ἐκκρεμάννυμι (ekkremannumi)
ekkremannumi
to hang upon
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ekkremannumi describes the physical act of hanging from or upon something. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 19:48, where the crowds are described as hanging on Jesus’ words. This usage captures a posture of intense attention and suspense, suggesting that his teaching held them captivated.
Etymologically, the word combines a prefix indicating "out" or "from" with a root related to suspension or hanging. While the active form means to hang out, the middle voice implies hanging upon something else for support or interest. In this single biblical occurrence, it conveys how deeply engaged the listeners were, their focus fixed entirely on his message without distraction.
Translators typically render this as "hang on" or "listen closely," emphasizing the emotional and intellectual grip the speaker had on the audience. The rarity of the word highlights its vividness; when used, it paints a clear picture of rapt attention rather than passive hearing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word ekkremannumi paints a vivid picture of total absorption. In Luke 19:48, it describes crowds who were so captivated by Jesus’ teaching that they simply hung on every word He spoke. This is not passive listening; it is an active, intense focus where distraction becomes impossible. The image suggests that His message held them in suspense, demanding their full attention.
For your faith life, this offers a beautiful standard for how we approach Scripture. It invites us to seek that same rapt attention, letting God’s Word grip our hearts and minds without interruption. When we listen with such depth, we allow truth to settle into our lives rather than skimming the surface. This kind of engagement transforms hearing into a transformative encounter.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- were hanging on1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξεκρέματο1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 19:48
They couldn’t find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.
This is the sole New Testament occurrence, using the word to describe the crowd's intense, captivated focus on Jesus' teaching.