ἀνάγω
anágō
G321 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To lead or bring up from a lower to a higher place, either physically (e.g., from land up to a higher elevation, from inland to a coast, or from below decks on a ship to above), or in a transferred sense (to bring forth, lead out, or bring before). In nautical contexts, specifically, to set out to sea, launch a ship, or put out from harbor. Occasionally used metaphorically or in ritual settings for bringing up or offering (such as a sacrifice).
Semantic Range
to lead up, to bring up, to bring forth, to bring before, to launch (a ship), to set sail, to depart (by ship), to offer (in sacrifice), to take up, to put out to sea
Root / Etymology
From ἀνά (up, upwards) + ἄγω (to lead, to bring). The compound stresses directional or upward movement or transition, whether physical or figurative.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀνάγω is most often used for leading or bringing someone or something up—either to higher ground, out from a place, or forth into public view. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the term develops a specialised nautical usage: to bring a ship out to sea (i.e., "launch," "set sail," or "put out"). This maritime sense is frequent in the New Testament (Acts 13:13, 16:11, etc.) and in the Septuagint, where it can refer both to physical departure (e.g., embarking from a port) and to more figurative acts of leading up or bringing forth. In ritual or sacrificial contexts, ἀνάγω is sometimes used for 'bringing up' an offering, in line with the Israelite and later Judean priestly language. English Bible translations vary: some render ἀνάγω as 'bring up,' 'lead up,' or 'set sail' according to context; the nautical meaning, in particular, is generally translated as 'sail' or 'launch.' The term should not be confused with ἐξάγω ('to lead out') which emphasizes outward, not upward, movement.
Translation Consistency
“Bring” naturally covers the primary physical sense (bring/bring up from lower to higher) and the transferred senses (bring forth, bring before, offer). It’s the most flexible, common, and natural English verb that fits sacrificial, legal, and nautical contexts when rendered consistently across all forms of G321, more so than the narrower alternatives like “lead” or “set.”
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀνά and ἄγω; to lead up; by extension to bring out; specially, to sail away:--bring (again, forth, up again), depart, launch (forth), lead (up), loose, offer, sail, set forth, take up.
Root Family
ἀνάγω (anagō) — to lead, to bring, to lead up, to bring up
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G321-08 |
ἀνήχθημεν | anechthemen | V AOR PASS IND 1P PL |
we set sail | we were led up | we set sail | 4 |
G321-10 |
ἀνήγαγον | anegagon | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
they brought | they led up | they brought up | 3 |
G321-02 |
ἀναχθέντες | anachthentes | V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
having set sail | having been led up | having been brought out to sea | 3 |
G321-04 |
ἀναγαγὼν | anagagon | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
brought up | having led up | having brought up | 3 |
G321-07 |
ἀνήχθη | anechthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
he set sail | was led up | he set sail | 2 |
G321-01 |
ἀναχθῆναι | anachthenai | V AOR PASS INF |
to depart | to be led up | to set sail | 2 |
G321-05 |
ἀνάγεσθαι | anagesthai | V PRS PASS INF |
to sail | to be led up | to set sail | 2 |
G321-03 |
ἀναγαγεῖν | anagagein | V AOR ACT INF |
to bring | to lead up | to bring up | 2 |
G321-09 |
ἀνήχθησαν | anechthesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
they launched out | they were led up | they set sail | 1 |
G321-06 |
ἀναγομένοις | anagomenois | V PRS PASS PTCP DAT M PL |
when we were sailing | to those being led up | as we were being led up | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
23 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G321-07 |
Matthew 4:1 | ἀνήχθη | anechthe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was led up | was led up | he was brought up |
G321-10 |
Luke 2:22 | ἀνήγαγον | anegagon | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
they brought | they led up | they brought up |
G321-04 |
Luke 4:5 | ἀναγαγὼν | anagagon | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having led up | having led up | having brought up |
G321-09 |
Luke 8:22 | ἀνήχθησαν | anechthesan | V AOR PASS IND 3P PL |
they launched out | they were led up | they set sail |
G321-10 |
Acts 7:41 | ἀνήγαγον | anegagon | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
brought | they led up | they brought up |
G321-10 |
Acts 9:39 | ἀνήγαγον | anegagon | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
they brought | they led up | they brought up |
G321-03 |
Acts 12:4 | ἀναγαγεῖν | anagagein | V AOR ACT INF |
to bring | to lead up | to bring up |
G321-02 |
Acts 13:13 | ἀναχθέντες | anachthentes | V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
having set sail | having been led up | having been brought out to sea |
G321-02 |
Acts 16:11 | ἀναχθέντες | anachthentes | V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL |
having set sail | having been led up | having been brought out to sea |
G321-04 |
Acts 16:34 | ἀναγαγών | anagagon | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having brought | having led up | having brought up |