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ἀνακλίνω

anaklínō

G347 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To cause to recline or lie back (as on a couch or at table); more broadly, to make someone recline, especially in the context of formal dining or resting. The primary sense is to position someone so that they are lying or reclining, particularly for dining in the Greco-Roman style. The term can also denote the act of reclining oneself or being made to recline, commonly used for guests at a meal.

Semantic Range

to cause to recline (at a meal), to lay down, to make someone lie back, to seat in a reclining posture, to have guests recline at table, to lay oneself down, to be positioned for rest or dining

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἀνά ('up, again, back') and the verb κλίνω ('to bend, incline, cause to lie down'). The compound suggests the idea of leaning back or causing to be laid up or reclined.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἀνακλίνω describes the physical act of causing someone to recline or lie down, used with objects (such as couches or bodies) or persons. By the Hellenistic period and in the New Testament, it most frequently appears in meal contexts, referring specifically to arranging or positioning guests to recline at table, as was customary at formal banquets. Reclining at meals was typical for free men in the Greco-Roman world, signifying a position of social status (contrast with sitting or standing during meals). In the New Testament (e.g., Mark 6:39, Luke 7:36), ἀνακλίνω describes Jesus' instruction to have crowds recline on the grass in preparation for eating, or guests reclining at meals with a host. The English translation 'sit down' or 'table' sometimes does not convey the cultural practice of reclining while dining. Unlike everyday sitting, ἀνακλίνω references participation in a communal, sometimes ritualized meal. The passive form is also used for the act of guests being caused to recline, emphasizing the host's action. Differentiates from κατακλίνω, which more strongly emphasizes the act of lying down or being positioned to lie down rather than the dining context. The term is rare in the Septuagint, but common in the New Testament for describing banquet settings. Later translations that simply render it as 'sit down' risk flattening the social and cultural context.

Translation Consistency

primary "recline" 5 occurrences

Matches the primary sense—positioning someone to lie back (especially at a meal)—and naturally covers both causative and intransitive uses. ‘Recline’ is specific and avoids the lay/lie ambiguity of ‘lay’ or ‘lie,’ making it the clearest, most consistent choice for all forms of G347.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"laid" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀνά and κλίνω; to lean back:--lay, (make) sit down.

Root Family

ἀνακλίνω (anaklinō) — incline, bend, lay down, cause to recline

Root κλίν- to incline, to bend, to lay down

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G347-04 ἀνακλιθήσονται anaklithesontai V FUT PASS IND 3P PL they will recline they will be made to recline they will recline 2
G347-05 ἀνέκλινεν aneklinen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG laid he made recline she laid 1
G347-03 ἀνακλιθῆναι anaklithenai V AOR PASS INF to sit down to be made to recline to recline 1
G347-02 ἀνακλινεῖ anaklinei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will have them recline he/she/it will cause to recline he will cause to recline 1
G347-01 ἀνακλῖναι anaklinai V AOR ACT INF to make sit down to cause to recline to cause to recline 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G347-04 Matthew 8:11 ἀνακλιθήσονται anaklithesontai V FUT PASS IND 3P PL will recline they will be made to recline they will recline
G347-03 Matthew 14:19 ἀνακλιθῆναι anaklithenai V AOR PASS INF to sit down to be made to recline to recline
G347-01 Mark 6:39 ἀνακλῖναι anaklinai V AOR ACT INF to make sit down to cause to recline to cause to recline
G347-05 Luke 2:7 ἀνέκλινεν aneklinen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG laid he made recline she laid
G347-02 Luke 12:37 ἀνακλινεῖ anaklinei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will have them recline he/she/it will cause to recline he will cause to recline
G347-04 Luke 13:29 ἀνακλιθήσονται anaklithesontai V FUT PASS IND 3P PL they will recline they will be made to recline they will recline
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