ἀνάπηρος

From the study of Luke 14:13

Range of meaning

Maimed, crippled, disabled in body, especially in the limbs. It is formed from πηρός, 'disabled, mutilated', with the prefix ἀνα- strengthening it.

Against the English

KJV and WEB say 'maimed', which suggests injury. BSB, NIV, ESV and NASB say 'crippled', which is now a dated or harsh word in everyday English but is accurate as a translation. The Greek covers disability from birth as well as from injury.

Used elsewhere in the period

Found in classical authors such as Plato (Crito 53a), where it is paired with the lame and blind. In the New Testament it appears only in Luke 14:13 and 21. Spelled ἀνάπειρος in the major early manuscripts (Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Vaticanus) because ει and η were pronounced alike.

From the study of Luke 14:21

Range of meaning

Maimed, crippled, disabled in some limb. In the New Testament it occurs only at Luke 14:13 and 14:21. In the list it goes with τυφλός (blind) and χωλός (lame), the standard categories of bodily 'defect'.

Against the English

'Crippled' (BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB) or 'maimed' (KJV, WEB, YLT). Both are fine. Neither shows that these bodies were excluded from places of holiness and honour.

Used elsewhere in the period

Leviticus 21:17–23 barred priests who were blind, lame or otherwise physically blemished from offering at the altar. 2 Samuel 5:8 has the saying 'the blind and the lame shall not come into the house'. Among the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Rule of the Congregation (1QSa 2:3–10) shuts out anyone 'crippled in feet or hands, lame, blind, deaf' from the assembly, which in that text sits down with the Messiah at the end-time meal (1QSa 2:11–22). The War Scroll (1QM 7:4–6) excludes them from the holy war camp. Isaiah 35:5–6 promised that in the age to come the blind would see and the lame leap.