 focuses attention on the decisive moment of salvation history. More than an emotional outburst, it is a prophetic, theological, and pastoral beacon that illumines the depth of Christ’s suffering and the certainty of God’s redemptive purpose.

Forms and Transliterations
αναβοήσαι αναβοήσαν αναβοήσας αναβοήσετε αναβοήσης αναβόησον ανεβόησα ανεβοήσαμεν ανεβόησαν ανεβόησε ανεβόησεν ανεβόων
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