Word Study for G353 (ἀναλαμβάνω)

analambánō /an-al-am-ban'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀνά and λαμβάνω

Meaningto take up

KJV usagereceive up, take (in, unto, up).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of analambánō — 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 ἀναλαμβάνω (analambánō), represented by G353, is primarily defined as to take up. It appears 14 times across 13 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning is derived from its component parts, ἀνά (up) and λαμβάνω (to take), and is used to describe actions of receiving up, taking in, or taking unto oneself.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G353 has two principal areas of application. Its most significant use is to describe the ascension of Christ, as in Mark's account where Jesus "was received up into heaven" Mark 16:19. The angels at the ascension repeat this, referring to "this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven" Acts 1:11. The word is also used to command believers to take on spiritual responsibility, such as the instruction to "take unto you the whole armour of God" Ephesians 6:13. In a more literal sense, it describes taking a person into one's company, as when soldiers "took Paul" to bring him to Antipatris Acts 23:31 or when the Israelites idolatrously "took up the tabernacle of Moloch" Acts 7:43.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and purpose behind the action of G353:

G436 anthístēmi (to stand against, i.e. oppose): This word shows the reason for taking up God's armor, which is to be able "to withstand in the evil day" Ephesians 6:13.
G2523 kathízō (to seat down... to sit): This term often follows the action of G353 in relation to Christ's ascension. After He was received up G353, he "sat on the right hand of God" Mark 16:19.
G71 ágō (to lead; by implication, to bring): This action is paired with G353 in a direct command where Paul instructs Timothy to "Take Mark, and bring him with thee" 2 Timothy 4:11.
G1299 diatássō (to arrange thoroughly... institute, prescribe): This highlights that the action of taking someone in can be the fulfillment of a command, as when Paul's companions planned to take in G353 Paul, because he had so appointed G1299 Acts 20:13.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G353 is centered on Christ's exaltation and the believer's response.

Christ's Ascension and Glorification: The word is a key term for the ascension, marking the completion of Jesus' earthly ministry. The mystery of godliness in 1 Timothy 3:16 culminates with Christ being "received up into glory."
Active Spiritual Readiness: Believers are not passive observers but are called to an active role. The command to "taking the shield of faith" Ephesians 6:16 uses G353 to emphasize the personal responsibility to prepare for spiritual warfare.
Divine and Human Action: The word illustrates both divine action, such as the heavenly vessel being "received up again into heaven" Acts 10:16, and human action done in obedience, such as ordaining a new apostle to be a witness until the day Jesus was "taken up" Acts 1:22.

Summary

In summary, G353 carries a meaning that moves from the literal to the profoundly theological. It describes the physical act of taking a person or object, but more importantly, it is the specific verb used to document Christ's ascension into glory. It also serves as a command for believers to actively take up their spiritual defenses, linking the finished work of Christ to the ongoing duty of the faithful.

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 13 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 5×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 3×
2nd Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Plural 1×
2nd Aorist Active Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Aorist Passive Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Present Active Infinitive 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").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
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 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (8 verses); never once in the other 22.

Mark

Acts

Ephesians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

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.