ἀνακαθίζω

anakathízō

G339 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To cause to sit up, to make someone (or oneself, in the middle voice) rise from a reclined or lying position into a sitting posture; by extension, to regain alertness or return to a seated position from being laid low, often for emphasis on the change of posture or state.

Semantic Range

to cause (someone) to sit up, to make oneself sit up, to rise to a sitting position from lying down, to be restored to alertness or wakefulness

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἀνά (up, again) and καθίζω (to sit, to seat, to cause to sit); meaning 'to cause to sit up' or 'to take a sitting position up (from lying down)'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb ἀνακαθίζω appears infrequently, with its primary attestation in Luke 7:15, where it describes someone sitting up after being previously dead or reclined, emphasizing a sudden change of position and restoration to a living, alert state. The formation is a compound of ἀνά (suggesting motion upwards or again) and καθίζω (to sit), intensifying the notion of transitioning from lying down to sitting up. In medical or healing contexts, it can imply full restoration of vitality or consciousness. The term is rare in Classical Greek but fits within the Koine period's pattern of prefixed compounds to describe nuanced action. English translations such as 'sit up' capture the basic functional meaning but do not always convey the implied restoration or shift in status, which is contextually significant.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀνά and καθίζω; properly, to set up, i.e. (reflexively) to sit up:--sit up.

Root Family

ἀνακαθίζω (anakathizō) — to sit, to seat, to cause to sit up

Root καθιζ- to sit, to seat, to cause to sit

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G339-01 ἀνεκάθισεν anekathisen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG sat up he/she caused to sit up sat up 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G339-01 Luke 7:15 ἀνεκάθισεν anekathisen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG sat up he/she caused to sit up sat up
G339-01 Acts 9:40 ἀνεκάθισεν anekathisen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG sat up he/she caused to sit up she sat up