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ἀνέρχομαι

anérchomai

G424 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ἀν-ἔρχ- to go, to come, to ascend, to journey upward

Definition

To go up, ascend, or travel upwards (in physical space, elevation, or direction); in broader usage, to journey or travel upward toward a destination (such as a city, festival, or other point of focus). The fundamental sense is physical movement upward or toward a location perceived as higher, but in various contexts can refer to both literal and figurative journeys 'up.' May be used for traveling to prominent places (e.g., Jerusalem) or entering into higher status or state.

Semantic Range

to ascend, to go up, to travel upward, to come up, to return (to a higher place), to enter an elevated location, to advance in status or circumstance

Root / Etymology

A compound verb formed from the preposition ἀνά (up, upward, again) and the verb ἔρχομαι (to come, to go). The construction denotes the sense of movement upwards or towards a higher location or position.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἀνέρχομαι was used for any kind of ascending movement, whether climbing up a physical elevation, returning to a location, or going up to an important civic or cultic site. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term is particularly prominent in connection with travel to Jerusalem or other elevated destinations, reflecting both topographical and cultural conventions (e.g., 'going up' to a city or a festival). Unlike some English translations that render it simply as 'to go,' the Greek preserves the nuance of physical or figurative ascent, which can also imply honor, status, or entering into a more elevated circumstance. In contrast to other verbs for upward movement (e.g., ἀναβαίνω), ἀνέρχομαι often emphasizes the journeying aspect rather than mere vertical movement. The term does not inherently carry cultic or religious meaning, but context may add such connotations (for example, pilgrimages to Jerusalem). In later Greek, its usage continues for both literal and figurative ascent.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀνά and ἔρχομαι; to ascend:--go up.

Root Family

ἀνέρχομαι (anerchomai) — go up, ascend, journey upward, come up

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G424-02 ἀνῆλθον anelthon V AOR ACT IND 1P SG did I go up I went up 2
G424-01 ἀνῆλθεν anelthen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG went up he ascended 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G424-01 John 6:3 ἀνῆλθεν anelthen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG went up he ascended
G424-02 Galatians 1:17 ἀνῆλθον anelthon V AOR ACT IND 1P SG did I go up I went up
G424-02 Galatians 1:18 ἀνῆλθον anelthon V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I went up I went up
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