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ἀνακρίνω

anakrínō

G350 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To examine or investigate critically; to subject to close inquiry or questioning. The verb denotes the act of carefully considering, interrogating, or evaluating, whether facts, persons, or doctrinal claims. It can refer to legal proceedings (to conduct a hearing or preliminary trial), to careful discernment of right and wrong, or to the process of in-depth inquiry for the sake of judgment or clarification.

Semantic Range

to conduct a judicial inquiry, to interrogate (formally), to examine evidence or persons, to discern critically, to investigate for authenticity or truth, to distinguish through careful scrutiny, to evaluate or appraise closely

Root / Etymology

ἀνακρίνω is formed from ἀνά ('up, again, thoroughly') and κρίνω ('to judge, decide, separate'). The compound thus intensifies the notion of judging or scrutinizing, indicating a thorough or repeated process of investigation. The term is classical in origin and continues unchanged from earlier Greek into the Koine period.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀνακρίνω is used for judicial hearings—"to examine a person or matter critically, to hold an inquiry, to interrogate." In the Hellenistic and Koine eras (including the Septuagint and New Testament), the word expands its range to intellectual, spiritual, and ethical scrutiny: evaluating teachings, discerning authenticity, or making distinctions. In judicial contexts, it can denote the questioning of witnesses or defendants before a trial (e.g., preliminary hearing), as seen in Acts. In Paul's writings, the term is also used metaphorically for spiritual discernment—careful evaluation of spiritual matters or persons. English translations often vary between 'examine,' 'judge,' 'question,' and 'discern,' but the underlying sense is rigorous investigation or assessment. It is stronger than simply 'to ask' and implies a standard of inquiry or testing. Related terms include διακρίνω (to distinguish, decide) and κρίνω (to judge, decide), but ἀνακρίνω emphasizes inquiry and critical examination as a process.

Translation Consistency

primary "examine" 10 occurrences

“Examine” best captures the typical range of anakrínō: careful inquiry, critical scrutiny, judicial investigation, and interrogation. It is a natural, versatile English verb that covers legal proceedings, testing authenticity, and discerning truth without the narrower connotations of “question” or the heavier formality of “investigate.” Using “examine” ensures consistent, idiomatic renderings across all forms.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"scrutinized" (4x) "questioning" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀνά and κρίνω; properly, to scrutinize, i.e. (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine:--ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search.

Root Family

ἀνακρίνω (anakrinō) — examine, question, judge, scrutinize

Root κριν- to examine, to question, to judge, to scrutinize

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G350-04 ἀνακρίνεται anakrinetai V PRS PASS IND 3P SG is judged is being scrutinized is being scrutinized 3
G350-08 ἀνακρίνοντες anakrinontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL questioning thoroughly examining questioning 3
G350-02 ἀνακρίνας anakrinas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having examined having thoroughly examined having examined 3
G350-07 ἀνακρίνων anakrinon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG who examines examining examining 1
G350-06 ἀνακρινόμεθα anakrinometha V PRS PASS IND 1P PL are examined we were being scrutinized we are being scrutinized 1
G350-01 ἀνακρίναντές anakrinantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL had examined having thoroughly examined having thoroughly examined 1
G350-05 ἀνακρίνω anakrino V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I judge I thoroughly examine I examine 1
G350-09 ἀνακρίνουσίν anakrinousin V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL examine to those examining thoroughly examining thoroughly 1
G350-03 ἀνακρίνει anakrinei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG judges thoroughly examines thoroughly examines 1
G350-10 ἀνακριθῶ anakritho V AOR PASS SUBJ 1P SG I should be judged I might be scrutinized I should be examined 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G350-02 Luke 23:14 ἀνακρίνας anakrinas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having examined having thoroughly examined having examined
G350-06 Acts 4:9 ἀνακρινόμεθα anakrinometha V PRS PASS IND 1P PL are examined we were being scrutinized we are being scrutinized
G350-02 Acts 12:19 ἀνακρίνας anakrinas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having examined having thoroughly examined having examined
G350-08 Acts 17:11 ἀνακρίνοντες anakrinontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL examining thoroughly examining thoroughly examining
G350-02 Acts 24:8 ἀνακρίνας anakrinas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having examined having thoroughly examined having examined
G350-01 Acts 28:18 ἀνακρίναντές anakrinantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL had examined having thoroughly examined having thoroughly examined
G350-04 1 Corinthians 2:14 ἀνακρίνεται anakrinetai V PRS PASS IND 3P SG are discerned is being scrutinized is being scrutinized
G350-03 1 Corinthians 2:15 ἀνακρίνει anakrinei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG judges thoroughly examines thoroughly examines
G350-04 1 Corinthians 2:15 ἀνακρίνεται anakrinetai V PRS PASS IND 3P SG is judged is being scrutinized is being scrutinized
G350-10 1 Corinthians 4:3 ἀνακριθῶ anakritho V AOR PASS SUBJ 1P SG I should be judged I might be scrutinized I should be examined
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