ἀνετάζω (anetazō)
anetazō
to question
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb anetazō describes a formal investigation, often with judicial overtones. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in Acts, to depict Roman authorities interrogating Paul. The sources note that this examination was not merely conversational but involved serious measures, including torture, to extract information or force a confession.
Its root combines a prefix implying intensification with a word meaning "to test" or "examine." This distinguishes it from casual inquiry; anetazō implies a structured, authoritative scrutiny. When the commander orders Paul to be examined in Acts 22:24 and later questions him in verse 29, the term captures the tension of a legal proceeding where truth is sought through coercive means.
Translators typically render this word as "examine" or "question," though these English terms can feel mild compared to the Greek intensity. The lexica highlight that anetazō carries the weight of a courtroom inquiry, reflecting the power dynamics between the Roman state and the accused apostle.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we face scrutiny or misunderstanding, it can feel like an interrogation rather than a conversation. The Greek word anetazō describes this kind of formal, intense questioning, often with legal weight behind it. In Acts, Roman authorities used it to describe their harsh examination of Paul, seeking to pin down a crime through force and fear.
Yet even in those tense moments, truth had a way of breaking through. The commander’s fear upon realizing Paul’s identity shows that human power cannot always contain the reality of God’s presence. We are invited to trust that our lives, even under pressure, are held securely in hands far greater than any earthly authority.
This word reminds us that integrity matters more than comfort. When we stand firm in what is right, we reflect a courage that does not depend on being understood by everyone, but on knowing who holds our story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to examine.1×
- to be examined1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνετάζεσθαι1×
- ἀνετάζειν.1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 22:24
the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.
This verse shows the word used in the context of coercive interrogation, highlighting the severity and judicial intent behind the examination.
-
Acts 22:29
Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
Here the examination stops abruptly, revealing how the accused’s identity disrupted the authority figures’ assumptions and plans.