ἀνίστημι (anistēmi)
anistēmi
to arise
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 109 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb anistēmi describes the act of rising, whether physically standing up from a seated or lying position or metaphorically appearing as a new leader. Its meaning shifts depending on voice: in the active form, it means to raise someone else up, such as Jesus raising Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:42) or God raising up prophets like Moses (Acts 3:22). In the middle or passive forms, it refers to rising oneself, as when Jesus rises early to pray (Mark 1:35) or leaves a place to continue his journey (Matthew 9:9).
A key distinction lies in its use for resurrection. While often translated simply as "rise," anistēmi carries the specific weight of emerging from death, frequently paired with phrases like "from the dead" (Mark 8:31). This usage highlights a divine action where God initiates the rising, distinguishing it from ordinary waking or standing. The word appears prominently in Acts to describe both historical figures appearing and the future hope of resurrection.
Its root combines an- ("up") with histēmi ("to stand"), creating a vivid image of vertical movement. This etymology reflects its frequent use in the Septuagint for the Hebrew qum, linking New Testament usage to Old Testament patterns of God raising up deliverers or judges. Translators must choose between "raise up" and "arise" based on context, ensuring the text conveys whether the subject is causing another to stand or standing independently.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word anistēmi captures more than just physical movement; it describes a decisive shift from stillness to action, or from death to life. When you read that Jesus rose early to pray in Mark 1:35, the text uses this verb to show intentional engagement with the Father before the day’s demands began. It is a picture of spiritual priority, where rising becomes an act of seeking strength and guidance.
This word also carries profound hope regarding resurrection. In Mark 8:31, Jesus predicts his own rising from the dead, using anistēmi to emphasize that God initiates this new life. It reminds us that our ultimate hope is not self-generated but divinely bestowed. Whether it is Matthew leaving his tax booth to follow Jesus or the early church anticipating their own resurrection, the word points to a transformative moment where God’s power changes our trajectory.
For your daily walk, anistēmi invites you to see moments of change as opportunities for divine encounter. It encourages a faith that does not remain passive but responds to God’s call with immediate action. This active trust allows you to move forward with confidence, knowing that the same power that raised Christ is at work in your life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 109 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having risen up19×
- Having risen up14×
- do rise up6×
- will raise up5×
- rose up5×
- having stood up4×
- having arisen4×
- will stand up2×
- to rise.2×
- stood up2×
- having raised up2×
- He will rise again.2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀναστὰς31×
- ἀνέστη11×
- ἀναστάντες6×
- ἀνάστηθι5×
- Ἀναστὰς4×
- ἀνέστησεν4×
- ἀναστήσω4×
- ἀναστήσονται4×
- ἀναστῆναι.3×
- ἀναστῆναι3×
- ἀναστήσει3×
- ἀναστήσας3×
Key Verses
-
Mark 1:35
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.
This verse highlights the discipline of rising early for prayer, showing how anistēmi marks a deliberate choice to seek God before other activities begin.
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Mark 8:31
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Here the word carries the heavy theological weight of resurrection, indicating that Jesus’ rising from death is a divine act central to his teaching.
-
Matthew 9:9
As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
The immediate response of Matthew rising to follow Jesus demonstrates how anistēmi can signify a decisive life change in obedience to Christ’s call.
-
Mark 16:9
Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
This occurrence records the first appearance of the risen Lord, anchoring the word in the historical reality of Jesus’ victory over death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does anistēmi mean in the New Testament?
How is anistēmi different from egeirō?
Why is this word important for understanding resurrection?
Does this word appear in the Old Testament?
Every Occurrence (109 verses across 10 books)
Matthew 4 verses
As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him,…
Matthew 12:41The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for they repented at the…
Matthew 22:24saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up…
Matthew 26:62The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”