Greek word · G345

ἀνάκειμαι

anakeimai

to recline

In older Greek it meant 'to be laid up, set up' (for example a votive offering placed in a temple). In Hellenistic and New Testament Greek its everyday meaning was 'to lie at table', that is, to recline on a couch for a meal. By extension it meant simply 'to be a dinner guest'.

Appears 13 times in 12 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

ἀνά-κειμαι

[in LXX: I Esther 4:10, Tobit 9:6 א * ;]

1. in cl., as pass. of ἀνατίθημ, to be laid up, laid: Mark 5:40 Rec.

2. In late writers (cf. MM, VGT, see word) = κεῖσθαι, κατακεῖσθαι, to recline at table: Matthew 26:20; part. ἀνακείμενος, Matthew 9:10 22:10-11 26:7, Mark 6:26 14:18 16:14, Luke 22:27, John 6:11 12:2 13:23, 28.†

SYN.: ἀνακλίνω, ἀναπίπτω, the latter denoting an act rather than a state and thus in John 13:25 differing from ἀνάκειμαι (see. John 13:23) by indicating a change of position. (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 13:23

Range of meaning: In older Greek it meant 'to be laid up, set up' (for example a votive offering placed in a temple). In Hellenistic and New Testament Greek its everyday meaning was 'to lie at table', that is, to recline on a couch for a meal. By extension it meant simply 'to be a dinner guest'.
Against the English: KJV 'leaning' and WEB 'leaning against' suggest the disciple's body was resting against Jesus. 'Reclining' (BSB, YLT, ESV, NASB) is accurate. NLT's 'sitting' brings in a modern chair-and-table picture that the Greek does not have.
How it drifted: In 1611 'leaning' was a reasonable way to describe someone resting on an elbow at a meal. Once readers lost touch with the reclining banquet, and Western art (Leonardo and many others) put the Last Supper on benches and chairs, 'leaning on Jesus' bosom' came to sound like an embrace.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Gospels the word is regularly used of guests at a meal: Matt 26:20; Mark 14:18 (also at the Last Supper); Luke 22:27 ('who is greater, the one reclining or the one serving?'); John 12:2 (Lazarus 'among those reclining' with Jesus). Jewish tradition preserved in the Mishnah (Pesahim 10:1) requires that on Passover night 'even the poorest in Israel' must not eat until he reclines, because reclining was the posture of free people (BDAG s.v. ἀνάκειμαι 2).

From the study of John 12:2

Range of meaning: To lie or recline. In the New Testament it is almost always used for reclining at a meal: lying on a couch or cushion, propped on the left elbow, eating with the right hand, with the feet stretched out away from the table.
Against the English: KJV and WEB 'sat at the table' (and NLT's 'ate with him') turn the scene into chairs around a table. BSB and YLT 'reclining' keep the posture the Greek describes.
How it drifted: Translators of the 1500s–1600s used the dining customs of their own time. Reclining at meals had long since disappeared in Europe, so 'sat at meat / sat at the table' was the natural equivalent for them.
Used elsewhere in the period: John 13:23, 28 (the beloved disciple reclining next to Jesus); Mark 14:18; Matthew 9:10. The Mishnah (Pesahim 10:1, an early Jewish law code) requires that even the poorest Israelite must recline to eat the Passover meal, as a sign of being free people. Jews in Judea had taken over Greco-Roman banquet customs for festive meals.

From the study of Matthew 22:11

Range of meaning: To lie or recline, especially at a meal. It is the standard verb for dining at a formal or festive table, where diners lay on couches propped on the left elbow.
Against the English: Most English versions say 'the guests'. That is a fair meaning but drops the picture. YLT's 'those reclining' keeps it.
Used elsewhere in the period: Used of diners at table in Matt 9:10, 26:7 and 26:20 (the Last Supper). Reclining came from Greek and Roman banquet custom and was adopted by Jews for festive meals. The Mishnah requires even the poorest Israelite to recline at Passover (m. Pesahim 10:1). The same participle ends v.10: the wedding 'was filled with recliners'.

Where it appears

Matthew · 5

Matthew 9:10 ἀνακειμένου is reclining

Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.
Matthew 22:10 ἀνακειμένων.¶ of those reclining.

So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Here: 'With people reclining.' Guests at a formal banquet lay on couches propped on one elbow. The hall is full of people already settled in to eat, which sets up the king's entrance in verse 11.
Matthew 22:11 ἀνακειμένους reclining

But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes.

Here: The guests are already lying on couches at the banquet, the posture of a formal festive meal. The present tense shows they are in the middle of the feast. The inspection does not happen at the door. It happens among people already admitted and eating.
Matthew 26:7 ἀνακειμένου. is reclining.

a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.
Matthew 26:20 ἀνέκειτο He was reclining

When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples.

Here: "He was reclining". Jesus is lying on his side at the meal, leaning on one elbow, the posture used at formal banquets and at Passover. The past continuous tense ("was reclining") sets the scene: the meal is under way when the next words are spoken (v. 21).

Mark · 2

Mark 6:26 ἀνακειμένους reclining with [him]

The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.
Mark 14:18 ἀνακειμένων when were reclining

And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”

Here: "While they were reclining": lying propped on the left elbow around a low table, the posture of a formal or festive meal. The ongoing present tense sets the scene: the meal is under way when Jesus speaks.

Luke · 2

Luke 22:27 ἀνακείμενος ἀνακείμενος; reclining, reclining?

For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

Here: The guest lying on a couch or cushion at a formal meal. That posture marked a free person being honoured and waited on. It is exactly what the disciples are doing as Jesus speaks (22:14).

John · 4

John 6:11 ἀνακειμένοις, reclining,

Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.

Here: The normal word for lying propped on one elbow at a meal or banquet. The crowd on the grass is pictured as guests at a dinner, not people waiting in a food line.
John 12:2 ἀνακειμένων reclining

So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.

Here: 'Reclining': lying on one's side, usually propped on the left elbow, on couches or cushions around a low table, with the feet pointing away. This was the posture of a formal or festive meal. It explains how Mary could reach Jesus' feet in the next verse.
John 13:23 ἀνακείμενος reclining

One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.

Here: The ordinary word for lying on a dining couch at a meal, propped on the left elbow. It describes his place at the table, not a hug or an act of devotion.
John 13:28 ἀνακειμένων reclining

But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him.

Here: "Those lying at table." The diners were stretched out on cushions or couches around a low table, leaning on the left elbow, which was the posture of a formal or festive meal. The present tense pictures them still reclining as the exchange takes place.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.