### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἀνασπάω (anaspáō, `{{G385}}`) is a compound word derived from the preposition ἀνά (aná), meaning "up" or "again," and the verb σπάω (spáō, `{{G4685}}`), meaning "to draw" or "to pull." Thus, its core meaning is "to draw up," "to pull out," or "to extricate." The semantic range of ἀνασπάω is quite narrow and literal, referring specifically to the physical act of removing something or someone from a lower or confined position, such as a well or a pit, by pulling them upwards. It inherently implies an effort to rescue or retrieve.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Despite its precise meaning, ἀνασπάω (anaspáō, `{{G385}}`) appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in the Gospel of Luke and in highly similar contexts.
1. **[[Luke 13:15]]**: In this passage, Jesus is teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath and heals a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years. The synagogue ruler is indignant that Jesus performed healing on the Sabbath. Jesus responds by challenging their hypocrisy: "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound for eighteen years, be released from this bond on the Sabbath day?" The verb ἀνασπάω is implied in the rhetorical question that follows: "If one's ox or donkey falls into a pit, would he not immediately **pull it out** on the Sabbath?" (My translation, reflecting the common understanding of the implied action, as the verb is explicitly used in the parallel passage).
2. **[[Luke 14:5]]**: Here, Jesus is at a Pharisee's house for a Sabbath meal when he notices a man with dropsy. He asks the Pharisees and lawyers, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?" When they remain silent, he heals the man. He then poses another rhetorical question to justify his action: "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately **pull him out** on a Sabbath day?"
In both instances, ἀνασπάω (anaspáō) refers to an urgent, compassionate act of rescue that even the most scrupulous observer of the Sabbath would perform without hesitation. Jesus uses these common, practical scenarios to expose the inconsistency and misplaced priorities of those who valued rigid adherence to ceremonial law over acts of mercy and human well-being. The act of "pulling out" is presented as an undeniable necessity, illustrating the principle that genuine compassion transcends legalistic interpretations of the Sabbath.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary root of ἀνασπάω (anaspáō) is σπάω (spáō, `{{G4685}}`), meaning "to draw" or "to pull." While σπάω itself does not appear in the New Testament, its compound forms like ἀνασπάω highlight specific types of drawing or pulling. Other related concepts, though not direct lexical parallels, include:
* **Rescue and Deliverance:** Words such as ῥύομαι (rhyomai, `{{G4506}}`), "to rescue, deliver," and σῴζω (sōzō, `{{G4982}}`), "to save, preserve," share the thematic element of bringing someone out of a dangerous or dire situation.
* **Compassion and Mercy:** The contexts in Luke emphasize the importance of ἔλεος (eleos, `{{G1656}}`), "mercy," and σπλάγχνα (splagchna, `{{G4698}}`), "compassion," as motivating factors for the act of "pulling out" or healing.
* **Sabbath Observance:** The discussions surrounding ἀνασπάω are deeply intertwined with the broader biblical understanding of the Sabbath, contrasting legalistic interpretations with the true spirit of the Law, which prioritizes love and human need.
### Theological Significance
Though infrequent in its occurrence, the use of ἀνασπάω (anaspáō, `{{G385}}`) holds profound theological significance within the Synoptic Gospels. It serves as a powerful rhetorical tool in Jesus' teaching, underscoring several critical theological principles:
1. **The Priority of Compassion:** Jesus' use of this common scenario elevates the principle of compassion and mercy above strict adherence to religious rules. The act of "pulling out" an animal or a person from a pit, even on the Sabbath, is presented as an intuitive and righteous act, demonstrating that God's law is ultimately designed for the well-being of humanity.
2. **The Spirit of the Law vs. the Letter:** The examples of ἀνασπάω highlight Jesus' consistent challenge to the legalism of his day. He argues that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath ([[Mark 2:27]]). True righteousness is not found in rigid adherence to external regulations but in acts of love and practical care for those in need.
3. **God's Redemptive Nature:** The imagery of "drawing out" or "pulling up" from a pit resonates with broader biblical themes of God's redemptive work. Just as one would rescue a creature or a child from a perilous situation, God is depicted throughout Scripture as the one who "draws out" His people from bondage, sin, and despair (e.g., [[Psalm 40:2]], "He drew me up from the pit of destruction"). While not explicitly applied to divine action in these specific verses, the human act of rescue serves as an analogy for the divine desire to save and restore.
### Summary
The verb ἀνασπάω (anaspáō, `{{G385}}`) literally means "to draw up" or "to pull out," specifically from a lower or confined place. Its two New Testament occurrences in Luke ([[Luke 13:15]], [[Luke 14:5]]) are pivotal in Jesus' arguments concerning Sabbath observance. In both instances, Jesus uses the undeniable necessity and compassion involved in "pulling out" an animal or a person from a pit to challenge the hypocrisy of those who prioritized legalistic interpretations of the Law over acts of mercy and human need. Theologically, ἀνασπάω powerfully illustrates Jesus' teaching on the supremacy of compassion, the spirit over the letter of the Law, and implicitly reflects God's own redemptive desire to rescue and restore. It underscores that true righteousness is expressed through love and practical care for others.
TRV