ἀνασκευάζω
anaskeuázō
G384 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To pack up goods or baggage (especially for departure, as in dismantling a dwelling); to cause to be removed or disrupted, and by extension, to overturn or subvert (as in upending established things, orders, or teachings). The term primarily refers to the literal act of collecting and preparing belongings for removal, but develops a metaphorical sense in Hellenistic and later contexts, especially meaning to disturb, unsettle, or cause upheaval, whether of physical things or abstract (such as teachings, beliefs, or communities).
Semantic Range
to pack up (baggage or belongings), to dismantle or remove (equipment or dwelling), to subvert or upset (figuratively: teachings, beliefs, minds), to cause disturbance or upheaval
Root / Etymology
From ἀνά (meaning 'up' or 'again', often implying repetition or reversal) and σκευάζω ('to prepare, to pack equipment or baggage'), which itself is derived from σκεῦος ('vessel, implement, equipment, baggage'). Hence, 'to pack up again, to dismantle.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In earlier Greek usage (classical, 4th–3rd centuries BCE), ἀνασκευάζω primarily refers to the action of packing up one's possessions, especially when preparing for departure (e.g., after being defeated or expelled). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the New Testament (Acts 15:24), the verb extends its meaning metaphorically: to overturn, unsettle, or subvert (especially in the context of disturbing or unsettling minds, as with teachings that undermine stability in a community). The sense of 'subvert' is therefore a metaphorical extension from 'dismantling' material things to 'upsetting' established beliefs or order. English translations often render the metaphorical use as 'disturb', 'unsettle', or 'subvert', but the imagery is of packing up one's grounds—removing stability, foundational order, or certainty. The term is relatively rare in both literary and documentary Greek and is often context-dependent; other verbs may be used for 'to overturn' in more physical senses (e.g., καταστρέφω), while ἀνασκευάζω retains a nuance of 'removal' or 'disbanding.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀνά (in the sense of reversal) and a derivative of σκεῦος; properly, to pack up (baggage), i.e. (by implication, and figuratively) to upset:--subvert.
Root Family
ἀνασκευάζω (anaskeuazō) — to pack, to prepare, to equip; to dismantle, to upset
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G384-01 |
ἀνασκευάζοντες | anaskeuazontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
subverting | dismantling | subverting | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G384-01 |
Acts 15:24 | ἀνασκευάζοντες | anaskeuazontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
subverting | dismantling | subverting |