Word Study for G349 (ἀνακράζω)

anakrázō /an-ak-rad'-zo/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀνά and κράζω

Meaningto scream up (aloud)

KJV usagecry out.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of anakrázō — 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 anakrázō, represented by G349, means to scream up (aloud) or to cry out. It is formed from ἀνά and κράζω. This specific term appears 5 times in 5 unique verses, often depicting a sudden and intense vocal outburst in response to a startling or supernatural event.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G349 is consistently used to describe a powerful, spontaneous reaction. Men possessed by unclean spirits cry out upon encountering Jesus in the synagogue, an immediate acknowledgment of his presence and authority (Mark 1:23; Luke 4:33). This reaction is also seen when a demon-possessed man, upon seeing Jesus, cried out and fell down before him Luke 8:28. The term is not limited to demonic encounters; the disciples also cried out in fear when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, mistaking him for a spirit Mark 6:49. It can also describe a collective, forceful shout, as when the crowd cried out for Pilate to release Barabbas Luke 23:18.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context and nature of this cry:

G3004 légō (relate (in words)): This word often follows the initial cry, giving content to the outburst. For example, after the crowd cried out, they were saying, "Away with this man" Luke 23:18.
G3173 mégas (big...loud): This adjective is used to describe the intensity of the cry, as when the man in the synagogue Luke 4:33 or the demon-possessed man Luke 8:28 cried out with a loud voice.
G5456 phōnḗ (a tone...voice): This is frequently paired with G349 to specify that the cry is an audible voice. This occurs when men with unclean spirits cry out with a loud voice in the presence of Jesus (Luke 4:33; Luke 8:28).
G1189 déomai (to beg...petition): This verb can articulate the purpose of the cry. After the demon-possessed man cried out, he began to beseech Jesus not to torment him Luke 8:28.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G349 lies in its function as a marker of spiritual confrontation and profound human emotion.

Reaction to Divine Authority: The word is predominantly used by those with unclean spirits at the moment they encounter the holiness and power of Jesus. Their "cry out" is an involuntary confession of His identity and a reaction to His authority (Mark 1:23; Luke 4:33).
Expression of Fear and Awe: It captures the raw human response to the supernatural. The disciples' cry upon seeing Jesus on the water is not one of worship but of sheer terror in the face of the unexplainable Mark 6:49.
Voice of Human Opposition: The term is used for the unified shout of the crowd demanding the death of Jesus and the release of a criminal, illustrating how a collective "cry out" can represent a decisive moment of human rejection of the divine will Luke 23:18.

Summary

In summary, G349 is a specific and powerful verb that denotes more than a simple shout; it is a visceral outburst. Whether prompted by fear, demonic torment, or collective fury, this "cry out" signifies a critical moment where inner turmoil becomes an undeniable, audible event. It consistently marks a point of intersection between the human and the divine, often revealing the true nature of the heart or spirit from which the cry originates.

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 5 occurrences, inflected in 4 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 Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than 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 5 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (3 verses); never once in the other 25.

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.