ἀνάκειμαι (anakeimai)
anakeimai
to recline
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb anakeimai describes the state of reclining at a table to eat. In the New Testament, it appears fourteen times, primarily in the Gospels, to depict Jesus dining with others. This posture was standard for meals in the ancient world, where guests lay on their left sides rather than sitting upright as we do today.
Its meaning is distinct from similar verbs that describe the act of getting down to eat. For instance, in John 13:25, the text notes that the disciple leaned back (anakeimai) while Jesus leaned forward. This contrast highlights a static position versus a dynamic movement, showing how precise the language was in describing physical postures during communal meals.
The word often signals intimacy and fellowship. It appears when Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners, marking these gatherings as moments of shared life rather than formal events. By using this term, the Gospel writers emphasize the relational nature of Jesus’ ministry, where table fellowship served as a primary setting for teaching and connection.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anakeimai describes the posture of reclining at a table, a common practice in the ancient world where guests lay on their left sides during meals. This was not merely a physical position but a cultural marker of intimacy and fellowship. When the Gospels use this term, they are highlighting moments where Jesus broke social barriers to share life with others.
In these scenes, table fellowship served as a primary setting for connection and teaching. Jesus did not eat in isolation or only with religious elites; He reclined alongside tax collectors, sinners, and His closest friends. This posture signals that God desires relational closeness with us, inviting us into shared meals where barriers dissolve and community is built.
For your faith today, this word reminds you that spiritual growth often happens in the context of shared life. It invites you to see meals not just as routine events but as opportunities for grace, conversation, and deepening relationships with those around you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- reclining5×
- when were reclining2×
- reclining?1×
- reclining.1×
- reclining,1×
- reclining with [him]1×
- of those reclining.1×
- is reclining.1×
- is reclining1×
- He was reclining1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνακειμένων3×
- ἀνακείμενος2×
- ἀνακειμένους2×
- ἀνέκειτο1×
- ἀνακείμενος;1×
- ἀνακείμενον.1×
- ἀνακειμένων.¶1×
- ἀνακειμένου.1×
- ἀνακειμένου1×
- ἀνακειμένοις,1×
- ἀνακειμένοις1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 26:20
Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
This verse explicitly uses the term to describe Jesus reclining with the twelve disciples at the Last Supper, establishing the context for His final teachings before the crucifixion.
-
John 13:23
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus’ chest.
Here the word distinguishes the beloved disciple’s static, intimate position leaning against Jesus’ chest from Jesus’ dynamic movement, highlighting a unique closeness.
-
Matthew 9:10
As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
Although this verse uses a different verb for sitting in some translations, the context of reclining with tax collectors and sinners illustrates the word’s broader cultural application to Jesus’ inclusive table fellowship.
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John 12:2
So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.
This occurrence shows Lazarus reclining at a supper prepared for Jesus, emphasizing the personal and familial nature of the gathering in Bethany.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does anakeimai mean in the New Testament?
How is anakeimai different from other words for sitting?
Why is this word significant for understanding Jesus' ministry?
Every Occurrence (14 verses across 4 books)
Matthew 5 verses
As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
Matthew 22:10Those servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding…
Matthew 22:11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing,
Matthew 26:7a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the…
Matthew 26:20Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.