Lexical Summary anagnórizó: To recognize, to know again, to identify Original Word: ἀναγνωρίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be made known, make oneself known. Middle voice from ana and gnorizo; to make (oneself) known -- be made known. see GREEK ana see GREEK gnorizo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originanother reading for gnórizó, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 319: ἀναγνωρίζωἀναγνωρίζω: 1 aorist passive ἀνεγνωρίσθην; to recognize: Acts 7:13 (Tr text WH text ἐγνωρίσθη) was recognized by his brethren, cf. Genesis 45:1. (Plato, politic., p. 258 a. ἀναγνωρίζειν τούς συγγενεῖς.) Topical Lexicon Root and Linguistic Background ἀναγνωρίζω combines ἀνά (“again, up, thoroughly”) with γνωρίζω (“make known”). The compound therefore carries the sense of a disclosure that renews or completes knowledge—moving someone from ignorance or partial knowledge to clear recognition. Old Testament Precedent In the Septuagint the verb marks the climactic moment of Genesis 45 when Joseph can no longer conceal his identity: “Then Joseph could no longer restrain himself… and he cried out, ‘Have everyone leave my presence!’ So no one was with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers” (Genesis 45:1, LXX). The revelation resolves years of estrangement, unveiling God’s providential design “to preserve for you a remnant on earth” (Genesis 45:7). The same Greek form appears in 2 Maccabees 6:30, where Eleazar makes known the truth of his convictions even unto death, adding a strand of martyr-witness to the idea of self-disclosure. New Testament Usage Acts 7:13 records the verb’s sole appearance in the New Testament. Stephen, standing before the Sanhedrin, recounts Israel’s history: “On their second visit, Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh” (Acts 7:13). Stephen selects this moment to illustrate a recurring pattern: God raises up a deliverer who is first rejected, later recognized. Historical Setting in Acts Stephen’s speech traces parallel rejections: By invoking ἀναγνωρίζω, Stephen drives home the point that failure to recognize God’s chosen servant leads to national crisis, while recognition opens the door to deliverance. Theological Themes 1. Providence and Disclosure God often works unseen, later unveiling His purposes. Joseph’s account epitomizes Romans 8:28 centuries before Paul wrote it. 2. Reconciliation The verb signals the turning point where separation yields to familial restoration, foreshadowing the gospel’s ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). 3. Recognition of the Deliverer Just as Joseph’s brothers finally “knew” him, faith requires eyes opened to recognize Jesus as Lord (Luke 24:31; John 20:28). 4. Progressive Revelation ἀναγνωρίζω underscores the progressive nature of God’s self-unveiling—from patriarchal narratives to the full revelation in Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2). Christological Foreshadowing Early church writers viewed Joseph as a type of Christ: The moment of “being made known” prefigures the resurrection appearances where Jesus discloses Himself to previously bewildered followers (John 20:19-20). Reconciliation and Providence in Ministry Pastoral counseling, missions, and interpersonal discipleship all encounter broken relationships. ἀναγνωρίζω offers a biblical paradigm for: Related Concepts in Scripture While ἀναγνωρίζω appears only once in the New Testament, several cognate verbs reinforce its themes: Together they portray the movement from hiddenness to revelation, culminating in the unveiling of Jesus Christ at His return (Revelation 1:1). Liturgical and Devotional Use Liturgical readings of Genesis 45 and Acts 7 during Lent or Holy Week highlight God’s redemptive disclosure. Devotionally, believers meditate on times God has “made Himself known” in their own lives, fostering gratitude and renewed commitment. Summary Strong’s Greek 319, ἀναγνωρίζω, encapsulates the pivotal biblical theme of transformative recognition. Rooted in Joseph’s self-disclosure and echoed in Stephen’s proclamation, it invites every generation to see the hand of God at work, to embrace reconciliation, and to recognize the ultimate Deliverer whom God has revealed. Forms and Transliterations ανεγνωρίζετο ανεγνωρίσθηLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 7:13 V-AIP-3SGRK: τῷ δευτέρῳ ἀνεγνωρίσθη Ἰωσὴφ τοῖς INT: the second time was made known Joseph to ἠναγκάσθη — 1 Occ. |
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