Lexical Summary anakupto: To lift up, to raise oneself, to stand erect Original Word: ἀνακύπτω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lift up, look up. From ana (in the sense of reversal) and kupto; to unbend, i.e. Rise; figuratively, be elated -- lift up, look up. see GREEK ana see GREEK kupto Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 352: ἀνακύπτωἀνακύπτω: 1 aorist ἀνεκυψα; to raise or lift oneself up; a. one's body: Luke 13:11; John 8:7, 10; (Xenophon, de re equ. 7, 10, elsewhere; the Sept. Job 10:15). b. one's soul: to be elated, exalted: Luke 21:28; (Xenophon, oec. 11, 5; Josephus, b. j. 6, 8, 5, elsewhere). Strong’s Greek 352 portrays the decisive moment when a bowed or stooped person suddenly stands erect or looks up. The verb therefore marks a transition from oppression to freedom, from shame to dignity, or from earth-bound anxiety to heaven-ward hope. Across its four New Testament appearances, the word links physical healing, moral confrontation, and eschatological promise into one coherent testimony of divine redemption. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Luke 13:11 – The bent woman, “could not straighten up at all.” Physical Posture and Restoration (Luke 13:11) For eighteen years the woman was literally folded in half, a living picture of humanity under the crippling weight of sin and satanic bondage. When Jesus touched her, she could immediately stand upright. The verb underscores not only the miracle but also the inauguration of the kingdom: every healing anticipates the complete renewal of creation. Her restored posture testifies that the Messiah reverses the curse announced in Genesis 3:14-19 and fulfills the covenant promise of Leviticus 26:13, “I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk upright.” Christological Significance (John 8:7, 10) John’s narrative alternates between Jesus bending down to write and rising to speak. Each raising underscores His judicial authority and His mediatorial compassion: • Judicial authority: When He “straightened up,” He silenced the self-righteous by exposing their sin. The repeated use of the verb frames the entire scene; the Son of God stands erect where all others slink away, embodying the uprightness demanded by the Law and supplied by grace. Eschatological Hope and Vigilance (Luke 21:28) Jesus’ Olivet discourse commands disciples to “stand up and lift up your heads.” Here the verb is no longer descriptive but imperative, calling believers to hopeful alertness when cosmic turmoil signals His imminent return. The posture of confidence contrasts sharply with the fainting fear of the nations (Luke 21:26). Just as the healed woman’s body was restored and Jesus Himself stood to vindicate the adulteress, so the end-time community will stand unfettered when redemption reaches its climax. Historical and Cultural Background In the ancient Mediterranean world, a bowed back conveyed shame, servitude, or mourning, whereas an erect stance expressed honor and readiness. The verb therefore resonated with a first-century audience accustomed to visible social hierarchies: slaves often moved stooped, while free citizens and soldiers trained to carry themselves upright. By using this vivid term, the Evangelists communicate more than a change of posture; they announce a transfer of status—from bondage to liberty, from accusation to acquittal. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications 1. Healing ministry: Luke 13 encourages prayer for physical and spiritual deliverance, trusting Christ to unbend what years of affliction have twisted. Intercanonical Themes • Covenant deliverance (Leviticus 26:13). Together these texts frame Strong’s 352 as a lyrical shorthand for the whole drama of salvation: God stoops to fallen humanity so that humanity may stand tall before Him forever. Englishman's Concordance Luke 13:11 V-ANAGRK: μὴ δυναμένη ἀνακύψαι εἰς τὸ NAS: and could not straighten up at all. KJV: no wise lift up [herself]. INT: not able to lift up herself to the Luke 21:28 V-AMA-2P John 8:7 V-AIA-3S John 8:10 V-APA-NMS Strong's Greek 352 |
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