### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb anastenázō (`{{G389}}`) is a compound word formed from the intensive prefix aná (meaning "up," "again," or indicating intensity) and the verb stenázō (`{{G4727}}`), which means "to groan" or "to sigh." The combination of these elements yields a meaning of "to sigh deeply," "to groan aloud," or "to sigh from the depths of one's being." The prefix aná serves to intensify the underlying action of sighing, suggesting a profound, often audible, expression of inner emotion that emanates from a deep well of distress, grief, frustration, or indignation. It implies a more significant internal state than a simple sigh, indicating a powerful and involuntary outpouring of feeling.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb anastenázō (`{{G389}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, specifically in the Gospel of Mark:
* **[[Mark 8:12]]**: "And He sighed deeply in His spirit and said, 'Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.'"
* **Context**: This verse immediately follows the account of the Pharisees and Herodians demanding a sign from Jesus in the region of Dalmanutha. They are testing Him, seeking a miraculous display from heaven to validate His authority, despite having witnessed numerous miracles already.
* **Analysis**: Jesus' "deep sigh in His spirit" (ἀναστενάξας τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ) is a profound and poignant reaction. It is not a sigh of weariness or weakness, but rather an expression of deep sorrow, anguish, and perhaps even indignation. This sigh emanates from His innermost being, His spirit, indicating the depth of His emotional response to their spiritual blindness, hardened hearts, and persistent unbelief. It reveals His divine pathos – God's profound grief over humanity's rejection of truth and grace. This sigh serves as a silent yet powerful rebuke, lamenting their inability or unwillingness to perceive the signs already abundant in His ministry and person. It also subtly foreshadows the judgment that awaits a generation that refuses to believe.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding anastenázō (`{{G389}}`) is enhanced by considering related terms and theological concepts:
* **stenázō (`{{G4727}}`)**: The base verb, meaning "to groan" or "to sigh." This word is used more frequently in the New Testament, often describing the groaning of creation under the curse ([[Romans 8:22]]) or the groaning of believers awaiting redemption ([[Romans 8:23]], [[2 Corinthians 5:2]], [[2 Corinthians 5:4]]). While stenázō signifies deep internal feeling, anastenázō intensifies this, emphasizing the profound depth of the sigh, often in response to external stimuli.
* **lupeō (`{{G3076}}`)**: To grieve, be sorrowful, cause pain. This term describes the underlying emotion that might lead to a deep sigh.
* **thlipsis (`{{G2347}}`)**: Affliction, distress, tribulation. While anastenázō describes an internal response, thlipsis can describe the external circumstances that provoke such a response.
* **odynē (`{{G3601}}`)**: Pain, anguish, distress, often intense and heartfelt.
* **Divine Pathos**: The concept of God experiencing deep emotion, particularly sorrow or anguish, in response to human sin and rebellion. Jesus' sigh is a powerful manifestation of this divine pathos.
* **Compassion and Empathy**: The sigh demonstrates Jesus' profound empathy for the lost and His sorrow over their spiritual condition.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of anastenázō (`{{G389}}`) in [[Mark 8:12]] carries significant theological weight:
1. **Revelation of Jesus' Humanity**: Jesus' deep sigh underscores His full humanity and His capacity for profound human emotion. He was not a stoic or detached figure but one who deeply felt the spiritual plight of humanity. This sigh reveals His genuine sorrow and anguish over the spiritual blindness and unbelief of His generation.
2. **Divine Pathos and Grief**: This act reveals the heart of God. It demonstrates that God is not indifferent to human sin and rejection but grieves deeply over it. Jesus' sigh is an expression of divine sorrow over humanity's stubborn refusal to recognize and accept the truth of His person and ministry, despite overwhelming evidence. It signifies the pain God experiences when His love and revelation are spurned.
3. **Condemnation of Unbelief**: The sigh functions as a silent, yet potent, condemnation of the Pharisees' unbelief and spiritual hardness. It conveys the gravity of their demand for a sign, implying that their hearts were closed to the abundant signs already given. It highlights the seriousness of rejecting God's clear revelation and the dire consequences of spiritual blindness.
4. **Prophetic Insight**: Jesus' sigh also implies His deep understanding of the future and the tragic fate awaiting those who persistently reject Him. It is a lament for a generation destined for judgment due to its obdurate unbelief.
### Summary
Anastenázō (`{{G389}}`) signifies a deep, profound, and often audible sigh that emanates from the innermost being, expressing intense distress, grief, or indignation. Its sole New Testament occurrence in [[Mark 8:12]] powerfully depicts Jesus' emotional response to the spiritual blindness and unbelief of the Pharisees. This "deep sigh in His spirit" reveals the depth of His humanity, His divine pathos, and His profound sorrow over humanity's rejection of God's truth. It serves as a poignant testament to the gravity of unbelief and the compassionate, yet grieved, heart of the Savior.
TRV