Greek word · G425

ἄνεσις

anesis

rest

From ἀνίημι, "to loosen, let go, slacken". It means a loosening or relaxing of tension, relief, respite, a let-up. It is used for easing pain, for loosening restraints (some freedom granted to a prisoner), and for relaxation as opposed to strain.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἄνεσις, -εως, ἡ

(ἀνίημι), [in LXX: 2Es.4.22 (שָׁלוּ), 2 Chronicles 23:15, I Est.4:62, Wisdom of Solomon 13:13, Sirach 15:20 26:10 * ;]

a loosening, relaxation: Acts 24:23 (RV, indulgence; cf. MM, VGT, see word); by St. Paul, opposite to θλίψις, expressed or understood, relief: 2 Corinthians 2:12 7:5 8:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:7.†

SYN.: ἀνάπαυσις (which see).† (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 2 Corinthians 7:5

Range of meaning

From ἀνίημι, "to loosen, let go, slacken". It means a loosening or relaxing of tension, relief, respite, a let-up. It is used for easing pain, for loosening restraints (some freedom granted to a prisoner), and for relaxation as opposed to strain. BDAG gives "relaxing, loosening" and so "rest, relaxation, relief".

Against the English

"Rest" (KJV, BSB) can suggest sleep or leisure. "Relief" (WEB) and "relaxation" (YLT) come closer to the picture of tension being released. Paul is not saying he never slept. He is saying the pressure never let up.

Used elsewhere in the period

Acts 24:23 uses it for the limited "liberty" given to Paul in custody. 2 Thess 1:7 promises "relief" to the afflicted. In 2 Cor 8:13 Paul sets ἄνεσις directly against θλῖψις ("not that others should have relief and you affliction"). In the LXX (e.g. 2 Chr 23:15) and in Josephus it describes respite and relaxation.

From the study of 2 Thessalonians 1:7

Range of meaning

A loosening or slackening, such as letting a taut bowstring or lyre string go slack. From that: relaxation, relief, easing of pressure, a respite, remission of a burden or tax, a measure of freedom.

Against the English

BSB/WEB/ESV/NASB/NIV 'relief', KJV and NLT 'rest', YLT 'rest'. 'Relief' fits the Greek picture best. 'Rest' can suggest sleep, leisure or a peaceful afterlife, which this word does not mean in itself.

How it drifted

'Rest' comes through the Latin Vulgate's requiem ('rest, repose') into Tyndale and the KJV. In church language 'rest' then picked up associations with death and 'eternal rest', which push the verse toward the idea of peace after dying.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Paul, 2 Cor 2:13 and 7:5: 'I had no anesis in my spirit / our flesh had no anesis'. 2 Cor 8:13 sets the same pair against each other as this passage does: 'not that others should have anesis and you thlipsis'. Acts 24:23: Paul is held in custody 'with some anesis', meaning some freedom. Greek writers use it for slackening strings and for remission of taxes or duties (per LSJ, BDAG).

From the study of Sirach 26:10

Range of meaning

From ἀνίημι, 'to let go, loosen, slacken'. It means loosening of tension (a bowstring or rein), relaxation, relief, rest, a lightening of custody, and therefore 'liberty' or opportunity. It can also mean indulgence or licence.

Against the English

WEB and NRSV 'liberty', Brenton/KJV 'overmuch liberty'. Modern 'liberty' sounds like a right or a good. The Greek means slack in the rope: a gap in the supervision.

How it drifted

In modern English 'liberty' mostly carries political and moral approval (civil liberty, personal liberty). The Greek word is neutral and here means an opening created by relaxed watch.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Acts 24:23 Felix orders Paul kept under guard (τηρεῖσθαι) yet to 'have ἄνεσιν', a relaxed custody. That is the same pairing of guard and slack found here. Sirach 30:8 uses the related verb of a horse 'let loose' (ἀνειμένος) and a son left unchecked. In 2 Corinthians 8:13 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7 it means 'relief, rest'.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 24:23 ἄνεσιν ease

    He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.

2 Corinthians · 3

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:13 ἄνεσιν rest

    I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

    Here: A slackening of pressure, the release of something held tight. Paul is saying the strain inside him never let up, not naming the absence of a settled feeling about a decision.

  2. 2 Corinthians 7:5 ἄνεσιν rest

    For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.

    Here: A letting-up of tension, the way a taut bowstring is slackened. Paul never got a moment's let-up. The word repeats 2:13 ("no ἄνεσις for my spirit"), the line this verse picks up from.

  3. 2 Corinthians 8:13 ἄνεσις, ease

    It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.

2 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 ἄνεσιν repose

    and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels

    Here: The thing God 'repays' to the afflicted (it is the object of the verb in v. 6). The word means the easing of tension, so it is the natural opposite of being squeezed: the pressure is released.

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