English · KJV
G383

ἀνασείω

anaseíō /an-as-i'-o/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom ἀνά and σείω
Meaningfiguratively, to excite
KJV usagemove, stir up.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of anaseíō — 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 anaseíō, represented by G383, is used figuratively to mean excite, move, or stir up. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, specifically describing the act of agitating or inciting a crowd.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G383 is used exclusively in the context of the events leading to Christ's crucifixion. In one instance, Jesus is accused by his enemies who were "the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry" Luke 23:5. In the other, "the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them" Mark 15:11. Both uses depict a hostile agitation of the populace against Jesus.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context in which G383 is used:

  • G749 archiereús (chief priest): These religious leaders are identified as the ones who moved the people against Jesus Mark 15:11.
  • G1321 didáskō (to teach): This action is directly linked to the accusation against Jesus, where his teaching is reframed as a seditious act of stirring up the people Luke 23:5.
  • G2001 epischýō (be the more fierce): This describes the heightened insistence of those accusing Jesus, showing the hostile energy behind their claim that he "stirreth up the people" Luke 23:5.
  • G630 apolýō (release): The act of moving the people was done with a specific goal: to have Pilate release Barabbas Mark 15:11.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G383 is found in its specific, negative application within the passion narrative.

  • Corrupt Religious Authority: The word demonstrates how the chief priests manipulated public opinion to achieve their goal of having Jesus condemned while securing a release for Barabbas Mark 15:11.
  • False Accusation: In Luke's account, G383 forms the basis of a political charge against Jesus. His ministry of teaching is twisted into the seditious act of stirring up the people, a key element in the case brought before Pilate Luke 23:5.
  • Incitement Against Truth: The term highlights the successful incitement of a crowd against Christ, showing how the people were moved by their leaders to reject Jesus and call for his crucifixion.

Summary

In summary, G383 is a potent word used to describe the incitement of a crowd. Its two appearances in Scripture are confined to the narrative of Jesus' trial and condemnation. It powerfully illustrates the themes of false accusation and the manipulation of the people by religious leaders, casting Christ's ministry of "teaching" in the false light of social and political agitation.

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 2 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 Plural 1×
  • Present Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
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.
Indicative
A plain statement of fact.

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G749 ἀρχιερεύς from ἀρχή and ἱερεύς; the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest:--chief ( G1321 διδάσκω a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application):--teach. G2001 ἐπισχύω from ἐπί and ἰσχύω; to avail further, i.e. (figuratively) insist stoutly:--be the more fierce. G630 ἀπολύω from ἀπό and λύω; to free fully, i.e. (literally) relieve, release, dismiss (reflexively, depart), or (figuratively) let

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 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Mark and Luke (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

1
Mark
1
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.