Greek word · G377

ἀναπίπτω

anapiptō

to recline

Literally "to fall back". In ordinary use it means (1) to lie down or recline, especially at a meal, and (2) to lean back. BDAG gives both senses and lists this verse under "lean back".

Appears 12 times in 11 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀνα-πίπτω

[in LXX: Genesis 49:9 (כָּרַע) Tobit 2:1 7:8, Judith 12:10, Sirach 25:18 32:2, Da TH Sus 1:37 * ;]

1. (cl.) to fall back.

2. In late writers = ἀνα-κλίνομαι, to recline for a repast (MM, VGT, see word): at table, Luke 11:37 14:10 17:7 22:14, John 13:12 21:20; on the ground, Matthew 15:35 Mark 6:40 8:6 John 6:10; to lean back, John 13:25 (T, ἐπιπεσών; see: ἀνάκειμαι, ad fin.).†

SYN.: ἀνάκειμαι (which see), ἀνακλίνομαι (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 13:25

Range of meaning

Literally "to fall back". In ordinary use it means (1) to lie down or recline, especially at a meal, and (2) to lean back. BDAG gives both senses and lists this verse under "lean back".

Against the English

BSB, NIV and ESV have "leaning back", which is accurate. KJV's "lying on" (from the variant epipesōn, "falling upon") describes a resting position, not a quick movement, so the picture loses its motion and its purpose.

How it drifted

KJV's "lying on Jesus' breast" helped create the familiar picture of the disciple resting on Jesus for a long time. The Greek describes one short movement made in order to ask a question.

Used elsewhere in the period

In John the verb is used for reclining at a meal: the crowd at the feeding (6:10) and Jesus returning to his place after the footwashing (13:12). It is also used for reclining at table in Luke 11:37, 14:10, 17:7 and 22:14. The same scene is recalled in John 21:20 ("who had leaned back on his chest at the supper"), with the same verb.

From the study of John 21:20

Range of meaning

ἀναπίπτω means to lie down or recline (especially at a meal) and also to fall or lean back. στῆθος is the chest or breast.

Against the English

KJV's 'leaned on his breast' sounds to modern ears like a tender embrace. NIV, ESV and NASB render it 'leaned back against him' or 'on his chest', which captures the movement. The verb describes a change of posture at the table, not a hug.

How it drifted

Readers who do not know ancient dining customs picture people sitting upright on chairs. They then read the posture as a special gesture of affection.

Used elsewhere in the period

In John 6:10 the crowd 'reclines' (ἀνέπεσαν) on the grass to eat. In John 13:23 the disciple is 'reclining… in the bosom (κόλπος) of Jesus'. In 13:25 he 'leans back thus upon the chest (στῆθος) of Jesus'. Greek and Roman banquet practice (Dennis Smith, From Symposium to Eucharist) had diners lying on their left side on couches. The person to someone's right lay with his head near that person's chest.

From the study of John 13:12

Range of meaning

Literally 'fall back'. At meals it is the standard verb for lying back on a couch or cushion to eat.

Against the English

KJV 'was set down' and WEB 'sat down' suggest people on chairs at a high table, as in later paintings of the Last Supper. BSB, NASB and YLT keep the reclining.

How it drifted

English Bible tradition and European art put the Last Supper at a high table with chairs. Early English translators used 'sit (down) at meat' as the normal idiom for dining.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used for reclining at meals in Luke 11:37; 14:10; 17:7 (where a master tells a slave to 'recline' only after serving); John 13:25; 21:20. Reclining at banquets was Greco-Roman custom, and by the first century it was also expected at the Passover meal: the Mishnah says even the poorest Israelite must not eat on Passover night until he reclines (m. Pesachim 10:1).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 15:35 ἀναπεσεῖν to sit down

    And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 6:40 ἀνέπεσαν they sat down

    So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

  2. Mark 8:6 ἀναπεσεῖν to recline

    And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd.

    Here: Literally 'to fall back.' In meal settings it means leaning back on one elbow, the posture of a proper or festive dinner. Jesus is telling people to take their places as guests at a meal, not just to sit down and rest.

Luke · 4

  1. Luke 11:37 ἀνέπεσεν. He reclined.

    As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.

  2. Luke 14:10 ἀνάπεσε do recline

    But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you.

  3. Luke 17:7 ἀνάπεσε; do recline?

    Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?

    Here: 'Recline!' This is the posture of a diner at a proper meal: lying on one elbow at the table, as free people and guests did. Telling a slave to do this would mean treating him as a guest of honour, which no ordinary owner would do.

  4. Luke 22:14 ἀνέπεσεν He reclined

    When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles.

John · 5

  1. John 6:10 ἀναπεσεῖν. ἀνέπεσαν to recline., Reclined

    “Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them.

    Here: 'To recline', the posture people took for a proper meal. It means more than 'sit'. Jesus is arranging the crowd as guests at a dinner.

  2. John 13:12 ἀνέπεσεν he reclined

    When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you?

    Here: He lay back down in his place at the meal. Guests at a formal or festive meal reclined on their left elbow on couches or cushions, feet pointing away from the low table. He goes from the servant's position back to the host's.

  3. John 13:25 ἀναπεσὼν Having leaned

    Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”

    Here: A single completed movement: from his reclining place next to Jesus, the disciple tips his head and shoulders back until he is against Jesus' chest. The word is used for reclining at table (John 6:10; 13:12), and here for a small shift in that posture so he can speak quietly.

  4. John 21:20 ἀνέπεσεν had reclined

    Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”

    Here: A single past action: at the meal he leaned back. The wording repeats John 13:25, where he tilted back from his reclining place against Jesus' chest to ask a private question.

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