ἀνατρέφω
anatréphō
G397 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To rear or bring up, emphasizing the process of nourishing, educating, or caring for someone (especially a child or young person) during their formative years. The term encompasses both physical nourishment and care as well as the cultivation of character or mind, depending on context. It can refer to raising, nurturing, bringing up, or educating.
Semantic Range
to rear, to bring up, to nurture, to foster, to raise (physically, mentally, or morally); to care for (in the sense of training or upbringing)
Root / Etymology
From ἀνά (up, again) and τρέφω (to feed, to nourish, to rear). The prefix ἀνά adds a sense of 'upward' or 'again', intensifying the base idea of nourishment or growth.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἀνατρέφω is found primarily in Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and the New Testament, in contexts describing the upbringing or nurture of children by caregivers, whether parents or guardians. While τρέφω alone can mean to feed, nourish, or maintain, the compound form ἀνατρέφω stresses the overall process of upbringing—spanning nourishment, protection, and education. In classical Greek, the term is less common than τρέφω but appears in similar contexts. In the LXX and the NT (e.g., Acts 7:20-21; Hebrews 11:23), ἀνατρέφω describes the care and raising of infants or children, sometimes extending metaphorically to the fostering of ideas or customs. English translations often use 'nurture,' 'bring up,' or 'raise,' but may not always reflect the holistic sense of physical and moral development inherent in the Greek. The word contrasts with terms focused solely on physical care (such as ἔκθρεμμα, orphan or foundling), emphasizing guidance and rearing beyond mere sustenance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀνά and τρέφω; to rear (physically or mentally):--bring up, nourish (up).
Root Family
ἀνατρέφω (anatrephō) — to nourish, to rear, to bring up
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G397-01 |
ἀνατεθραμμένος | anatethrammenos | V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG |
brought up | having been reared | 1 |
G397-02 |
ἀνεθρέψατο | anethrepsato | V AOR MID IND 3P SG |
nourished | reared up for himself | 1 |
G397-03 |
ἀνετράφη | anetraphe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was brought up | was reared | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G397-03 |
Acts 7:20 | ἀνετράφη | anetraphe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was brought up | was reared |
G397-02 |
Acts 7:21 | ἀνεθρέψατο | anethrepsato | V AOR MID IND 3P SG |
nourished | reared up for himself |
G397-01 |
Acts 22:3 | ἀνατεθραμμένος | anatethrammenos | V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG |
brought up | having been reared |