ἀναιρέω (anaireō)
anaireō
to kill
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 23 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb anaireō primarily means to kill or put to death, appearing most frequently in Acts and the Gospels to describe violent executions. Its literal root sense is "to take up," which likely reflects the physical act of lifting a victim before killing them or taking away their life entirely. In non-biblical papyri, the word also describes picking up foundlings or removing debts, but Scripture reserves it for the finality of homicide.
This term carries significant theological weight in Luke-Acts, where it highlights human responsibility against divine sovereignty. Peter uses it to describe how Jesus was delivered by God’s plan yet put to death by lawless men (Acts 2:23). Similarly, Stephen recounts how his ancestors handed over the Righteous One to be killed (Acts 7:52), and Paul recalls standing against those who sought to kill him in Jerusalem (Acts 22:20). The word underscores that while human agents commit the act, these events unfold within God’s broader narrative.
Translators often render anaireō as "kill," "slay," or "put to death," depending on context. In Matthew 2:16, Herod orders the massacre of infants, using this verb for slaughter. In Hebrews 10:9, it appears in a different sense—abolishing a previous ordinance—showing its broader range of "taking away." However, its dominant usage remains focused on the removal of life through violence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anaireō carries the heavy weight of finality. In the New Testament, it describes the violent removal of life, most notably in the crucifixion of Jesus and the martyrdom of Stephen. It reminds us that human history is often marked by cruelty, where those in power seek to silence truth through force.
Yet this word also highlights a profound mystery: God’s sovereignty works even through evil acts. In Acts 2:23, we see that while men killed Jesus, they did so within the determined counsel of God. This does not excuse their actions but places them in a larger story of redemption. Your faith stands firm knowing that no violence can thwart God’s plan for salvation.
When you face opposition or injustice, remember that your life is held securely in God’s hands. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead protects His people. You are never alone in your struggles, and your witness has eternal value beyond any earthly threat.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 23 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to execute8×
- they may execute2×
- you executed1×
- will execute1×
- when were being executed1×
- was executed,1×
- took up1×
- to be executed.1×
- to be executed1×
- they may execute;1×
- they executed1×
- he executed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνελεῖν6×
- ἀνέλωσιν2×
- ἀνεῖλεν2×
- ἀνῃρέθη,1×
- ἀνέλωσιν·1×
- ἀνεῖλες1×
- ἀνεῖλαν1×
- ἀνείλατο1×
- ἀνείλατε,1×
- ἀνελεῖ1×
- ἀναιρούντων1×
- ἀναιρουμένων1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 2:23
him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
This verse uniquely pairs divine foreknowledge with human culpability, showing that Jesus’ death was both a tragic act of lawless men and part of God’s eternal plan.
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Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.
Herod’s massacre illustrates the word’s raw brutality, showing how political fear can lead to innocent slaughter.
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Acts 9:24
but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,
This occurrence shows the persistent danger Paul faced early in his ministry, highlighting the cost of bold witness for Christ.