Word Study for G310 (ἀναβοάω)

anaboáō /an-ab-o-ah'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀνά and βοάω

Meaningto halloo

KJV usagecry (aloud, out).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of anaboáō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word anaboáō, represented by G310, means to halloo or to cry (aloud, out). It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, indicating its specific use for a powerful and intense form of vocalization. It is formed from ἀνά and βοάω and describes an emphatic cry rather than simple speech.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical appearances, G310 is used to depict moments of extreme emotion and public utterance. It captures the anguish of Jesus on the cross, who cried with a loud voice, asking why God had forsaken him Matthew 27:46. It also expresses a father's desperation as he cried out from a crowd, beseeching Jesus to heal his only son Luke 9:38. In a different context, it describes a multitude crying aloud as they began to make a demand of their governor Mark 15:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the nature and context of this cry:

G3004 légō (say): This verb, meaning to relate in words or speak, often follows the initial cry to report the specific words being uttered. It is used to introduce the content of the cry in both Jesus's case Matthew 27:46 and the father's plea Luke 9:38.
G3173 mégas (great): This adjective, meaning big or loud, is used to qualify the cry and emphasize its intensity. Jesus is described as having cried with a loud voice on the cross Matthew 27:46.
G5456 phōnḗ (voice): This noun refers to a tone, sound, or voice. It is the instrument of the cry itself, as seen when Jesus cried with a loud voice Matthew 27:46.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G310 is found in the gravity of the moments it describes.

The Cry of the Forsaken: Its most significant use is for Jesus's cry from the cross, a moment of profound suffering Matthew 27:46. This outcry expresses the depth of His anguish.
A Petition of Last Resort: The word portrays the raw appeal of humanity to divinity. The father's cry for his son is not a polite request but an urgent, desperate plea for intervention when all else has failed Luke 9:38.
Public and Urgent Communication: The use of G310 consistently highlights a cry that is public and cannot be ignored. Whether from an individual in agony or a collective multitude, it signals a communication of critical importance Mark 15:8.

Summary

In summary, G310 is a specific and potent term. It is reserved for an intense and audible outcry driven by deep emotion, whether anguish, desperation, or fervent demand. Its limited use in scripture underscores the significance of the scenes it portrays, from the pinnacle of Christ's suffering on the cross to the desperate appeals of those seeking his help. It demonstrates how a cry can convey a weight of meaning that ordinary speech cannot.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew, Mark, and Luke (1 verse each); never once in the other 24.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.