Lexical Summary anóthen: from above, again, anew Original Word: ἄνωθεν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance from above, again, from the beginning, the top. From ano; from above; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew -- from above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top. see GREEK ano NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anó Definition from above NASB Translation above (5), again (2), all over (1), beginning (1), long time (1), top (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 509: ἄνωθενἄνωθεν (ἄνω), adverb; a. from above, from a higher place: ἀπό ἄνωθεν (Winer's Grammar, § 50, 7 N. 1), Matthew 27:51 (Tdf. omits ἀπό); Mark 15:38; ἐκ τῶν ἄνωθεν from the upper part, from the top, John 19:23. Often (also in Greek writings) used of things which come from heaven, or from God as dwelling in heaven: John 3:31; John 19:11; James 1:17; James 3:15, 17. b. from the first: Luke 1:3; then, from the beginning on, from the very first: Acts 26:5. Hence, c. anew, over again, indicating repetition (a use somewhat rare, but wrongly denied by many (Meyer among them; cf. his commentary on John and Galatians as below)): John 3:3, 7 ἄνωθεν γεννηθῆναι, where others explain it from above, i. e. from heaven. But, according to this explanation, Nicodemus ought to have wondered how it was possible for anyone to be born from heaven; but this he did not say; (cf. Westcott, Commentary on John, p. 63). Of the repetition of physical birth, we read in Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 1, 13 (14), p. 18 (i., p. 26, Reiff edition) (ἀνδρί) ἔτι τῷ ἔχοντι ἐγκυον γυναῖκα σημαίνει παῖδα αὐτῷ γεννήσεσθαι ὅμοιον κατά πάντα. οὕτω γάρ ἄνωθεν αὐτός δοξειε γέννασθαι; cf. Josephus, Antiquities 1, 18, 3 φιλίαν ἄνωθεν ποιεῖσθαι, where a little before stands πρότερα φιλία; add, Martyr. Polycarp, 1, 1 [ET]; (also Socrates in Stobaeus, flor. cxxiv. 41, iv. 135, Meineke edition (iii. 438, Gaisf. edition); Harpocration, Lex., see under the words, ἀναδικάσασθαι, ἀναθέσθαι, ἀναποδιζομενα, ἀνασυνταξις; Canon. apost. 46 (others 39, Coteler. patr. apost. works, i. 444); Pseudo-Basil, de bapt. 1, 2, 7 (iii. 1537); Origen in Joann. t. xx. c. 12 (works, iv. 322 c. DelaRue). See Abbot, Authorship of the Fourth Gospel, etc. (Boston 1880), p. 34f). πάλιν ἄνωθεν, (on this combination of synonymous words cf. Kühner, § 534, 1; (Jelf, § 777, 1); Grimm on Sap. xix. 5 (6)): Galatians 4:9 (again, since ye were in bondage once before). Ἄνωθεν describes origin, direction, or sequence “from above,” “from the top,” or “from the beginning.” New Testament writers employ the term in three broad ways: (1) heavenly source, (2) vertical direction, and (3) chronological starting-point. Together these uses underscore God’s initiative in revelation, redemption, and daily Christian living. The Heavenly Source of New Birth and Authority John’s Gospel makes ἄνωθεν a cornerstone of his theology of regeneration and Christ’s authority. Pastoral implication: evangelism must press the necessity of a God-wrought birth; civic engagement recognizes but never absolutizes earthly rulers. Divine Intervention at the Cross Matthew 27:51 and Mark 15:38 record that “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top [ἄνωθεν] to bottom.” The deliberate mention of the tear’s starting-point testifies that the breach was God’s act, not human vandalism. The torn veil visualizes Hebrews 10:19-20—free access to the Most Holy Place through the blood of Jesus. Wisdom and Provision “from Above” in James James employs ἄνωθεν to contrast heavenly sufficiency with earthly counterfeit: Chronological Sense: Investigating ‘from the First’ Luke 1:3 – Having traced “everything from the start [ἄνωθεν],” Luke writes an orderly account, grounding faith in carefully researched history. Acts 26:5 – Paul’s opponents “have known me for a long time [ἄνωθεν],” confirming the continuity between his Pharisaic past and apostolic present. Galatians 4:9 – The Galatians risk becoming “enslaved all over again [ἄνωθεν],” a return to pre-conversion bondage. Here the temporal idea warns that legalism reverses gospel progress. The Seamless Tunic: A Symbol of Heaven-Sent Unity John 19:23 describes Christ’s garment woven “from the top [ἄνωθεν] in one piece.” The priestly tunic, undivided, anticipates the church’s unity purchased at the cross (John 17:21; Ephesians 2:14-16). Ministerial Applications 1. Salvation is by divine initiative; preaching must summon hearers to seek the birth “from above.” Summary Across its 13 appearances, ἄνωθεν threads a single truth: God acts first. From the sending of His Son and the granting of new birth, to the tearing of the veil and the giving of wisdom, everything essential to life and godliness descends from the Father of lights. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 27:51 AdvGRK: ἐσχίσθη ἀπ' ἄνωθεν ἕως κάτω NAS: in two from top to bottom; KJV: twain from the top to the bottom; INT: was torn from top to bottom Mark 15:38 Adv Luke 1:3 Adv John 3:3 Adv John 3:7 Adv John 3:31 Adv John 19:11 Adv John 19:23 Adv Acts 26:5 Adv Galatians 4:9 Adv James 1:17 Adv James 3:15 Adv James 3:17 Adv |
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