ἀναζώννυμι
anazṓnnymi
G328 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To gird oneself up, to fasten a garment or belt around oneself in preparation for activity or movement. The primary sense is to secure one's clothing—particularly by tightening or tying up the belt or sash—so as to be ready for action, travel, or work. Extended metaphorically, it can refer to a state of readiness, alertness, or preparedness for a task or challenge.
Semantic Range
to gird oneself up; to tie up or secure a garment or belt; to prepare oneself for action; to become ready or alert for a task
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἀνά (up, again) and the verb ζώννυμι (to gird, to tie around with a belt). The compound emphasizes the idea of girding up or around, possibly in the sense of renewing or repeating the action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ζώννυμι refers broadly to the action of girding or fastening a belt or sash, often associated with preparing for travel, battle, or physical activity. The prefix ἀνά in ἀναζώννυμι tends to intensify the action, meaning 'to gird up' or 'to gird anew'. In the Koine period, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the phrase 'gird up one's loins' (ζώννυμι τὰς ὀσφύας) became idiomatic for preparing oneself for action or duty, both physically and figuratively (cf. 1 Peter 1:13). The verb ἀναζώννυμι appears in contexts emphasizing urgent readiness or the necessity to set aside encumbrances for the sake of focused effort. English translations often render it as 'gird up', but this loses the literal sense of the physical act and the culturally specific imagery. The concept is rooted in the clothing practices of the ancient eastern Mediterranean, where long robes needed to be gathered up for ease of movement. LXX usage retains this concrete sense. The term should be distinguished from similar verbs lacking the prefix, which may not carry the connotation of preparatory urgency.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀνά and ζώννυμι; to gird afresh:--gird up.
Root Family
ἀναζώννυμι (anazōnnymi) — to gird, tie around, fasten a belt, prepare for action
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G328-01 |
ἀναζωσάμενοι | anazosamenoi | V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL |
gird up | having girded themselves up | having girded yourselves up | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G328-01 |
1 Peter 1:13 | ἀναζωσάμενοι | anazosamenoi | V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL |
gird up | having girded themselves up | having girded yourselves up |