ἀναφέρω
anaphérō
G399 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To carry or bring up to a higher place, to lead upward; in extension, to offer up (especially in cultic or ritual contexts), to present, to report or relate (information). The primary sense is physical movement upward, but in literary and religious contexts, it often means to bring an offering or to present something for approval or acceptance.
Semantic Range
to carry or bring something upward, to lead up (a person or thing), to offer up (especially as a sacrifice or gift), to present for acceptance or consideration, to report or bring information up (to an authority)
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἀνά ('up, upwards') and the verb φέρω ('to bear, carry, bring'), thus literally 'to carry up.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἀναφέρω is attested in reference to lifting or bringing something to a higher place (e.g., physically carrying something upstairs or to a temple), as well as presenting offerings to deities (with the cultic sense especially common in religious texts). In the Septuagint and New Testament, it frequently refers to bringing sacrifices or offerings to a sacred place, emphasizing both the physical action and the ritual meaning. The metaphorical sense of 'relating' or 'reporting' (i.e., carrying information up to an authority) is also found, especially in administrative or judicial contexts. In translation, 'offer up' captures the cultic sense but can obscure the primary physical and spatial sense still present in Greek usage. Related words include προσφέρω (to bring to, to offer), which often overlaps in ritual contexts but stresses direction more than elevation. The dual literal and figurative dimensions of ἀναφέρω should be recognized for accurate interpretation.
Translation Consistency
Anaphérō's primary sense is to carry or lead upward, and 'bring' naturally covers physical movement upward while also fitting ritual contexts ('bring an offering') and reporting ('bring news/report to someone'). 'Bring' is the most flexible, natural English choice that preserves the typical usages across the semantic range better than the more cult-specific 'offer.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀνά and φέρω; to take up (literally or figuratively):--bear, bring (carry, lead) up, offer (up).
Root Family
ἀναφέρω (anapherō) — carry up, bring up, lead upward, offer up, present
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G399-01 |
ἀναφέρει | anapherei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
brings | carries up | brings up | 2 |
G399-05 |
ἀνενέγκας | anenegkas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having offered | having carried up | having brought up | 2 |
G399-04 |
ἀνενέγκαι | anenegkai | V AOR ACT INF |
to offer up | to carry up | to offer up | 1 |
G399-03 |
ἀναφέρωμεν | anapheromen | V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL |
let us offer | let us carry up | let us offer up | 1 |
G399-06 |
ἀνενεγκεῖν | anenegkein | V AOR ACT INF |
to bear | to carry up | to carry up | 1 |
G399-07 |
ἀνήνεγκεν | anenegken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
bore | he brought up | he brought up | 1 |
G399-08 |
ἀνεφέρετο | anephereto | V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG |
was carried up | was being carried up | was being carried up | 1 |
G399-02 |
ἀναφέρειν | anapherein | V PRS ACT INF |
to offer up | to carry up | to offer | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G399-01 |
Matthew 17:1 | ἀναφέρει | anapherei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
brings | carries up | brings up |
G399-01 |
Mark 9:2 | ἀναφέρει | anapherei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
led | carries up | brings up |
G399-08 |
Luke 24:51 | ἀνεφέρετο | anephereto | V IMPF PASS IND 3P SG |
was carried up | was being carried up | was being carried up |
G399-02 |
Hebrews 7:27 | ἀναφέρειν | anapherein | V PRS ACT INF |
to offer up | to carry up | to offer |
G399-05 |
Hebrews 7:27 | ἀνενέγκας | anenegkas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having offered up | having carried up | having offered |
G399-06 |
Hebrews 9:28 | ἀνενεγκεῖν | anenegkein | V AOR ACT INF |
to bear | to carry up | to carry up |
G399-03 |
Hebrews 13:15 | ἀναφέρωμεν | anapheromen | V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL |
let us offer | let us carry up | let us offer up |
G399-05 |
James 2:21 | ἀνενέγκας | anenegkas | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
having offered | having carried up | having brought up |
G399-04 |
1 Peter 2:5 | ἀνενέγκαι | anenegkai | V AOR ACT INF |
to offer up | to carry up | to offer up |
G399-07 |
1 Peter 2:24 | ἀνήνεγκεν | anenegken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
bore | he brought up | he brought up |