ἀναπέμπω (anapempō)
anapempō
to send back
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb anapempō means to send someone back or up, typically toward a person of higher authority. In the New Testament, it describes legal or administrative transfers where a lower court refers a case to a superior tribunal. This usage highlights the chain of command rather than simple return.
Its most notable appearances involve Pontius Pilate and King Herod. When Jesus was brought before Pilate, he learned that Jesus was a Galilean under Herod’s jurisdiction, so he sent him back to the king (Luke 23:7). Later, when Herod mocked Jesus, he sent him back to Pilate in splendid clothing (Luke 23:11). Paul also uses it when asking Philemon to send Onesimus back to him (Philemon 11).
The prefix ana- suggests upward movement or reversal. Translators render it as "sent him back" or "sent him up." The word emphasizes the shift in authority, showing how legal responsibility moved between rulers during Jesus’ trial.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anapempō describes a specific kind of return, often involving a shift in authority or jurisdiction. It appears in legal contexts where a case is referred back to a higher court or a different ruler. This usage reminds us that our circumstances are often under sovereign oversight, even when they feel like a transfer of burdens we cannot bear.
In the Gospels, this term marks the movement of Jesus between Pilate and Herod. Though it highlights human political maneuvering, it also shows how God’s purposes unfold through earthly chains of command. When life feels like it is being passed from one hand to another, remember that no transfer happens outside of divine permission.
Paul uses this same word when asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back. Here, the act of sending someone back becomes an opportunity for reconciliation and grace. We are invited to see these moments not as setbacks, but as chances to participate in God’s work of restoring relationships.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sent back1×
- he sent up1×
- he sent back1×
- I may return1×
- I have sent back1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνέπεμψεν3×
- ἀνέπεμψά1×
- ἀναπέμψω1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 23:7
When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
This verse establishes the legal jurisdiction shift, showing Pilate referring Jesus back to Herod because Galilee fell under his authority.
-
Luke 23:11
Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.
Here the word marks a humiliating return, as Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate in mocking royal attire after finding no guilt.
-
Philemon 1:12
I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
Paul uses this term to request Onesimus’s return, framing it not just as a legal transfer but as receiving back his own heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does anapempō mean in the New Testament?
Why is this word significant in Luke 23?
How does Paul use this word in Philemon?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 3 books)
Luke 3 verses
When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those…
Luke 23:11Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.
Luke 23:15Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.