ἀναπαύω
To give rest
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Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does ἀναπαύω (anapaúō) mean in the Bible?
ἀναπαύω (anapaúō) is a Greek word meaning "to give rest". ἀνα-παύω, [in LXX for fourteen different words, chiefly נוּחַ, also רָבַץ, שָׁאַן, etc. Connects Jesus directly to Old Testament covenant rest promises. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant.
Meaning
Rest that brings relief from labor and exhaustion, often with spiritual or divine restoration implied.
to give intermission from labour, to give rest, refresh: Mat.11:28, 1Co.16:18, Phm 20; pass., Phm 7, 2Co.7:13. Mid., to take rest, enjoy rest: Mat.26:45, Mrk.6:31 14:41, Luk.12:19, Rev.6:11 14:13; as in Heb. ofIs 11:2 (עַל נוּחַ), τὸ πνεῦμα ἐφ᾽ ὑᾶμς ἀ., 1Pe.4:14. (In π. this word is used as a technical agricultural term; see MM, VGT, see word; and cf. Le 2634 f.; Cremer, 826.)
Why This Word Matters
Connects Jesus directly to Old Testament covenant rest promises. Matthew 11:25–30
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Indicative states a fact or reality 9×
Imperative command or strong request 3×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 12 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
New Testament Witnesses
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain