ἀναβολή
anabolḗ
G311 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The act or instance of postponement; a deferral or adjournment of an event, action, or decision. In various Koine contexts, ἀναβολή refers specifically to the act of delaying or putting something off to a later time, such as a judicial proceeding or other scheduled event. It can also signal the granting of a respite or temporary suspension.
Semantic Range
a putting off, delay, adjournment, postponement, grant of time, suspension; specifically in legal or formal contexts, a granted delay or stay
Root / Etymology
From the verb ἀναβάλλομαι (to put off, to postpone), itself formed from ἀνά ('up, back') + βάλλω ('to throw'). ἀναβολή is a noun derived via the suffix -ή indicating action or result. It is not a classical Greek noun but arises in later (post-classical and Koine) usages.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, the verb ἀναβάλλω means 'to throw up' or 'to put off, delay,' and the noun ἀναβολή is rare in earlier literature, becoming more common in post-classical and Koine Greek, where it appears in legal and administrative contexts for postponements, adjournments, or delays—often of formal proceedings. In the New Testament, ἀναβολή occurs in Acts 25:17, where it refers to the 'delay' of legal proceedings. The standard English translation 'delay' is typically adequate, but it should be noted that the word carries a formal shade of meaning, often referring to an officially granted postponement rather than casual tardiness. In non-biblical Koine Greek, ἀναβολή may also refer to a tactical military delay or a postponement of an assembly. The noun rarely appears in the Septuagint but is attested in later Greek documentary papyri. Its meaning remains stable as a technical term for a legal or scheduled deferral.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀναβάλλομαι; a putting off:--delay.
Root Family
ἀναβολή (anabolē) — putting off, postponement, adjournment, granted delay
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G311-01 |
ἀναβολὴν | anabolen | N ACC F SG |
delay | a postponement | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G311-01 |
Acts 25:17 | ἀναβολὴν | anabolen | N ACC F SG |
delay | a postponement |