ἀνανεόομαι (ananeoomai)
ananeoomai
to renew
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ananeoo means to make new again or to restore freshness. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Ephesians 4:23, where Paul urges believers to be "renewed in the spirit of your mind." This single usage highlights a specific kind of internal transformation rather than external repair.
Its structure combines the prefix ana ("again") with neos ("new"), literally suggesting a return to a state of newness. The context in Ephesians connects this renewal directly to mental and spiritual orientation, implying that Christian growth involves a continuous refreshing of one’s perspective and inner life to align with God’s truth.
While the word itself is simple, its theological weight in Ephesians is significant. It suggests that renewal is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of keeping the mind fresh and responsive to divine influence, contrasting with the stale patterns of the past described earlier in the letter.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ananeoo appears just once in the New Testament, found in Ephesians 4:23. It describes a renewal that happens within the spirit of our minds. This is not about fixing something broken on the outside, but about refreshing the inner person. The prefix 'ana' means again, and 'neos' means new, so the word literally suggests returning to a state of freshness.
For your daily life, this offers a gentle invitation. You do not have to carry the weight of past failures or stale habits forever. God invites you to let His truth reshape how you see the world. This renewal is an ongoing process, a continuous turning back toward what is good and true. It is a quiet work that happens as you stay connected to Christ.
This hope is available to everyone who seeks Him. You are not defined by your old patterns but by the new life found in Jesus. Let this promise encourage you today. May you find peace in knowing that God is always ready to make all things new in your heart and mind.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to be renewed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνανεοῦσθαι1×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 4:23
and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
This verse uniquely applies the concept of renewal specifically to the spirit of the mind, highlighting an internal transformation rather than external change.