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ἀνά

aná

G303 adverb

SILEX Entry

Root ἀν- up, upon, each (distribution), again (repetition/renewal)

Definition

A preposition and adverb denoting upward direction or movement, both literally (up, upwards) and figuratively (higher position, increase, elevation). As a preposition it can indicate distribution ('each', 'apiece'), succession, or relation to a point of origin (e.g., 'upon', 'throughout'). In some contexts, it intensifies or conveys repetition when used as a prefix in compounds.

Semantic Range

up, upwards, on, upon, along, throughout, among, per (in distributions), each, apiece, in succession, again (in repetition), intensely (in compounds)

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root ἀν- / ἀνά-, related to an early Indo-European preposition meaning 'up' or 'on', closely paralleled by Sanskrit 'âná', Latin 'an', and Old English 'on/ana'. The form is archaic and has persisted in Greek both as a preposition and as a prefix.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἀνά was used primarily with the accusative case to indicate direction (motion 'up' or 'upon'), position ('on top of'), or distribution ('each', 'apiece'). In literary texts it could mean 'upwards', 'along', or 'throughout'. In the Septuagint and New Testament, its distributive sense becomes more prominent (e.g., 'ἀνὰ μέσον' – 'in the midst', 'ἀνὰ δύο' – 'two by two'). As a prefix in compounds (e.g., ἀναβαίνω, 'to go up'; ἀναγιγνώσκω, 'to read aloud'), it expresses movement upwards, repetition, or intensity. English translations often reduce its nuance, sometimes rendering it unmarked ('each', 'every'), whereas the Greek retains a spatial, distributive, or intensifying sense. The prepositional use is always with the accusative in later Greek; with older dialects, association with other cases is attested but rare by the Koine period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary preposition and adverb; properly, up; but (by extension) used (distributively) severally, or (locally) at (etc.):--and, apiece, by, each, every (man), in, through. In compounds (as a prefix) it often means (by implication) repetition, intensity, reversal, etc.

Root Family

ἀνά (aná) — up, upon, each (distribution), again (repetition/renewal)

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G303-01 ἀνὰ ana PREP ACC by up 12

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G303-01 Matthew 13:25 ἀνὰ ana PREP ACC up
G303-01 Matthew 20:9 ἀνὰ ana ADV up
G303-01 Matthew 20:10 ἀνὰ ana ADV up
G303-01 Mark 7:31 ἀνὰ ana PREP ACC through up
G303-01 Luke 9:14 ἀνὰ ana ADV by up
G303-01 Luke 10:1 ἀνὰ ana ADV by up
G303-01 John 2:6 ἀνὰ ana ADV each up
G303-01 1 Corinthians 6:5 ἀνὰ ana PREP ACC between up
G303-01 1 Corinthians 14:27 ἀνὰ ana ADV in turn up
G303-01 Revelation 4:8 ἀνὰ ana ADV up
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