ἀνασπάω (anaspaō)
anaspaō
to pull up
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb anaspao means to pull up or draw something upward from a lower position. It describes a physical action of extraction, such as lifting an object out of the ground or water. In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, both in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.
In Luke 14:5, Jesus uses the word to illustrate a point about compassion on the Sabbath. He asks if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, citing the example of pulling a child or an ox out of a well. The image is one of urgent rescue, emphasizing that acts of mercy take precedence over ritual restrictions. Similarly, in Acts 11:10, Peter recounts a vision where he sees animals coming down and is told to kill and eat. When he refuses, the voice commands him to rise and eat, using this verb to describe the act of drawing up the sheet from the earth.
The word’s root suggests a forceful or deliberate upward movement. It is not merely lifting but retrieving something that has fallen or been placed below. This concrete imagery helps clarify Jesus’ argument in Luke: just as one would immediately pull an animal out of a pit to save it, so too should one respond to human suffering without delay.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word anaspao describes the physical act of pulling something up from a lower place. It is a verb of urgent rescue, not gentle lifting. When Jesus uses this image in Luke 14:5, He is making a sharp point about mercy. If you see a child or an ox stuck in a well on the Sabbath, you do not wait. You pull it out immediately. This action shows that human need takes priority over ritual rules.
This word reminds us that faith is active. God’s love is not passive; it reaches down to lift others up. In our daily lives, we are called to be quick to help and slow to judge. When someone is stuck in a difficult situation, our response should be immediate compassion. We do not calculate the cost or wait for the perfect moment. We simply reach out and pull them toward safety.
May you find strength in this example of urgent love. Let your heart be quick to respond to those around you who are struggling. In doing so, you reflect the character of Christ, who always prioritizes mercy over ceremony.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- was drawn up1×
- he will pull up1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνεσπάσθη1×
- ἀνασπάσει1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 14:5
He answered them, “Which of you, if your son or an ox fell into a well, wouldn’t immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?”
Jesus uses this verb to argue that urgent rescue on the Sabbath is lawful and necessary.
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Acts 11:10
This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
Peter describes the vision where the sheet containing animals was drawn up from the earth into heaven.