Greek word · G447

ἀνίημι

aniēmi

to loosen/leave

To loosen, unfasten, release (ropes, chains). Then to let go, give up, leave off, abandon or neglect.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀν-ίημι

(ἀνά, ἵημι), [in LXX for רָפָה, נָשָׂא, etc. ;]

1. to send up, produce, to send back.

2. to let go, leave without support: Hebrews 13:5 (cf. Deuteronomy 31:6; Hom., Iliad., ii, 71).

3. to relax, loosen (see Field, Notes, 124 f.): Acts 16:26 27:40; hence, metaphorically, to give up, desist from: Ephesians 6:9.†

(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 Hebrews 13:5

Range of meaning

To loosen, unfasten, release (ropes, chains). Then to let go, give up, leave off, abandon or neglect.

Against the English

Most versions say 'leave' (NASB 'desert', NLT 'fail'). The image of loosening one's grip and letting someone drop is lost in English, though 'leave' is a fair translation.

Used elsewhere in the period

Acts 27:40 (loosening the ropes of the rudders), Acts 16:26 (the prisoners' chains came loose), Eph 6:9 (give up threatening). In the Greek Old Testament (LXX) of Deut 31:6, 8, Moses says of God: οὐ μή σε ἀνῇ, 'he will by no means let you go'.

From the study of Acts 16:26

Range of meaning

To let go, loosen, slacken, unfasten, give up. Acts 27:40, sailors 'loosening' the ropes that tied up the rudders. Eph 6:9, 'giving up' threats. Heb 13:5, 'I will never let you go/leave you'.

Against the English

English versions say the chains 'came loose' (BSB), 'were loosed' (KJV), 'were unfastened' (ESV/NASB), or 'fell off' (NLT, roughly). The Greek describes fastenings slackening and letting go, which is a little less dramatic than 'fell off'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek writers use it for loosening ropes, reins and bonds. Euripides, Bacchae 447–448: the imprisoned women's fetters 'were loosed from their feet of themselves, and bolts opened the doors without a mortal hand' (the verb there is related but not identical). The Jewish writer Artapanus (in Eusebius, Preparation for the Gospel 9.27.23) tells of Moses' prison doors opening by night and his guards dying or falling asleep.

From the study of Ephesians 6:9

Range of meaning

To loosen, unfasten, or slacken; to let go of or leave off; to relax or give up a practice.

Against the English

KJV 'forbearing' and modern 'give up' or 'stop' are all accurate. The picture of loosening a grip, which the Greek carries, mostly disappears in English.

Used elsewhere in the period

Acts 16:26 (prisoners' chains 'were loosened'), Acts 27:40 ('loosening the ropes of the rudders'), Hebrews 13:5 ('I will never let go of you'). In classical Greek it is used for slackening a bowstring or relaxing anger. BDAG gives both 'loosen' and 'abandon, give up.'

Where it appears

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 16:26 ἀνέθη. were loosed.

    Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

    Here: 'Were let loose' or 'came unfastened'. The bonds slackened and let go of the prisoners. This is not the usual word for setting a prisoner free (that would be apolyō); it describes the fastenings giving way.

  2. Acts 27:40 ἀνέντες having loosened

    Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 6:9 ἀνιέντες giving up

    And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

    Here: Literally 'loosening' or 'slackening,' the way ropes or bonds are let go. The present participle describes a continuing habit: stop relying on it, let it drop.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 13:5 ἀνῶ, shall I leave,

    Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

    Here: The basic sense is to loosen or release, as with ropes or chains. Here it means letting go of someone or giving them up: 'I will never drop you.'

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