Lexical Summary aniémi: To let go, to release, to relax, to give up Original Word: ἀνίημι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance forbear, give up, loosen. From ana and hiemi (to send); to let up, i.e. (literally) slacken or (figuratively) desert, desist from -- forbear, leave, loose. see GREEK ana HELPS Word-studies 447 aníēmi (from 303 /aná, "up" and 2447 /iós, "send") – properly, send up so as to loosen; let go ("sink"); fail to uphold; to desert (abandon), especially what has already been trusted or embraced. (Note the process implied with the prefix, ana.) NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ana and hiémi (to send) Definition to send up, produce, send back NASB Translation desert (1), give (1), loosening (1), unfastened (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 447: ἀνίημιἀνίημι (participle plural ἀνιέντες); 2 aorist subjunctive ἄνω, participle plural ἀνέντες; 1 aorist passive ἀνέθην; to send back; to relax; contextually, to loosen: τί, Acts 16:26 (τούς δεσμούς, Plutarch, Alex. M. 73); Acts 27:40. Tropically, τήν ἀπειλήν, to give up, omit, calm (?), Ephesians 6:9; (τήν ἔχθραν, Thucydides 3, 10; τήν ὀργήν, Plutarch, Alex. M. 70). to leave, not to uphold, to let sink: Hebrews 13:5, (Deuteronomy 31:6). Topical Lexicon Entry: ἀνίημι (Strong’s Greek 447) Semantic Range and Contextual Nuance The verb expresses the idea of releasing or letting go. In the New Testament it can describe (1) a physical loosening, (2) the surrender of a threatening or oppressive posture, and (3) the negated assurance that God will never “let go” of His people. In every instance the term highlights a decisive transition—either from captivity to liberty, menace to mercy, or uncertainty to steadfast security. Occurrences in Scripture • Acts 16:26 – “Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” Here the word depicts the literal falling away of shackles, portraying divine intervention that liberates those who trust in Christ. • Acts 27:40 – “After cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea…” The sailors relinquish their last human safeguards, yielding themselves to providence. The image of abandoned anchors contrasts human self-reliance with complete dependence on God during crisis. • Ephesians 6:9 – “And masters, do the same to them. Give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” Paul calls believing slave-owners to relinquish intimidation. The gospel breaks social hostility by commanding those in authority to surrender coercive tactics, reflecting the Lord’s own gentle rule. • Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” A double negative intensifies the promise: God will never “let go” or relax His grasp. The verb’s rare positive sense elsewhere (releasing chains or anchors) is here negated to stress His irrevocable commitment. Historical and Cultural Background In the Greco-Roman world, prisons were secured with iron fetters fastened to stone; a miraculous unfastening (Acts 16) would have been recognized as unmistakably supernatural. Maritime practice relied on multiple anchors; discarding them in a storm (Acts 27) signified a desperate but necessary choice to entrust one’s fate to higher powers. Household codes of the era granted masters unrestricted power, yet Ephesians confronts that norm, insisting that Christian authority relinquish threats. Finally, Hebrews 13 alludes to Deuteronomy 31:6–8, where Moses assures Israel of YHWH’s abiding presence; the writer applies the same covenant faithfulness to believers under the New Covenant. Theological Themes 1. Divine Deliverance – God can instantly loose what human power keeps bound (Acts 16). Pastoral and Practical Implications • Bondage, whether literal or spiritual, yields to the Lord’s liberating word; prayer and praise remain powerful instruments of freedom. Christological and Redemptive Significance Jesus embodies both aspects of ἀνίημι: He releases captives (Luke 4:18) and simultaneously vows never to release those given to Him (John 10:28). At the cross He loosed believers from sin’s chains, and in resurrection He secured them forever, fulfilling the paradox of a Savior who both frees and holds fast. Conclusion Strong’s 447 accents moments of decisive release and irreversible security. Whether unshackling prisoners, casting off final anchors, abolishing threats, or assuring perpetual presence, Scripture weaves a consistent message: the God who sets free is the God who never lets go. Forms and Transliterations ανεθη ανέθη ἀνέθη ανειμένα ανειμέναι ανειμένης ανειμένον ανείς ανείται ανεντες ανέντες ἀνέντες άνες ανή ανήκα ανήκε ανήσει ανήσεις ανήσω ανιεντες ανιέντες ἀνιέντες ανω ἀνῶ ανώμεν anentes anéntes anethe anethē anéthe anéthē anientes aniéntes ano anô anō anō̂Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 16:26 V-AIP-3SGRK: τὰ δεσμὰ ἀνέθη NAS: and everyone's chains were unfastened. KJV: every one's bands were loosed. INT: the chains were loosed Acts 27:40 V-APA-NMP Ephesians 6:9 V-PPA-NMP Hebrews 13:5 V-ASA-1S Strong's Greek 447 |
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