Word Study for G345 (ἀνακεῖμαι)

anakeîmai /an-ak-i'-mahee/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀνά and κεῖμαι

Meaningto recline (as a corpse or at a meal)

KJV usageguest, lean, lie, sit (down, at meat), at the table.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of anakeîmai — 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 anakeîmai, represented by G345, means to recline, typically at a meal. It appears 14 times across 13 unique verses in the Bible. This term describes the common posture for eating in that era and is also used to signify being a guest at a table or, in one instance, to describe someone lying down.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G345 is frequently used to set the scene for significant events, often involving Jesus sharing a meal. It describes Jesus as he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house when a woman who was a sinner anointed him Luke 7:37. The word is also used to refer to wedding guests Matthew 22:10 and those present at the last supper, where a disciple was leaning on Jesus' bosom John 13:23. In a different context, it describes a young girl lying down after she had died Mark 5:40.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide deeper context to the act of reclining at a meal:

G4873 synanákeimai (to recline in company with): This word emphasizes the shared nature of the meal. It is used to describe the many publicans and sinners who came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples Matthew 9:10.
G1247 diakonéō (to serve): This term provides a crucial contrast. Jesus asks who is greater, he that sitteth at meat G345 or he that serveth, highlighting his own role among them as a servant Luke 22:27.
G268 hamartōlós (sinner): This word identifies the people with whom Jesus often shared meals. A sinner came to Jesus as he sat at meat Luke 7:37, and many sinners sat down with him and his disciples Matthew 9:10.

Theological Significance

The use of G345 carries significant theological weight, often marking a moment of teaching, revelation, or controversy.

Fellowship and Inclusion: Jesus reclining at meals with publicans and sinners demonstrates his willingness to associate with outcasts, a practice that set the stage for important teachings about repentance and acceptance Matthew 9:10.
Humility and Service: The distinction between the one who sitteth at meat and the one who serves is used by Jesus to redefine greatness in his kingdom, positioning himself as the servant rather than the guest of honor Luke 22:27.
Intimacy and Betrayal: The posture of reclining at the last supper provides the intimate backdrop for Jesus's revelation that one of his disciples would betray him Mark 14:18 and for the close fellowship with the disciple whom he loved John 13:23.

Summary

In summary, G345 does more than describe a physical posture. It consistently places the reader at the table for pivotal moments in Jesus's ministry. Whether depicting a wedding feast, an intimate meal with disciples, or a controversial dinner with sinners, the act of reclining sets the stage for profound displays of love, humility, teaching, and even betrayal, making it a key contextual word in the Gospels.

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 16 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Participle Genitive Plural Masculine 4×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 3×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Participle Accusative Plural Masculine 2×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Participle Dative Plural Masculine 2×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Participle Genitive Singular Masculine 2×
Imperfect Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Middle Or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Neuter 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Neuter: Neuter grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Middle: The subject acts on or for itself.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Passive Deponent: Passive in form but active in meaning.
Middle Or Passive: Can be read as middle or passive; context decides.
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 13 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew (5 verses); never once in the other 23.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

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.