Greek word · G326
ἀναζάω
anazaō
to revive
Built from ana- ("again" or "up") and zaō ("live"). Normally "to live again, come back to life" (it is used this way in Luke 15:24, 32 in many manuscripts of the prodigal son: "was dead and is alive again"). It can also be used more loosely for something springing into activity after being inactive.
Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ἀνα-ζάω, -ῶ
[in Al.: Genesis 45:27 * ;]
to live again, regain life (cf. cl. ἀναβιόω; Cremer, 722; and for other exx., v MM, VGT, see word): metaphorically of moral revival, Luke 15:24 (WH, mg., ἔζησεν); of sin, Romans 7:9.†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
Built from ana- ("again" or "up") and zaō ("live"). Normally "to live again, come back to life" (it is used this way in Luke 15:24, 32 in many manuscripts of the prodigal son: "was dead and is alive again"). It can also be used more loosely for something springing into activity after being inactive.
- Against the English
KJV/WEB "revived" keeps the "again" sense. BSB/NIV "sprang to life" and ESV-type "came alive" choose the "up/into life" sense. The difference matters: "again" implies sin had been alive before (e.g., in the serpent in Eden, or in humanity since Adam) and was only dormant; "sprang to life" just pictures a sudden awakening.
- How it drifted
Modern "revive" can suggest a religious revival or restoring someone who fainted; here it is a sinister awakening of a hostile power.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Rare word; it is not used in the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament). Late Greek uses it of things returning to life or activity. BDAG lists Rom 7:9 under "spring into life" while noting the basic sense "come back to life." Paul plays it against nekra ("dead") in v.8.
- Range of meaning
To come back to life, revive, live again. The prefix ana- ('again, back') assumes a life that existed before.
- Against the English
BSB, KJV, NIV and ESV have 'is alive again,' which gives the resulting state. NASB has 'has come to life again,' closer to the single event of the Greek aorist. YLT has 'did live again.'
- Used elsewhere in the period
Uncommon in Greek generally. The only other New Testament use is Rom 7:9, where sin 'sprang back to life.' Some manuscripts also have it at Rom 14:9 and Rev 20:5. In the father's repetition (15:32) the critical text appears to use the simple verb zaō ('lived').
Where it appears
Luke · 1
-
Luke 15:24 ἀνέζησεν, is alive again,
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
Here: Aorist tense: a single event, 'he came back to life.' The prefix ana- means 'again': this is life returning to someone who had it before, not life starting fresh.
Romans · 1
-
Romans 7:9 ἀνέζησεν, revived,
Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
Here: Aorist tense: a single decisive event. The prefix ana- usually means "again," so "revived" (KJV), but it can also mean "up," so "sprang to life" (BSB). It answers v.8's "sin is dead": the dead power woke up.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.