κρεμάω (kremaō)
kremaō
to hang
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word kremannumi means to hang or suspend something from above. In the New Testament, it appears only seven times, primarily in the Gospels and Acts, where it describes the physical act of hanging a person on a wooden cross. This specific usage highlights the brutal reality of Roman execution methods, grounding the theological weight of the crucifixion in tangible historical practice.
While its most famous application is to Jesus’ death, the word also carries a metaphorical sense. In Matthew 22:40, Jesus states that all the Law and the Prophets hang on two commandments: love for God and neighbor. Here, the image suggests that these ethical imperatives are the support from which the entire moral law is suspended, much like an object hanging from a hook.
The term’s root implies a state of being held up or dependent on something else. Translators often render it as "hang" or "crucify," depending on context. Its presence in Acts 5:30 and 10:39 reinforces the early church’s focus on the historical fact of Christ’s death, while its use in Galatians 3:13 connects this physical hanging to the concept of bearing a curse, linking the method of execution to its theological significance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word κρεμιάω (kremiaō) describes something suspended from above, often with a sense of dependence or vulnerability. In the New Testament, it most frequently refers to the physical act of hanging on a cross, a grim reality that underscores the cost of redemption. When we read that Jesus was hung on a tree, we are reminded of His willingness to bear the weight of human sin, taking upon Himself what no one else could carry.
Yet this image also carries a surprising encouragement for daily life. In Matthew 22:40, Jesus says the entire Law and Prophets hang on love for God and neighbor. This suggests that our moral life is not a heavy burden we drag along, but something supported by two simple, sustaining truths. Just as an object hangs securely from its anchor, our faith finds stability when rooted in love.
Understanding this word helps us see the connection between Christ’s historical death and our present walk. It invites us to rest in the truth that we are held by Him, and that our response to God and others is not about earning support, but living from it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having hanged [Him]2×
- may be hung1×
- is hanging1×
- having been hanged1×
- hangs1×
- hanging1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κρεμάσαντες2×
- κρέμαται1×
- κρεμάμενος1×
- κρεμάμενον1×
- κρεμασθῇ1×
- κρεμασθέντων1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 22:40
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Jesus uses this imagery to show that love for God and neighbor are the foundational supports upon which all biblical teaching depends.
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Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”
Paul connects the physical act of hanging on a tree with the Old Testament curse, showing how Christ’s death absorbed the penalty we deserved.
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Acts 5:30
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.
The early church leaders explicitly identify Jesus’ death by this term, emphasizing the historical reality of His execution before His resurrection.