Lexical Summary anatrephó: To bring up, to rear, to nourish Original Word: ἀνατρέφω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bring up, nourish. From ana and trepho; to rear (physically or mentally) -- bring up, nourish (up). see GREEK ana see GREEK trepho NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ana and trephó Definition to nurse up, nourish NASB Translation brought (1), nurtured (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 397: ἀνατρέφωἀνατρέφω: 2 aorist passive ἀνετράφην; perfect passive participle ἀνατεθραμμένος; 1 aorist middle ἀνεθρεψάμην; to nurse up, nourish up (German aufnähren,auffüttern); properly, of young children and animals nourished to promote their growth (Xenophon, mem. 4, 3, 10, etc.; Wis. 7:4); to bring up: Luke 4:16 T WH marginal reading; Acts 7:20f; with the predominant idea of forming the mind, Acts 22:3 (4 Macc. 10:2, and often in Greek writings). Cf. Winer's De verb. comp. etc. Part iii., p. 4. Topical Lexicon Overview The verb behind Strong’s Greek 397 denotes the act of nurturing a child to maturity, whether physically, educationally, or socially. In the New Testament it appears only three times, all in the Book of Acts, and each setting highlights the hand of God in shaping key servants for His redemptive purposes. Occurrences in Acts 1. Acts 7:20 – Stephen recounts that Moses “was nurtured for three months in his father’s house”. The term frames Moses’ earliest days as a time of parental care under God’s watchful eye. Divine Providence in Upbringing Each occurrence pairs human nurture with God’s sovereign plan: In both men, upbringing becomes a vehicle of divine calling, demonstrating that seemingly ordinary stages of development fit into an extraordinary, pre-ordained mission. Educational and Cultural Formation The verb encompasses intellectual formation as well as physical care. Paul’s phrase “educated at the feet of Gamaliel” shows that nurture in first-century Judaism embraced systematic instruction in Scripture and tradition. This echoes the Old Testament mandate: “These words that I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts… teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Thus Acts 22:3 portrays faithful transmission of covenant truth, even in a period marked by varied theological currents. Old Testament Roots of the Theme The idea of bringing up or nourishing links to the Hebrew Scriptures: Such episodes anticipate the Acts narratives, showing a consistent biblical pattern in which God uses protective nurturing to preserve future deliverers. Christological Parallels Moses’ dual nurture—first in his parents’ house, then in Pharaoh’s—foreshadows Jesus Christ’s own safeguarded infancy: “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt” (Matthew 2:13). In both cases, Gentile territory unexpectedly shelters the redeemer of God’s people. The Acts usage therefore invites readers to see continuity between Moses, Paul, and ultimately Christ, each prepared through providential care for revelatory ministry. Implications for Christian Discipleship 1. Value of Early Formation: The biblical witness affirms the significance of godly nurture from infancy. Proverbs 22:6 instructs, “Train up a child in the way he should go,” a principle visibly at work in Moses and Paul. Historical Background • Family Life: First-century Jewish households bore primary responsibility for a child’s physical and spiritual welfare. Early nurturing included memorization of Torah, participation in festivals, and apprenticeship. Theology of Nurture and Mission Scripture consistently presents nurture as a partnership: parents, mentors, and civil authorities exert influence, but God directs outcomes (Psalm 127:1). The Acts passages reinforce that upbringing is neither incidental nor merely human; it is a means by which the Lord equips His servants, sometimes through unlikely channels, for roles in salvation history. Pastoral Application Churches and families are urged to: Conclusion Strong’s Greek 397 encapsulates more than the physical act of rearing; it signals God’s purposeful shaping of lives for His glory. From a Hebrew infant afloat on the Nile to a zealous Pharisee schooled in Jerusalem, Scripture testifies that those whom God “brings up” He also sends out, fully equipped for His appointed work. Forms and Transliterations ανατεθραμμενος ανατεθραμμένος ἀνατεθραμμένος ανατροπήν ανεθρεψατο ανεθρέψατο ἀνεθρέψατο ανετραφη ανετράφη ἀνετράφη anatethrammenos anatethramménos anethrepsato anethrépsato anetraphe anetraphē anetráphe anetráphēLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 7:20 V-AIP-3SGRK: θεῷ ὃς ἀνετράφη μῆνας τρεῖς NAS: of God, and he was nurtured three KJV: fair, and nourished up in his INT: to God who was brought up months three Acts 7:21 V-AIM-3S Acts 22:3 V-RPM/P-NMS Strong's Greek 397 |
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